M&M Cashew Crunch Energy Bites
Updated Apr 23, 2025
These M&M Cashew Crunch Energy Bites are a delicious salty sweet peanut free snack!
M&M Energy Bites
When I was writing my cookbook, I wanted to make sure that I included recipes that specifically were made with alternatives to peanut butter.
I know not everyone can have peanut butter, or sometimes it isn’t a snack that your kids are able to bring to school.
These M&M Cashew energy bites are made with creamy cashew butter and have the best added crunch from mixing in chopped up salted cashews. As for the mini M&M’s, well who doesn’t love those?!
It’s fun to mix it up and if you have never tried cashew butter before this is a great way to start!
We have all our favorites energy bite ingredients here: oats, protein powder, salt, vanilla extract, and of course a creamy nut butter and sweetener to hold it all together.
Ingredients You Will Need
Here is what you need to make these energy balls.
- Natural creamy cashew butter: the only ingredients should be cashews, oil, and salt.
- Rolled oats: Also known as old fashioned oats, these give a nice chewy texture to the energy bites.
- Roasted salted cashews: These add a yummy salty flavor and crunchy texture to the recipe.
- Honey: The sticky sweetener that holds it all together.
- Vanilla protein powder
- Vanilla extract
- Salt: make sure to see the notes section for how much salt to add based on whether or not your cashew butter is salted or unsalted.
- Mini M&Ms: The sweet chocolate is the perfect contrast to the rest of the ingredients!
How to make M&M Cashew Crunch Energy Bites
Step 1: Use a food processor to process the salted cashews into small pieces.
Recipe Tip
If you do not have a food processor, you can roughly chop the cashews with a knife on a cutting board.
Step 2: Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl, then use a rubber spatula to mix it together until a thick batter forms.
Step 3: Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Use a mini cookie scoop to drop balls of batter onto the baking sheet. Roll each ball with your hands to smooth out the edges.
Joy’s Tip
A mini cookie scoop is a game changer for making energy bites! It makes the process go a lot faster and cleanup easier. I recommend a 1.5 tablespoon sized scoop.
Step 4: Place the baking sheet with the energy bites on it into the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until the balls are hardened.
Storing
Leftover energy bites can be stored in an airtight container or bag. They will keep 5-7 days in the refrigerator, or 2-3 months in the freezer.
More Energy Bite Recipes
- Peanut Butter Energy Bites
- Cinnamon Roll Energy Bites
- Strawberry Energy Balls
- Espresso Energy Bites
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Bites
- Chocolate Protein Balls
- Monster Cookie Energy Bites
- Oatmeal Cookie Energy Balls
- Cookies & Cream Protein Balls
- Banana Bread Energy Bites
- Almond Butter Protein Balls
- Birthday Cake Protein Balls
- Pecan Pie Energy Bites
- White Chocolate Pumpkin Energy Bites
M&M Cashew Crunch Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup natural creamy cashew butter, see notes
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup roasted salted cashews
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt, see notes
- ½ cup mini m&m’s
Instructions
- Use a food processor to pulse the cashews into small pieces.
- Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl, then use a rubber spatula to mix it together until a thick batter forms.
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Use a mini cookie scoop to drop balls of batter onto the baking sheet.
- Roll each ball with your hands to smooth out the edges.
- Place the baking sheet with the energy bites on it into the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until the balls are hardened.
- Transfer the energy bites to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Notes
Cashew butter note
Natural cashew butter does not have added sweetener. The only ingredients should be cashews, oil, and salt.How much salt to add
If your cashew butter does not contain added salt, use the full amount listed in the recipe. If it does have salt in the ingredients, only add ¼ teaspoon of salt, or salt the batter to taste.Nutrition
