No bake energy balls are quick natural snacks to throw together from oats, peanut butter, honey and other proteins! Roll them into balls and enjoy them as a snack, dessert or as an after workout bite!
These sweet no-bake treats caught my attention after trying them as a snack at someones house. First bite, and I was impressed how tasty such a simple little snack can taste! This is the snack that has good-for-you-ingredients, can easily be gluten-free and are super easy to make! Energy balls are so interchangeable, which means you can use different pantry items available on hand! I’m going to break down the 3 basic ingredients for binding this together and then the mix-ins! My children even request these snacks! So, if you can get healthy snacks to taste this good, it’s a winner in my book!
The 3 main ingredients in energy balls!
No-bake energy balls consist of 3 main ingredients! In fact, you can make these natural snacks using these three ingredients alone! If you have peanut butter, honey and oats you can make these treats! Add-ins are totally optional and very interchangeable! So, if you have coconut flakes, Craisins, nuts or flax seeds sitting around they’ll make great mix-ins! If you want to make the basic 3 ingredient energy balls, simply add enough oats to bind the mixture and that’s it folks, it’s really that easy and protein packed!
No Bake Energy Balls
Ingredients
No Bake Energy Balls:
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 2/3 cups honey
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 2 1/2 cups rice cereal
- 2 cups coconut flakes
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup nuts
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
How to make No Bake Energy Balls:
Combine all the ingredients into a large. Mix well. If the mixture is too dry add more peanut butter. If the mixture is too wet add more oats. Mixture should glue together when pressed.- Form into large balls using an ice cream scoop or using a 1/4 cup scoop thats almost full.
- Place rolled balls onto a tray and refrigerate until solid. Transfer to a zip-loc bag and keep refrigerated or freeze.
Notes
- Keep refrigerated for up-to 2 weeks or keep frozen for up-to 3 months.
- Use a raw smooth honey or maple syrup for the sweetener.
- Quick cooking oats or Old fashioned rolled oats can used.
Nutrition per serving
Q&A
What are energy balls?
Energy balls is a raw snack typically made from peanut butter, oats and a sweetener. Healthy add-ins are commonly used and then the snack gets rolled into balls. They go by various names but the concept is the same. Here are a list of names commonly used:
- energy bites
- protein balls
- power balls
- vegan truffles
- natural snacks
- peanut butter oatmeal balls
- raw snacks.
What make good add-ins?
The basic three ingredients in making energy balls are peanut butter, honey and oats. Use any of the following ingredients to compensate the others in the recipe:
- bran (don’t exceed 1 cup for this recipe)
- coconut flakes
- raisins
- nuts
- chocolate
- cereals
- granola
- flax seeds
- chia seeds
- Craisins.
Can I use crunchy peanut butter?
If using crunchy peanut butter omit the nuts called for.
Are energy balls gluten-free?
Depending on the kind of cereal or grains used this can be gluten-free. Using a high quality gluten-free oatmeal or a gluten-free rice cereal will make this gluten-free so choose ingredients accordingly.
Can I use different nut butters?
Yes! Here is a list of different nut butters to use:
Can I use different sweeteners?
Yes! Agave syrup, maple syrup or honey all work as great natural sweeteners!
Whats the difference between power balls and energy balls?
Power balls are very similar to energy balls and both use the same basic 3-ingredients of which are, honey, oats and peanut butter. Power balls are ground using a food processor and energy balls are rolled whole.
Can I freeze energy balls?
Yes! This recipe makes a large batch, which makes it freezer friendly! Energy bites freeze very well! Flash freeze first before storing in a freezer zip-loc bag.
How do you store energy bites?
Energy bites can be kept refrigerated for up-to 2 weeks (if they’ll last that long.)
Can I substitute the rice cereal?
Yes! Any kinds of granola or dried cereals can be used. I’ve even used banana flavored cereal that I had on hand before.
Can you eat raw oats?
Yes! It is safe to consume raw oats! Since rolled oats are steamed and heated during the processing stage, it is safe to consume. Read more about the safety of raw oatmeal here.
Tips
- Mix and match any of the add-ins mentioned.
- Best served chilled!
- Use different flavored chocolate chips for special treats.
- Omit the nuts and use crunchy peanut butter!
