These no-bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls come together quickly and easily with just a handful of simple pantry ingredients. Chewy, nutritious, and packed with protein, they're full of heart-healthy oats, creamy peanut butter, and mini chocolate chips!
About This Recipe
Once you make these peanut butter energy balls, you'll want to make them all the time. My wife and I have been trying to eat more whole foods lately, so we swapped out her store-bought protein bars for these, and she's been grabbing one before all her training sessions (she's training for a Marathon). They're so much healthier than any packaged snack bar, and the best part is you know EXACTLY what's in them. It's only 6 ingredients.
There are endless ways to make these energy balls. You can add dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate...basically anything you typically see in your favorite granola bars.
They're great for meal prepping too! You can store them in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for up to several months. Since peanut butter has quite a bit of fat, the balls stay somewhat soft even after freezing, so you can eat them without even defrosting. I actually think they taste amazing straight out of the freezer (but I use my back teeth to bite down on them :D)
Key Ingredients
Quick oats: I recommend quick oats because this is a no-bake recipe, and quick oats do not need to be cooked before eating. Technically, you could use rolled oats as well (since they can be eaten raw), but I find rolled oats are a bit too chewy for my taste. Quick oats are pre-steamed and crushed, so they're easier to bite into.
Peanut butter: For this recipe, you'll want creamy, processed peanut butter (also known as no-stir peanut butter). I don't recommend natural peanut butter because the separation of the oil and peanuts can make the balls a bit oily.
Mini chocolate chips: I prefer mini chocolate chips so every single bite gets a bit of chocolate. However, regular-sized chocolate chips will work fine, and you can swap in dark, white, or milk chocolate depending on what you prefer.
Ground flaxseed: This is a very nutrient-dense ingredient. It's packed with fiber and healthy fats. My wife and I love adding these to milkshakes, pancakes, and our morning yogurt bowls. I get the jumbo bag from Costco and keep it in my freezer for months.
Honey: For natural sweetness! I haven't tested this with other sweeteners, so do so at your own risk. Corn syrup would be the best substitute since it's similar in consistency to honey.
Shredded coconut (optional): I recommend sweetened shredded coconut as it is less dry than unsweetened. Also, sweetened tastes better.
Instructions
STEP 1: Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.
STEP 2: Use a large spoon to mix everything well, then chill for 10-15 minutes to set the dough (it'll be easier to roll).
STEP 3: Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll them smooth with your hands. Give them a gentle squeeze, so they stick together better.
STEP 4: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week or freeze for several months.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick oats
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup ground flaxseed
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup shredded coconut (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, mixing well.
- Cover and chill for 10-15 minutes to set the dough.
- Portion the dough into 1-inch balls with a cookie scoop and roll them into balls with your hands.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week or freeze for several months.
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