Some people adore the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, all the time. I'm not one of them. But, whenever I make these delicious and healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites, I devour them!
I consider these Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites to be a healthier version of a peanut butter cup. They're melted peanut butter and chocolate, combined with oats and ground flax seed to make them more fiberful and substantial.
I came across this recipe in a breastfeeding group 10 years ago, as a lactation cookie or snack that would help increase your breastmilk supply. I have no idea if it works for that or not, but the recipe sounded delicious enough. And then I made it better.
These are just a simple combination of peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips, oatmeal, and flaxseed meal. I love that it's no-bake and can be made using only the microwave,
Other pluses? Each tiny bite has protein and lots of fiber. You're snacking, but they really fill you up! I've skipped lunch by eating chocolate peanut butter bites more than once.
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Ingredients
The original recipe was supposed to be energy bites, probably taken from the back of a package of flaxmeal. It sounded messy and too sweet, so I cut back on the honey and melted the chocolate into the peanut butter. And I loved them enough to never try it another way.
It takes just 5 ingredients:
- Peanut Butter
- Honey
- Chocolate Chips
- Oats
- Flaxseed
You need traditional, creamy peanut butter, because you need it to melt together with the chocolate. Natural peanut butter, with no sugar added, will not act the same. If you try crunchy peanut butter, you may need to use more to get the same texture.
Honey helps thin out and sweeten the mixture. Agave or corn syrup would likely work as well.
Use whatever chocolate chips you would like. I use semisweet or dark chocolate chips. My daughter prefers milk chocolate chips, which make the bites sweeter. However, as I've discovered making Saltine Toffee and Hot Chocolate Mix, milk chocolate chips do not melt as easily, so it will take more mixing on your part.
You can use old-fashioned or rolled oats in this recipe, but I prefer rolled oats because they're thinner, and so will have a less noticeable texture.
You'll want to use ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal. I've seen it labeled both ways. The outer husk of whole flaxseeds is tough, and so they won't work well in this recipe. (You can see the FAQ below for more info on flax.)
Instructions
In the original recipe, you combined the peanut butter and honey, and then stirred in the other ingredients. The mixture would be sticky, so you'd have to coat them in nuts or oats so you could handle them.
That sounded fussy. I decided to heat the peanut butter and honey to get it to blend more easily, and then the chocolate chips happened to melt into it. It was like magic! And so I've never tried it another way.
So, it's time to make magic!
- Combine the peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for 30 seconds, and then stir until everything is melted together. Heat it for another 10 seconds if necessary.
- Stir in the oats and flaxmeal.
- Scoop the mixture into little balls.
Once everything is combined, you can make your chocolate peanut butter bites as large as you'd like. I like a tiny cookie scoop, but make them whatever size you want.
Hint: The chocolate will firm up as it cools, and so the bites will become less sticky once the chocolate sets. If your bites are still too sticky after that, you can roll them in additional rolled oats, chopped nuts, or even cocoa powder so that you can handle them.
Variations
Veganize it! To make these vegan, substitute corn syrup or agave for the honey. (Bees produce honey, so the strictest vegans avoid it.) Choose chocolate chips that do not have milkfat.
Make it gluten-free: While the ingredients here don't naturally contain gluten, oats are often processed on the same equipment as wheat, which does. Choose certified gluten-free oats and other ingredients that will not have cross-contamination.
Storage
All the ingredients are shelf-stable, so store in a container at room temperature. They'll be good for up to a week, if you don't eat them first.
If you feel like they'll stick together in a container, let them set out on a plate, uncovered, for the afternoon after you make them. After they've firmed up, they shouldn't stick and you can store them.
Equipment
While you can microwave plastic containers, plastic tends to absorb smells and even flavors sometimes. That's why I only use glass containers when I heat something.
A rubber spatula will help you scrape the bowl much better than a spoon, so you don't leave any valuable chocolate peanut butter behind.
I love cookie scoops, because they make it so easy to make things an even size. I love this tiny 1.5-teaspoon cookie scoop (affiliate link) to make these bites truly bite size. That said, you can use a small (2-teaspoon or #60) cookie scoop (affiliate link). I used my tiny scoop in the picture below.
FAQ
Whole, unground flax seeds are not digested by the body unless you chew them very well - they pass through your gut whole! That means that you won't get the nutritional benefits of them. Ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal can be digested. Ground flaxseed/meal is also fluffier, and can be used as a thickener.
Yes, but many people (including me) use the terms interchangeably. Ground flaxseed is made by milling whole flaxseed. Flaxseed meal is apparently what is left after seeds are processed to make flaxseed oil. According to Healthy Flax (an outreach organization of the Canadian flax industry) and other internet sources, ground flaxseed and flaxseed meal are nutritionally similar, but the meal has less of the healthier omega-3 fats.
Can I grind flax seeds at home?
Yes, you can grind flax at home. However, the outside of the seeds are very tough, and some may not grind very well. I find it better and more convenient to buy it already ground.
More Chocolate Peanut Butter
Some of our favorite chocolate peanut butter recipes:
Interested in other recipes? I save and share recipes I like or want to try on my Pinterest page - follow me there! You can also check out my Facebook page for more recipes and helpful tips. I'm also happy to try to help troubleshoot my recipes there.
Have you tried this recipe? Or have a question about it? Rate it or leave a comment below! (PS: rating my recipes helps other people find them, too!)
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanut butter (128 grams)
- 3 tablespoons honey (63 grams)
- ½ cup chocolate chips (85 grams)
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons oats (90 grams) (I prefer quick oats here)
- 6 tablespoons flaxseed meal (42 grams) (substitute entirely with oats if desired)
Instructions
- Stir together peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips in a heatsafe bowl, and microwave on high for about 30 seconds. Stir until mixture is smooth.
- If the chocolate chips don't entirely melt, microwave for another 10 seconds, then stir again.
- Add oats and flax meal, and stir until combined.
- Mixture may be crumbly and hard to mix, but it will come together. You can use the side of the rubber spatula to press the oats into chocolate, or you can use your hands. If you'd rather, stir in a little extra honey.
- Scoop into balls; I prefer to use my smallest cookie scoop for bite-size balls. If mixture is crumbly, use your hands to finish rolling the balls. If mixture is sticky, roll peanut butter bites in extra oats.
Notes
(Originally published July 29, 2017, and updated slightly in August 2018. Completely rewritten and updated in February 2025.)
Jenn says
These were really good! I used almond butter and maple syrup like you suggested (same ratios) and I think I maybe should have used less oats because at the end, they weren't sticking as well. I did press the rest into the bottom of a container to cut into bars. The kids loved them too!
Leona Konkel says
I'm so glad you liked them! And I'm glad to hear that the maple syrup worked!