Peanut butter energy balls are healthy, tasty, convenient and made with just 6 simple (and common) pantry ingredients! They make an excellent grab-and-go breakfast, pre-workout snack or healthy dessert. The best part? You can make them in just ten minutes. Perfect little energy bites to give you a boost and keep hunger at bay.
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Peanut butter is seriously one of my favorite things in the world.
It's incredibly delicious, protein packed and full of healthy fats. Of course, some brands of this tasty spread contain fillers that aren't so great for you, so be sure the read the ingredients label. (source: webmd)!
I like using natural options, with minimal ingredients, whenever possible.
Can't get enough PB!? I also highly recommend this amazing Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal! And if it's chocolate you crave, be sure to try these Chocolate Bliss Balls.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
This simple recipe calls for just 6 basic and wholesome ingredients!
Oatmeal: I prefer to use whole grain, but quick oats will also work.
Creamy peanut butter: or substitute your favorite: sunflower butter, almond butter, cashew butter!
Honey: to add just a touch of sweetness. Agave nectar will also work as a vegan option.
Mix-ins: chocolate chips, chia seeds and pecans! Of course, you can get creative here and use whatever mix-ins your heart desires.
How to make peanut butter energy bites:
Keep scrolling for the full recipe and measurements. We'll start here with a quick overview!
- Measure 2 cups of whole grain oats into a small mixing bowl.
- Add peanut butter and honey. Mix well.
- Stir in your chopped pecans, chia seeds and chocolate chips (I highly recommend Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Chips - they are SOOO good).
- If dough is too crumbly, add just a little bit of extra peanut butter or a teaspoon of cold water.
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion dough evenly and roll into balls.
- Enjoy at room temperature or refrigerate/freeze.
Can oatmeal balls be frozen?
Definitely! You can store your oatmeal balls in an airtight container or Ziploc bags. Refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to three months.
This means you can make your bites ahead of time, in bulk, and enjoy for months! Perfect for meal-prep and easy snacking.
If frozen, let your treats sit out for 5-10 minutes before you eat them, or microwave for 5-10 seconds. This will soften them up a bit.
When should you eat peanut butter balls?
Peanut butter oatmeal balls are a great way to get the day started. I like to eat them for breakfast with a big cup of coffee or as a pre-workout snack. They even make an excellent, healthy dessert when you're craving a sweet treat!
Can you eat raw oats?
Oatmeal is most commonly boiled in milk or water and eaten as a hot cereal.
However, it's perfectly safe to eat oats raw. In fact, oatmeal from the grocery store has gone through a heating process to make kernels digestible. This means that they're technically cooked at time of purchase (source: healthline).
Handy Tips
- Feel free to get creative with this recipe, lots of different mix-ins go well with whole oats and peanut butter! You can use walnuts, pine nuts, chopped dates, cranberries, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, chocolate chunks, agave, ground flax seeds and so much more!
- If your dough is too crumbly and you're having trouble rolling it into balls, mix in a bit more peanut butter or a teaspoon of cold water. Additional moisture will make the dough more moldable.
- If you have a little extra time, you can press your dough into a parchment paper lined baking sheet and chill for about an hour. Remove dough by pulling parchment paper up out of the dish. Cut into squares to make oatmeal bars!
- A cookie scoop is very helpful for portioning out your peanut butter oat balls. I use the one pictured here (It's a one tablespoon sized scoop).
More make-ahead breakfast ideas!
- Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookies | No-Bake
- Almond Flour Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Gluten Free Orange And Chocolate Chip Scones
- Simple Protein Coffee Recipe (Or Proffee)
- Ham & Cheese Quiche Cups (Crustless)
- Blueberry Pecan Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Honey Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
- Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls (No Bake)
Equipment
- Small cookie scoop (1 tablespoon)
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- 2 cups whole grain oats *quick oats will also work
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter *see note below
- 2 tablespoons honey *or agave
Mix-ins *feel free to get creative here!
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 4 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 4 tablespoons dark chocolate chips *see note below
- *Other mix-in ideas: walnuts, pine nuts, chopped dates, cranberries, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, chocolate chunks, flax seeds
Recipe notes:
Peanut butter: I prefer to use a natural peanut spread with minimal healthy ingredients, but any will do. You can also substitute your favorite nut or seed butter! Chocolate chips: I always use Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips - they are SO good. I highly recommend them!Instructions
- Measure oats into a small bowl. Add peanut butter and honey. Use a spatula to mix until well combined.
- Stir in your desired mix ins! Here I'm using chia seeds, chopped pecans, and dark chocolate chips.
- Form dough into 1 tablespoon sized balls (a cookie scoop is very helpful if you've got one)! If the dough is crumbly, add a bit more peanut butter or a teaspoon of cold water. This should make the dough easier to mold.
- Place balls into a Ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to a week (or freeze for up to 3 months)!
Video
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?!
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Marcia Claisse says
I’ve been watching my weight on my life but I’ve been on the weight watchers program for the last two years so all these recipes that I keep taking off I have to try to convert to the point system and find it a lot of them that I would love to have wind up being too many points. I will keep trying because I miss my sweets.
stacey_olson says
Sweets are the best. I don't know a whole lot about the WW point system but I'd like to learn!