This recipe for No-Bake Peanut Butter And Oatmeal Balls is the best of both worlds - super easy and fast to make, loaded with nutrients, healthy, and delicious. These energy bites are perfect for a post-workout snack or beating the afternoon slump.
Is the February Funk a thing? Because I have to say, I've been in a bit of a funk lately. I always get this way this time of year. That general feeling of blah-ness, mucking about, trying to figure out which way is up.
Maybe it's the never-ending cold (although Colorado cold is not nearly as bad as the drizzly Illinois cold we used to live in). Or, it could be those early dark nights - watching the hasty sun go down far too quickly, six o'clock feeling like ten.
But, the dark afternoons will soon be coming to an end. The days are slowly getting longer, daylight savings is on the horizon, and I'm slowly digging my way out of my funk. One thing that's helping? These no-bake peanut butter oatmeal energy balls.
These puppies are the perfect treat when I need a snack and a little extra oomph in my step. They're healthy, give me a great boost after a workout or when I need that 3 PM pick me up, and don't leave me feeling too guilty afterward.
What Makes This Recipe Great
- No Bake! These are so easy to make and are a godsend when you want to make a sweet snack but don't want to turn your oven on (these No-Bake Pumpkin Cookies are another winner!).
- Healthy. These are packed with protein and good for you ingredients.
- Indulgent. They're super delicious and are a great little energy bite when you want something sweet.
What's In These Peanut Butter Energy Balls?
- Rolled oats. That means good old-fashioned oats, not instant, or steel cut (instant is too powdery for this recipe and the steel oats are too tough). Oatmeal is the base of these balls and it gives them a nice chewy texture.
- Chia and flax seeds. Two powerhouses on their own, these seeds are bursting with good-for-you antioxidants, minerals, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein.
- Creamy peanut butter. Helps bind everything together and provides good energy. Try to choose a low-sugar variety here. Ingredient lists with only peanuts and a little bit of salt are best. You can also sub in other nut butters if you have peanut allergies or peanut butter isn't your thing.
- Honey and dates. To give these balls just a little extra sweetness.
- Chocolate chips and coconut flakes. Because they're GOOD!
Variations
These peanut butter energy bites are easy to customize to your liking. Don't like flax seeds or chia seeds? No problem - just omit them. But if you don't mind them, leave them in as they add extra nutrition and help to keep you feeling full a bit longer. And, if these are too sweet for you, just nix the honey. These are totally customizable so play around with the ingredients and find what works for you..
How To Make No-Bake Peanut Butter And Oatmeal Balls
These peanut butter and oatmeal bites are deceptively easy to make - you don't even have to turn on your oven! They come together quickly and use mostly pantry staples.
- Add everything to a bowl. Simply add all the ingredients to a large bowl and stir until everything is combined.
- Refrigerate the peanut butter/oatmeal mixture. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes or so. This makes the mixture much easier to handle.
- Form the energy balls. After chilling, remove from the fridge and use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to scoop portions of the mixture out and form into small balls. (Mine were about 1-inch in diameter). If the mixture seems dry at this point, add a tablespoon of water, mix, and try rolling again.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Place the energy balls all in an airtight container and pull one out anytime you need a little extra oompf in your day.
How Long Will These Keep?
This sweet snack will last for about two weeks in the refrigerator, kept in an airtight container. Fair warning: these lasted about 2 days at our house and I'm already ready to make a second batch. You may want to do yourself a favor and double the recipe. Just sayin.
Can I Freeze Them?
Yes! Pop these into a freezer bag and into the freezer and they'll last for about 3 months. I love making a big batch and freezing them, then just pulling them out when I need one.
Here's to the end of the February Funk!
(PS - These also go great with vanilla ice cream. Or so I've heard….)
If you make these No-Bake Peanut Butter And Oatmeal Balls, let me know what you think in the comments! Then tag me on Instagram with a pic!
More Easy Snacks
- Homemade Mexican Tortilla Chips
- Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels
- Maple Spiced Toasted Walnuts
- Apple Chips With Maple Tahini Dressing
- Deviled Eggs With Bacon And Jalapeno
- Cheddar Cheese Twists
- Spicy Caramel Popcorn
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
Recipe
No-Bake Peanut Butter And Oatmeal Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ⅓ cup coconut flakes
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup flax seed
- ⅛ cup chia seeds
- 1 ½ tablespoon honey
- ⅓ cup chopped dates
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes. This will make the mixture easier to handle.
- Roll the mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, if they last that long.
Notes
- You can customize these energy balls to your liking. The oats and the peanut butter (0r other nut butter) are the mainstays. Sub in different seeds, swap maple syrup for the honey or omit the chocolate chips and coconut.
- DON'T skip the chilling part. These peanut butter oatmeal energy balls really come together so much easier if you give the mixture a little time to harden up.
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