No-Bake Energy Bites (healthy yet taste a lot like cookie dough!)

We think these taste like a cross between a chewy granola bar and cookie batter while managing to include a whopping half cup of heart-healthy flax meal. If you store your peanut butter in the fridge, it will be easier to mix if allowed to come to room temperature first.

Yield: 26-28 balls

Mix the dry ingredients (the oats, flax meal, and chips) in a small- to medium-size bowl. In a larger bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir until thoroughly incorporated.  For easier rolling, place the mixture in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. (You may roll them right away, but they will tend to stick to your hands at this point. If you refrigerate much longer than that, the mixture will be firmer than ideal for easy rolling.)

Roll into bite-sized balls and place them on a cookie sheet.  (I line the baking sheet with wax paper—could use parchment or foil—for easy cleanup, but this isn’t critical as the bites won’t stick to the sheet.) If you have a melon baller or a mini ice cream scoop, it works very well for quickly portioning out consistent amounts of batter.

Storage: Stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, the bites will maintain for a week or two. They freeze well too.