These are my coconut key lime pie energy bites that *almost* made it into the AK Cookbook. They’re made with just 4 ingredients and packed with sooo much fresh, tangy, sweet key lime pie flavor.
Remember this Coconut Key Lime Pie Smoothie from a couple of years back? I took that creamy goodness and magically turned it into easy grain free energy bites that will have your taste buds dancing.
There are plenty of fun ways to customize these bites with more mix-ins and even a little extra indulgence. Any way you make them I know you’re going to LOVE this incredible snack recipe.
Ingredients in these key lime pie energy bites
When I say 4 ingredients, I mean it! These grain free key lime pie energy bites are SO easy to make, naturally sweetened, and packed with healthy fats to keep you satisfied. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:
- Cashews: you’ll need raw cashews to help create the “base” for the energy bites (instead of rolled oats, which I often use). They’ll give the energy bites a delicious boost of healthy fats.
- Dates: soft, pitted Medjool dates provide stickiness to hold the bites together, plus natural sweetness. No honey or maple syrup needed!
- Lime: we’re using both fresh lime juice and lime zest to really bring out that key lime pie flavor.
- Coconut: some unsweetened shredded coconut helps bind the bites together and give them a lovely tropical flavor. I love rolling the bites in extra coconut for the perfect treat.
Don’t forget this tip for softening dates
You may need to soften your dates if they’re not already soft. To do so soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of very warm water for 5-10 minutes. This will help them soften up and make them perfect for blending in your food processor. While the dates are soaking you can get all your other ingredients out, measured and ready.
Our fav nutritional boosters
Looking to add some extra protein, omega-3s, fiber, and/or healthy fats? Try blending in 1 tablespoon of:
The dough is plenty “moist,” so you can add any of these boosters right in when you blend the dough in your food processor!
Add a little indulgence
To make these energy bites a little bit more of a treat, try folding in 1 tablespoon of mini white chocolate chips, or melting some white chocolate chips with a little coconut oil and drizzling it on top of the bites. If you’re going with the drizzle, just be sure to freeze the bites for 30 minutes first, drizzle the chocolate, and then freeze again for 10 minutes before eating so that the chocolate solidifies.
Key lime pie energy balls in 3 easy steps
- Make the “dough.” Add all of the ingredients (except the extra shredded coconut) to a food processor and pulse together until well combined.
- Shape the bites. Use a small cookie scoop or your hands to roll the mixture into 14 balls.
- Jazz ’em up. Yes, you can enjoy the bites as-is, but I LOVE rolling them in extra shredded coconut! Refrigerate the bites, and then enjoy.
Storing tips
- To store: these vegan key lime pie energy balls will last for 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge.
- To freeze: feel free to add them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store them for up to 1 month. I prefer these energy bites straight from the freezer, and I’d recommend letting them soften up for about 5-10 minutes in the fridge or at room temp before eating them.
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More no bake snacks to try
- Chia Banana Bread Energy Bites
- Coconut Key Lime Pie Smoothie
- Coconut & Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- No Bake High Protein Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
- Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Hummus
Get all of my no bake snacks here!
I hope you love these coconut key lime pie energy bites! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Coconut Key Lime Pie Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup soft pitted Medjool dates (about 10 large dates)*
- ½ cup fine shredded unsweetened coconut
- Zest from 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ½ cup fine shredded unsweetened coconut, for rolling
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the extra shredded coconut to a food processor and pulse until ingredients are well combined and sticky. Roll into 14 balls. Next roll in shredded coconut if desired and place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Feel free to freeze these for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on June 2nd, 2023, and republished on April 8th, 2024.
Fantastic!!! So refreshing and such a nice change from nut butter protein bites. Soooo good in the freezer too!
if I was to use a vanilla flavored protein,owder, how should I adjust the recipe? Obviously I would cut down on the dates or eliminate them all together but how do I counteract the dryness of the additional protein powder?
The “dough” itself is relatively moist from the dates, so you can make them as is with a tablespoon of protein powder. I haven’t tested these without dates, so I can’t suggest omitting or cutting them down as they hold the bites together.
I loved the recipe for nut butter protein bites and these looked so beautiful. They are VERY sweet but not especially nutrient dense, even though I added flaxseed meal and chia seeds as suggested to dilute, if you look. at the ratio of dates to other ingredients, you can see why.
These provide more healthy fats than protein nutrient-wise, but I find that they’re still a great alternative to many sugary packaged snacks and treats!
Hello
I’m looking to make these, how can I make these high in protein? The flavours are what I’m after but I need a post workout snack!
Thank you!
Try adding in a few tablespoons of hemp hearts!
These were so delicious. Thanks for a lovely recipe. Also anyone calling you out for not using key limes but using ‘key lime pie’ in your description really needs to get a hobby. Life’s too short to be so petty!
So glad you enjoyed! And thank you haha – it’s just a flavor, not so serious 😉
These are not Key Lime! Key limes are grown on the Florida Keys, are yellow not green, and have a different flavor than the green lime you show. Please just call it a lime in the recipe, as you are giving wrong information to your readers.
Hi! You are more than welcome to use key limes in this recipe. In some places they are inaccessible, which is why I opted for regular limes. I call them “key lime PIE” specifically because it’s the best way to describe the flavor.
Can I used 1 cup of rolled oats instead of cashews in this recipe?
I wouldn’t recommend it as the texture will be much different!
Being a native Floridian, I was excited to see this recipe–until I looked at the ingredients. You cannot call something “key lime” unless it’s made with key limes, a totally different species, color, and taste than regular limes! Key limes are yellow, not green, and the flavor is distinct. Please change the name of your recipe!
Hi! You are more than welcome to use key limes in this recipe. In some places they are inaccessible, which is why I opted for regular limes. I call them “key lime pie” because it’s the best way to describe the flavor!
These were great – was it really necessary to correct the name? What a pathetically petty thing to do lol
Are there any other nuts you think would be a good swap? I love all nuts except Cashews and would love to make these.
Hi! I haven’t tested these using other nuts so I’m not 100% sure how the texture and flavor would come out. You could try using blanched almonds or walnuts!
Easy quick and so yummy
I just feel gifted with the work you do !
Thank you so much.
Love Silvia
Aw, thank you so much! Glad you’re finding recipes here that you love 🙂
Hi. I am allergic to nuts & grains. What can I use to replace cashew nuts in this recipe?
Hi Aleeya! Unfortunately, I don’t have a substitute for the nuts in this recipe as the cashews and coconut are key components. Sorry!
These were simple to make, and they’re delicious. Both my husband and I really enjoyed these.
Aw I am so glad you’re loving these, Shaina!
I had to make a second batch almost immediately because the first batch just vanished. Delicious, easy to make, , no added sugar,.
Haha LOVE THAT. So happy you enjoyed them!
So easy and full of flavor!
Perfect! I am so excited to hear that you are loving these energy bites 🙂
These are amazing! Will definitely make again and again.
YUM! So glad to hear you’re enjoying these energy bites, Janae!
These were fabulous. It really tasted like a mini key lime pie. A few minor changes. I didn’t have shredded coconut only coconut chips I used a coffee grinder to get them more of a powder consistency. How would coconut flour work as a substitute? I measured 2 limes I zested. One was 1/4 tsp, the other was more 1/2 tsp so I used 1/2 tsp. For the juice I used one tablespoon regular freshly juiced lime juice and one tablespoon bottled key lime juice It was perfect. Definately gonna make another batch tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe!
Absolutely! I am so glad you found this recipe and it turned out great for you, Agatha!
Can you substitute dried apricots for dates?
I haven’t tested it, and it might change the flavor of this recipe, but let me know if you give this recipe a try with the apricots and how it turns out!
Do you need to soak the cashews?
No, you do not!
Thank you! I’m going to make them tonight!
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Enjoy!
Calling these Key Lime is a misnomer. Key limes are a separate species of lime grown on the Florida keys and they have a different flavor from regular limes. I believe Key Lime may even be copyrighted. Unless you change the name to just Lime instead of Key Lime Pie Bites, you giving the wrong impression.
Hi Eileen – Honestly, I called them “key lime pie” because it was the best way to describe the flavor! Hope you give these a try!
Cant wait to make this soon for me will try this even though am not a big fan of dates i never had key lime pie energy bites before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Hope you enjoy these!