Easy Coffee Energy Bites
Yields: 30 energy bites
 
These healthy energy bites are perfect for mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks—or even breakfasts! They’ll keep for at least one week if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  1. Add the milk and instant coffee to a medium bowl, and stir until the instant coffee has completely dissolved. (It will take a few minutes!) Stir in the stevia. Carefully pour in the protein powder and oats, and stir until completely incorporated.
  2. Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
  3. Working with a small amount of the mixture at a time, shape into a ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet. (The mixture doesn’t roll very easily, so I recommend squishing it into a spherical shape instead!) Repeat with the remaining mixture. Transfer the energy bites to an airtight container, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes: This recipe was specifically designed for the plant-based protein powder listed in the Ingredients list. I buy it online here. Most protein powders behave differently, especially when it comes to absorbing moisture. If you substitute a different plant-based protein powder, you may need to add more protein powder if the dough is too wet OR more milk if the dough is too dry. Do not substitute whey-based protein powder; the mixture will be too sticky to roll into balls.

Old-fashioned oats (gluten-free, if necessary) may be substituted for the instant oats. I prefer instant oats because they’re smaller and hold together the mixture slightly better. Do not substitute steel-cut oats.

Any milk may be substituted for the nonfat milk.

Do not substitute regular coffee grounds! They don’t dissolve in milk, so your energy bites will have a grainy or gritty texture. In a pinch, double-strength coffee may be substituted for both the milk and instant coffee, but the taste and texture of the energy bites will be different.

After a few minutes of stirring together the instant coffee and milk, I’ve found that any remaining granules that haven’t dissolved will often do so by themselves if I walk away from the bowl for a few minutes and simply let them sit in the milk. (Just a helpful hint in case you feel a little concerned or frustrated after stirring for a few minutes and still seeing lingering instant coffee!)

Any sweetener may be substituted in place of the vanilla crème stevia. However, you may need to adjust the amount of protein powder if the dough is too wet OR add more milk if the mixture is too dry. You’ll need the equivalent of 3-5 tablespoons of granulated sugar. (I highly recommend using the vanilla crème stevia, if at all possible! I buy it here. And you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine, too!)

For more tips and answers to all other questions, including substitutions {and videos for similar recipes!}, see my Protein Powder Recipes: Tips & FAQ Page.

{gluten-free, vegan option, clean eating, low fat, low calorie, lower carb, low sugar, high protein}
Recipe by Amy's Healthy Baking at https://amyshealthybaking.com/blog/2017/04/16/coffee-energy-bites/