Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (use gluten-free if needed)
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
- ⅓ cup honey (or pure maple syrup for vegan)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips (or chopped dark chocolate)
- ⅓ cup ground flaxseed (or chia seeds)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt (about ⅛ teaspoon)
Optional Add-Ins:
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)
- 2 tablespoons protein powder
- ¼ cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, chopped dates)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace: Line a baking sheet or large plate with parchment paper and set aside. This is where you’ll place your rolled energy balls to chill. Make sure you have some counter space cleared for easy rolling.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Stir together with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula until well blended and smooth. If your peanut butter is very thick or cold from the fridge, you can microwave this mixture for 15-20 seconds to make it easier to mix – but this isn’t necessary.
- Add the dry ingredients: Add the rolled oats, ground flaxseed, chocolate chips, and salt to the bowl with the wet ingredients. If you’re using any optional add-ins like coconut, protein powder, or cinnamon, add them now as well.
- Mix thoroughly: Using your wooden spoon or sturdy spatula, mix everything together until completely combined. The mixture will be thick and slightly sticky – this is exactly what you want! Keep mixing until you don’t see any dry oats and everything is evenly distributed. This might take 1-2 minutes of good stirring.
- Check consistency: The mixture should hold together when you squeeze a bit in your palm. If it seems too dry and crumbly, add more peanut butter or honey, 1 tablespoon at a time. If it’s too wet and sticky, add more oats, 1 tablespoon at a time. The perfect consistency should be moldable but not overly sticky.
- Chill the mixture (optional but recommended): For easier handling, cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for 15-30 minutes. This firms up the peanut butter and honey, making the rolling process much less messy. You can skip this step if you’re in a hurry, but chilled mixture is definitely easier to work with.
- Portion the balls: Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon) or a regular tablespoon, scoop out portions of the mixture. A 1-tablespoon portion makes perfect bite-sized balls. You should get about 20 balls from this recipe.
- Roll into balls: Take each portion and roll it between your palms to form a smooth, round ball. Apply gentle but firm pressure – you want them compact enough to hold together well. If the mixture sticks to your hands, slightly dampen your palms with water or lightly coat them with coconut oil.
- Arrange on prepared sheet: Place each finished energy ball on your parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart (though they don’t spread, so spacing isn’t critical).
- Final chill: Once all balls are rolled, refrigerate the entire baking sheet for at least 30 minutes. This final chill helps them firm up and hold their shape perfectly. They’ll go from slightly soft to perfectly holdable.
- Store and enjoy: Transfer the chilled energy balls to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy whenever you need a healthy, energizing snack! They’re ready to eat right away or can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Nut butter consistency matters: If your peanut butter is very liquidy, you may need to add an extra 2-3 tablespoons of oats. If it’s very thick and dry, add an extra tablespoon of honey to help binding.
- Make them vegan: Simply substitute maple syrup for honey and use dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Nut-free version: Use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of peanut butter. Be aware that sunflower seed butter can sometimes turn green due to a reaction with baking soda in some recipes (though this recipe doesn’t contain baking soda).
- Protein boost: Add 2-4 tablespoons of vanilla or chocolate protein powder. You may need to add a bit more honey or peanut butter to compensate for the dryness.
- Rolling tip: If the mixture is too sticky, wet your hands slightly or rub a tiny bit of coconut oil on your palms before rolling each ball.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 energy ball
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg