Vegan
Dairy Free
Gluten FreeCowboy Cookies in a no bake ENERGY BITES form! Yes, the best of both worlds. No baking, vegan energy bites that taste like cowboy cookies! Soft, chewy, and loaded with a variety of flavors. Oats, dark chocolate chips, coconut, almond or peanut butter, maple syrup, chopped walnuts, and a hint of cinnamon coconut sugar (my personal addition).
So now that Memorial day has come and gone, does that mean it’s unofficially summer? I’m having flash back of watching Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused. The too bright of orange pants and a creepy mustache. Yes, that was the official SUMMER movie though. If you are under 30, you probably won’t get it. LOL! I’m old. I digress. Or rather, I just get easily entranced in thought.
Anyway, let’s talk about Summer INSTANT snacking and Summer plans. Like say.. um, HEALTHY BITES. Gah, it’s been a while ya’ll. So sorry I haven’t posted a no bake bite recipe. I missed them TRULY! This No Bake Cowboy Cookie Dough Bites recipe will make it up to you. Or so I’d like to think. It’s one of my favs! Plus there is a story behind it.
So hold on to your belt buckles, here goes.
First, you’re probably wondering what Cowboy Cookies are like. They are basically a TEXAS sized cookie flavor. A “beefed up” spin on a classic chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate chips, oats, pecans, coconut and cinnamon. Gah, so good! Well, I think it’s even better with dark chocolate chips, toasted walnuts, unsweetened shredded coconut, and mixed with maple and salted roasted almond or peanut butter.
Yup, the ultimate no bake cookie in cookie dough bite form. Which is why I sharing this recipe with you today.
The other part of my little Cowboy Cookies recipe story is of course, my husband. So… obviously this kiwi had no idea what a Cowboy Cookies were. Which means i had to make and inform him. Yes, my American wife duties. But also, these no bake cookie energy bites are going to be his FUEL for an upcoming bike race. Yes, I was just informed that he signed up for 100 mile bike race in 10 days. And he hasn’t been training.. like at all.
My sherpa wife syndrome is in full force ya’ll. FUEL FUEL FUEL for that man! He’s gong to need bike fuel that easy to eat, salty, sweet, a little bit of healthy fats, and good carbs.
In all seriousness, these cowboy cookie bites can be tailored to your liking. Which means you can make as a no bake dessert or an energy bite recipe. You know where I’m going with this, right?
Seeing that I …
- A. Have a husband who has never tried a Cowboy Cookie
- B. Am needing to feed a husband POWER FUEL for his 100 miler bike ride
- C. Am in need of a gluten free cookie fix to cope with all the things going on in LIFE.
Yes, I totally just justified a No Bake Cookie “Energy Bite” recipe as a proper form of FUEL, ENERGY, EMOTIONAL coping, and just plain FUN. Gluten Free and dairy free friendly of course. You’re welcome.
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Vegan Cowboy Cookies ENERGY Bites {No Bake, Gluten Free}
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 25 bites 1x
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Pin RecipeDescription
NO BAKE VEGAN COWBOY COOKIES ENERGY BITES! Yes, the best of both worlds. No baking, Soft, chewy, and loaded with a variety of flavors. Gluten Free, vegan!
Ingredients
- 2/3 c to 3/4 c gluten free rolled oats. Start with 2/3 c and add more to batter if needed. (we use bob’s red mill [url] oats ∞http://amzn.to/2qtB7yE[/url])
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/3 c (to 1/2 cup if using mini chocolates) Dark Chocolate Chips (we use Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate)
- 1/3 cup roasted or raw walnuts or pecans – chopped
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1/3 c to 1/2 cup almond flour (see notes)
- 1/3 cup creamy almond butter or peanut butter, no stir. (adjust to oats ratio if needed)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup (adjust measurements along with almond butter ratio) honey works too
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Extra coconut sugar and/or coconut for rolling
Instructions
- Place your oats, chocolate chips, coconut, pinch of cinnamon, coconut sugar, and walnuts together in a large bowl. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup almond flour. Mix together
- Next add your creamy almond butter. Stir again.
- Finally, Add in your vanilla extract and maple syrup a little bit a time. Mixing between pours. Adjust the amount of maple syrup you use depending batter’s thickness. You might need more or less.
- Mix again
- If batter is hard to roll, then place (chill batter) in fridge for 20 minutes. That way it’s easier to roll later.
- Roll into 1-1.5 inch balls and place on cookie tray or plastic ware with parchment paper underneath.
- Let them freeze for 20-30 minutes then transfer into a Ziploc bag.
- Dust with additional cinnamon, coconut sugar, and/or coconut flakes if desired.
- Keep in fridge or freezer for up to 6 weeks. See notes for other techniques and how to make vegan.
Notes
- For vegan dark chocolate chips we use enjoy life foods
- If the batter is not thick enough to roll after adding honey, add 1/4 cup more almond flour or oats to thicken.
- If batter is too dry, add 1/4 cup or less more honey or nut butter.
- Category: snack
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 energy bite
- Calories: 75
- Sugar: 4.2g
- Sodium: 1.7mg
- Fat: 4.9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.6g
- Carbohydrates: 7.2g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 1.7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: cowboy cookies, no bake bites, no bake snacks, energy bites, gluten free snacks
Okay y’all (said with a twang), let’s NOT fire up the oven and no bake these cookies… energy bites…snack bites.. err whatever. GETCHA SOME!
Ingredients needed –> Gluten Free oats, a salted no stir almond or peanut butter, cinnamon mixed with a little coconut sugar, plain or roasted nuts, unsweetened coconut, dark chocolate chips, maple syrup, and a whole lotta love!
YEEHAW! Cowboy Cookies you can take to the range. Okay I will stop at that. Mental note, that might be way too corny for post holiday conversations. LOL!
If you were a cowboy… err cowgirl, would you eat these energy bites?
Let’s make that a rhetorical question.
Cheers to the unofficial start of Summer and SNACKING!
Hi, I’m Lindsay! Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of 
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Debs says
May 30, 2017 at 7:53 AMAbsolutely love these Lindsay! They look and sound awesome. Good luck to your husband in his bike race!!!!
Cotter Crunch says
May 31, 2017 at 8:11 AMthank you so much deb!!
Emily says
May 30, 2017 at 8:43 AMI love that your sherpa wife came alive to create things that your husband can eat during his race. 100 miles is a LONG race. O_O I only rode 100 miles once, and we definitely ate a lot of food.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
May 30, 2017 at 10:38 AMI have no idea what cowboy cookies are, but I’m sure I could gobble these up easily!
Lindsay Cotter says
May 30, 2017 at 7:45 PMhaha! Yes, I can tell you these are VERY easy to gobble up!
Debra C. says
May 30, 2017 at 11:57 AMOoh what a yummy bite great for a snack too!! Loving thiese little bites!!
Lindsay Cotter says
May 30, 2017 at 7:46 PMThanks Debra! Would love it know if you make these!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
May 30, 2017 at 12:11 PMI’ve never had a ‘cowboy’ cookie before, but I’m totally down with this! Loving all those flavours packed into one little bite. But, honestly, it would be very hard to eat just one of these 😉 Awesome that they are no bake too. Perfect for the summer when the weather warms up. Pinned! Have an awesome week!
Lindsay Cotter says
May 30, 2017 at 7:50 PMThanks, Dawn! Really hope you get a chance to make and try these! Yep, you’ll have a hard time eating just one! lol
You have an awesome week too!
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
May 30, 2017 at 12:41 PMThese cowboy cookie energy bites look and sound amazing! I definitely need to make some of these yummy treats soon! Love grab & go snacks.
Lindsay Cotter says
May 30, 2017 at 7:52 PMYes, please do make and enjoy! Thanks, Stephanie!
Mary // Chattavore says
May 30, 2017 at 12:58 PMCan you believe I am 38 and have never actually watched Dazed and Confused? Just clips here and there.😂But yes, it is unofficially official: summer is here. These energy bites sound delicious!
Kristen says
May 30, 2017 at 1:17 PMYou make energy bites look easy! I love this idea. So creative!
Lindsay Cotter says
May 30, 2017 at 7:53 PMThanks, Kristen!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
May 30, 2017 at 1:38 PMThese are right up my alley! I absolutely love dark chocolate. And, I’m so impressed your husband is going to bike 100 miles! The most I’ve ever done is 20, in cycling class. I’d need these energy bites for sure!
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
May 30, 2017 at 2:07 PMI feel like Kiwi isn’t even going to blink about biking 100 miles 😀
Meanwhile, I’ll be on my bum eating these 😀
Cotter Crunch says
May 30, 2017 at 5:51 PMhaha I’ll join you!
Beth says
May 30, 2017 at 2:07 PMThese have so many healthy ingredients included, I’m not you sure have to justify making them. Add them to the getting my daily supply of fiber and leave it at that! 🙂
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
May 30, 2017 at 3:04 PMI’ve never heard of cowboy cookies either… but they sound like what we called Millionaire Cookies. Either way, these balls look like something I need. It’s basically everything I love, rolled into a little ball. 😉
Cotter Crunch says
May 30, 2017 at 5:52 PMI like millionaire cookies. Makes me feel rich. LOL!
Jody - Fit at 59 says
May 30, 2017 at 3:05 PMOK – YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Cassie Autumn Tran says
June 1, 2017 at 7:53 PMOh goodness me, look at these delicious cookie energy bites! The oats and the chocolate chips look absolutely DELICIOUS. And once I start dating someone, I wouldn’t be NEARLY as enthused about sharing my desserts with him, unless if they are made FOR him. LOL!
Kara says
September 30, 2017 at 7:21 PMI don’t see the almond floor in the directions but it’s listed as an ingredient?
Cotter Crunch says
September 30, 2017 at 8:27 PMOh oops! I’ll add it now. It’s with the oats, chocolate chip part. You mix it in.
Laura says
May 29, 2018 at 3:44 PMHi Lindsay! These look and sound incredible! One quick question for you, and sorry if it has been asked already (didn’t read all the comments)… could I sub coconut flour for almond flour? It’s what I have on hand most often (well now… because I need these now) 😬🍪💃🏻
Thanks!!!
Lindsay Cotter says
May 29, 2018 at 7:06 PMHi Laura! I think you could use coconut flour, but you might need to adjust the peanut butter and/or honey. Coconut flour is a bit more dry so sometimes it needs more liquid to hold. Hope that helps!