Peanut Butter Energy Balls are made with ground rolled oats, creamy peanut butter, and the perfect amount of chocolate chips. An easy, no-bake recipe, they’re the perfect healthy snack for kids and adults alike! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.
Table of Contents
- Why Peanut Butter Energy Balls Will Be Your New Favorite Snack
- Are Energy Balls Good for You?
- Nine Pantry Staple Ingredients You Need
- Blend, Mix, Chill: How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Tips for Success
- Flavor Variations
- How to Store and Freeze
- Common Questions About This Easy Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe
- More Easy Snack Recipes
- Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe
Why Peanut Butter Energy Balls Will Be Your New Favorite Snack
Who doesn’t love energy balls for snacks?! Bite-sized and poppable, they’re perfect for every occasion and are usually loaded with chocolate.
However, store-bought options are often loaded with unnecessary ingredients and aren’t exactly kind to the wallet. So, we decided to make our own!
Guaranteed to become your new go-to treat, these peanut butter energy balls are:
- Easy to prepare with minimal prep work or cleanup necessary.
- Refined sugar-free.
- Great for after-school snacks or to eat on the way back and forth from activities.
- Customizable to fit your flavor preferences and dietary needs.
- Full of fiber, nutrients, and healthy fats!
Are Energy Balls Good for You?
These peanut butter energy balls are so tasty, you’re probably thinking they’re just another sugary snack. But, we’re happy to announce that not only are they indulgent, but they’re good for you, too!
Of course, healthy looks different for everyone. So, please be sure to consult your doctor with any specific concerns.
However, generally speaking, this snack is full of healthy fats, fiber, complex carbs, and antioxidants. Even better, it’s completely refined sugar-free and made with antioxidants.
If all that doesn’t scream healthy, we don’t know what does!
Nine Pantry Staple Ingredients You Need
We almost always have everything we need for these peanut butter bites waiting for us on hand! Here’s what you need to make your snacking dreams come true:
- Rolled Oats – These are ground down to form the base of the balls. If preferred, you could skip a step, and use oat flour instead.
- Peanuts and Peanut Butter – Peanuts are ground with the oats to add extra texture and a stronger nutty flavor. Then, smooth peanut butter helps hold the balls together.
- Honey – Used to sweeten the balls without the need for refined sugar. Plus, the sticky texture helps them hold their shape.
- Coconut Oil – Unsalted butter or light olive oil can be used in its place if preferred.
- Vanilla Extract – Don’t omit this! It might seem insignificant, but it has a huge impact on the flavor.
- Chocolate Chips – We recommend using mini chocolate chips so you get delicious morsels of chocolate in every bite.
- Salt – Omit this is your peanuts are already salted.
- Chia Seeds – Technically optional, chia seeds add lots of healthy fats, fiber, and plant-based protein, making the peanut butter balls even more satisfying.
Blend, Mix, Chill: How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
This recipe is so simple even the kids can do it! With just a few steps, you’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time.
- Blend. Add the oats and peanuts to a blender or food processor, and pulse until a fine, flour-like texture is formed.
- Combine. Add the flour mixture to a large bowl along with the peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, and salt. Stir to mix and combine until a smooth “batter” is formed. Fold in the chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Pro-Tip: For a faster option, simply add the ingredients to the blender, and pulse until smooth! Then, stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
- Shape and Chill. Use a small ice cream scoop to portion out equal-sized balls. Roll them between your palm until round, and chill in the fridge until solid.
Tips for Success
- Adjust the batter. If your batter is too wet to hold together, add a little more of the oat flour mixture as needed. Alternatively, if it is too dry, add more honey or peanut butter until your desired consistency is reached.
- Roll the balls before chilling. It’s important to shape the batter before you chill it in the fridge. Otherwise, it will be tough and difficult to work with.
- Form bars! If you would rather have snack bars, line a square baking dish with
parchment paper . Then, press the batter down evenly, and chill as usual before slicing and serving.
Flavor Variations
One of the reasons energy balls are so fun to make is that there’s really no right or wrong way to do it as long as they keep their shape! Feel free to mix and match different ingredients to suit your preferences and dietary needs.
- Omit the chocolate chips. Enhance the nutty taste of these peanut butter energy balls by omitting the chocolate completely.
- Make it dairy-free. Use dairy-free chocolate chips to make these balls vegan.
- Swap the nut butter. Feel free to use any nut or seed butter you like best such as almond butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter.
- Add mix-ins. Additional items like unsweetened shredded coconut flakes, chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.), dried fruit like raisins or cranberries, and hemp seeds are an easy way to switch up the flavor and texture for a recipe that’s brand new.
- Create double-chocolate energy balls. Add cocoa powder or cacao powder to the batter to enhance the chocolate flavor. Adjust the peanut butter or honey as needed to hold the balls together, if you do.
How to Store and Freeze
These peanut butter energy balls are great to keep on hand for quick snacks on the go. So, go ahead and make a double or triple batch!
- Room Temperature: Store the balls in an airtight container in a cool, dry place at room temperature for one to two days.
- Refrigerator: Transfer the energy balls to an airtight container, and keep them stored in the fridge for up to one week.
- Freezer: Store your peanut butter energy balls in the freezer for up to three months!
For the best results, arrange them on a baking sheet, and place them in the freezer to solidify before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. Then, when you’re ready to eat, let them thaw in the fridge or on the counter, and enjoy!
Common Questions About This Easy Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe
While we don’t recommend eating raw oats straight with a spoon, you absolutely can eat them in their raw form! When combined with the other ingredients in this recipe, they help create the chewy texture that binds these energy balls together.
All of the ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free. However, we recommend reading the labels of the products you are using to ensure that there is no risk of cross-contamination and that they’re certified as being gluten-free.
Sure! These balls are great for breakfasts, snacks, or desserts.
There’s never a bad time to enjoy this recipe. However, they make for excellent pre or post-workout snacks!
More Easy Snack Recipes
If you enjoy these no-bake peanut butter energy balls, be sure to check out more of our favorite family-friendly snacks!
- Frozen Yogurt Fruit Cups
- No-Bake Monster Cookie Bars
- Heart-Shaped Stuffed Medjool Dates
- Chocolate Dipped Celery and Peanut Butter Logs
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup lightly salted peanuts or no salt added
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup melted creamy peanut butter
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon salt *if using unsalted peanuts
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds optional
Instructions
- In a blender, blend oats and peanuts until ground, it should resemble flour.
- Place mixture in a bowl and add peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, and salt *if using any. Mix until it comes together into a “dough.” *See note below.
- Add chocolate chips and mix until chocolate chips are evenly distributed.
- Form into 1 inch balls using a small ice cream scoop. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Fast note for anyone who has a dairy allergy: chocolate contains dairy, so this is not truly dairy-free food. Please be careful!
Can you substitute the peanuts for pb powder? If so how much powder would be equivalent to 1/2c peanuts?
You can, although we have not tried or tested it out ourselves. We recommend to start off with 1/4 cup PB powder if you feel the mix is too moist, add an additional 2 tablespoons. Let us know how it turns out! xo, Alia & Radwa
I made these and they were gone in an hour. They are the perfect bite. We loooved them and will be adding to our snack rotation. I have yet to try a recipe from you that my family didn’t love! Keep up the good work.
Hi Allyson- yess! That’s what happens in our homes too! Next time, try doubling the batch, they freeze well too! xo, Alia & Radwa
My son (who is 6) will pick these balls over cookies any day. It’s a healthy snack but he doesn’t need to know that 😂
Fantastic- easy to make, and manages my cravings for Reese’s cups! Thanks!
How many calories?
My daughter and I are addicted to these power balls! We make them peanut free (with hazelnut or cashews and tahini) and vegan and I add some shredded coconuts. So delish 💖 Thank you!!
Love the peanut free option and additional of shredded coconut! So glad you guys love it! <3
In your picture. They look much smoother.. why is that? Maybe I need to process the oats and nuts more?
Yes, you need to process them more, it should look like flour!
The most amazing peanut butter balls I’ve ever tasted 😍😍
I love this recipe but mine comes out to crumbly. Did I over blend the oats?
You actually may have not blended the oats enough! A couple suggestions- instead of mixing them by hand, try putting everything in the food processor (after you’ve blended the peanuts and oats). It really helps everything come together easier! Otherwise – you can add an a tablespoon of milk (dairy or non dairy) if it seems too dry!
Thank you!! I’ve made these weekly and everyone really loves them
What’s the substitute for honey? I’m allergic to honey..
You can do maple syrup or agave!
I am thrilled that I found your site! I do not cook (he cooks) and I can’t wait to make the peanut butter balls. I work with a trainer 3 days a week and I’m always looking for something new to eat before training!
Thank you so much, Deborah 😊🏃♀️
What should I substitute for coconut oil?
You can do unsalted butter, or light olive oil!