8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (2024)

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By Melissa

5 from 8 votes

on Jan 04, 2021, Updated Mar 04, 2024

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8 simple no bake oatmeal energy ball recipes that you will love to make and snack on! Full of healthy whole food ingredients and so easy to make. Make a double batch, you won’t regret it!

8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (2)

Table of Contents

  • Oatmeal Energy Bites
  • 8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls Recipe

Oatmeal Energy Bites

We LOVE energy balls, and I have been making them pretty much non-stop this year. It’s an easy thing for the kids to grab out of the fridge, they travel great, they are so easy to make, and they taste like a cookie. These are going to become a fast family favorite in your house too – that I guarantee!

These are a great, easy, budget-friendly whole food snack you are going to make again and again. If you feel like your kids are constantly asking for food, you are going to love these. Best. Snack. Ever!

8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (3)
8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (4)

Here’s how you make energy bites:

  1. Add the peanut butter and honey to a small bowl and mix them up.
  2. Add the oats and other “mix-in’s” the recipe card has 8 different “recipes” for you to try and tips on how to try your own combinations!
  3. Mix everything together well.
  4. Let the mixture chill.
  5. Form into balls (about 10 to 12 per recipe).
  6. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for about a week.
  7. We loves these for easy breakfasts, snacks, and additions to lunches. They make the perfect little afternoon or nighttime treat.
8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (5)

Here are my favorite energy bite recipes:

I love that these are well balanced in fat, protein, fiber, and just the right amount of sweet.

  • Sweet and Salty
  • Blueberry Muffin
  • Peanut Butter Cookie
  • Vegan Banana
  • Monster Cookie
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
  • Double Chocolate
  • Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

All of these recipe are included in the recipe card! My personal favorite is the blueberry muffin version (I get small dried wild blueberries from Trader Joe’s) and my kids love the Monster Cookie oatmeal balls (because mini M&M’s…). I can’t wait for you to try them all an pick a favorite too.

8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (6)

Here’s a video on how making oatmeal bites should go!

More healthy snack recipes:

  • 10 Healthy Snacks You Can Prep in Advance
  • 8 Simple Healthy Smoothie Recipes
  • Homemade Granola Bar Recipes
  • 9 Date Energy Bites Recipes Everyone Needs
  • Extra Protein Oatmeal Bites (here’s how to add protein powder or collagen to oatmeal bites!)

8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (7)

5 from 8 votes

8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls

By: Melissa Griffiths

8 simple variations to my favorite no bake oatmeal energy ball recipes that you will love to make and snack on! Full of healthy whole food ingredients and so easy to make.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time: 20 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 10 balls

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Ingredients

Monster Cookie Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1/4 cup mini M&M’s
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup dried blueberries
  • dash of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Sweet and Salty Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup crushed pretzels
  • 1/4 cup chopped roasted salted almonds
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Peanut Butter Cookie Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup toasted coconut
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Double Chocolate Energy Bites

  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional

Vegan Banana Oatmeal Bites

  • 1 ripe, but not grossly ripe medium banana
  • 1 cup dry oats, (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
  • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips, (or something similar), optional

Instructions

For the Energy Bites (first seven sets of ingredients)

  • Add the nut butter and honey and stir to combine well. Add the all of the other ingredients and stir to combine well.

  • Refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes.

  • Use a spoon to scoop about a tablespoon of the cookie ball mixture into your hand. Roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. This should make about 12 oatmeal energy balls.

  • Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.

For the Banana Oatmeal Bites:

  • In a medium bowl, add the peeled banana and mash thoroughly with a fork.

  • Add the dry oats and chocolate chips and stir to combine.

  • Refrigerate until the mixture holds together, about 30 minutes.

  • Use a spoon to scoop about a tablespoon of the cookie ball mixture into your hand. Roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. This should make about 12 oatmeal energy balls.

  • Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.

Video

Notes

Tips and Tricks for Making No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls

  • Rest time is a must. Don’t skip the resting time. This is when the oats will absorb some of the moisture and will help everything stick together.
  • Don’t over measure your oats or add-in’s (don’t use heaping cups). It’ll throw off the ratios and they won’t stick together well.
  • If your oatmeal bites aren’t sticking together well, add something sticky. Different factors like the kind of oatmeal and mix-in’s you add are going to affect the “stickiness” of the energy balls. If they are too dry and won’t stick together after the resting time, your best bet is to add a tablespoon or two of something sticky (like the peanut butter and/or honey).
  • If they are too sticky add a few more tablespoons of oats.
  • If it’s sticking to your hands badly, wet your hands lightly with water! The water helps to be able to work the dough into a ball without sticking.
  • Add what you love. Don’t let my recipes stop you from adding what you think sounds good or what you might have on hand; these are just to get you started. You can also add some “superfoods” to these if you are looking to boost the nutrition (always a good idea, if you ask me). A tablespoon of chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and/or hemp hearts can be added to any and all of these recipes. Play with them! I’m going to make some with dried pineapple and cashew butter soon, because we love the stuff.

Substitutions:

  • When it comes to the oats: Did you know that quick cooking oats are still a whole grain? Unlike other “instant” kind of things, quick cooking oats are simply cut smaller. If you use quick cooking oats (sometimes called 1-minute oats), the texture of the oats will be softer/less chewy. If you use old-fashioned oats, the texture will be chewier. I found that a mix of the two was the best, though using one or the other will work well too.
  • When it comes to the honey: I did not do much recipe testing using anything other than honey. If you would like to experiment, I think that agave or brown rice syrup might be a good place to start, though I didn’t work with either.
  • When it comes to the peanut butter: You can use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, pecan butter, sunbutter, and just about any other nut butter that you like, though it will change the flavor of the oatmeal energy balls. I like to use almond butter when I don’t want the flavor of the nut butter to be very strong (like peanut butter). It worked great in recipes like the Blueberry Muffin No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls because the flavor is a bit more mellow than peanut butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Monster Cookie Energy Bites, Calories: 136kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 341mg, Potassium: 65mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 22IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Tips and Tricks for Making No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls

  • Rest time is a must. Don’t skip the resting time. This is when the oats will absorb some of the moisture and will help everything stick together.
  • Don’t over measure your oats or add-in’s (don’t use heaping cups). It’ll throw off the ratios and they won’t stick together well.
  • If your oatmeal bites aren’t sticking together well, add something sticky. Different factors like the kind of oatmeal and mix-in’s you add are going to affect the “stickiness” of the energy balls. If they are too dry and won’t stick together after the resting time, your best bet is to add a tablespoon or two of something sticky (like the peanut butter and/or honey).
  • If they are too sticky add a few more tablespoons of oats.
  • If it’s sticking to your hands badly, wet your hands lightly with water! The water helps to be able to work the dough into a ball without sticking.
  • Add what you love. Don’t let my recipes stop you from adding what you think sounds good or what you might have on hand; these are just to get you started. You can also add some “superfoods” to these if you are looking to boost the nutrition (always a good idea, if you ask me). A tablespoon of chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and/or hemp hearts can be added to any and all of these recipes. Play with them! I’m going to make some with dried pineapple and cashew butter soon, because we love the stuff.

Tips on Substitutions:

  • When it comes to the oats: Did you know that quick cooking oats are still a whole grain? Unlike other “instant” kind of things, quick cooking oats are simply cut smaller. If you use quick cooking oats (sometimes called 1-minute oats), the texture of the oats will be softer/less chewy. If you use old-fashioned oats, the texture will be chewier. I found that a mix of the two was the best, though using one or the other will work well too. I love Bob’s Red Mill organic oats for this recipe.
  • When it comes to the honey: I did not do much recipe testing using anything other than honey. If you would like to experiment, I think that agave or brown rice syrup might be a good place to start, though I didn’t work with either.
  • When it comes to the peanut butter: You can use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, pecan butter, sunbutter, and just about any other nut butter that you like, though it will change the flavor of the oatmeal energy balls. I like to use almond butter when I don’t want the flavor of the nut butter to be very strong (like peanut butter). It worked great in recipes like the Blueberry Muffin No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls because the flavor is a bit more mellow than peanut butter.

Ohhh I can’t wait for you to make these no bake oatmeal bites to enjoy with your family. When you do, I’d love to know which recipe you made and if you made more than one, which was your favorite! Enjoy from my kitchen to yours!

About Melissa

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8 No Bake Energy Ball Recipes You Have to Try! (2024)

FAQs

How many energy balls can I eat a day? ›

These 4-ingredient protein balls have about 128 calories so you should only eat 2 of these as part of a healthy amount of calories and fat. Keep in mind that you need to consider all the foods consumed in a day and keep it within the acceptable range for your height and weight.

Why are my energy balls not sticking together? ›

If your energy ball mixture isn't sticking together add a little more almond butter to help bind everything together.

Are energy balls good for you? ›

The Benefits and Best Time to Eat an Energy Ball

They can also act as a replenishing snack after the gym, this is mainly due to the protein that helps repair your muscles after a vigorous workout. Snacking between meals is a big contributor to weight gain, especially when we grab something that's quick and unhealthy.

How long can you keep energy balls in the fridge? ›

Store leftover energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. For nut allergies: In place of the almond or peanut butter, try sunflower seed butter.

Are protein balls good for weight loss? ›

Protein balls (or bliss balls, if you prefer) are great on-the-go snack if you're trying to eat healthily or looking to lose weight.

Is peanut butter good for you? ›

A Quick Review. Peanut butter packs many health-promoting nutrients that benefit heart health, blood sugar, and weight management. The nut butter might help you get a good night's rest and help you feel full longer. Peanut butter can be a good companion to apples, bananas, chocolate, or simply eaten by the spoonful.

Is it OK to eat peanut butter every day? ›

It is OK to eat peanut butter every day, but in moderation. Do not eat more than 2 tablespoons, approximately 32 grams, a day. This protein-packed spread is made by blending roasted peanuts into a thick paste and contains various nutrients that promote good health.

What is the best energy snack? ›

Jump Start Snacks
  1. Nuts. In addition to energy-extending protein and fiber, nuts are full of additional nutrients to refuel your electrolyte supply. ...
  2. Fruit. Soothe your sweet tooth while also boosting energy with the complex healthy carbs in fruit. ...
  3. Yogurt. ...
  4. Dairy. ...
  5. Edamame. ...
  6. Whole Grains. ...
  7. Beans. ...
  8. Lentils.

Is oatmeal with peanut butter healthy? ›

In terms of getting a shot of potassium, the peanut butter in the oats provides you with that. Peanut butter is a good source of healthy fats and protein. For those trying to build muscle and enjoy faster recovery sessions post-workout, this is good news.

What are energy balls made of? ›

Sticky, sweet, and studded with chocolate chips, they taste like little balls of cookie dough, but they're made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Dates bind them together, oats add fiber, and walnuts and almond butter pack them with protein and healthy fats.

Can protein balls go bad? ›

TO STORE: Refrigerate protein balls for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. TO FREEZE: Freeze protein balls for up to 3 months or longer (if they are airtight, you can freeze them practically indefinitely).

How many calories are in an energy ball? ›

There are 116 calories in 1 ball Energy Balls. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Can you eat too many protein balls? ›

Eating too many protein balls in one sitting can lead to bloating, gas, and other digestive issues.In addition, consuming excessive amounts of protein can put a strain on your kidneys. Protein is broken down into waste products that the kidneys must filter out of the blood and excrete through urine.

How many energy bars can you eat in a day? ›

Generally speaking, it is recommended that an individual consumes one to two protein bars a day to meet their nutritional goals. For individuals looking to gain muscle, consuming 2-3 protein bars a day can be beneficial since muscle-building requires more protein than fat loss.

How much energy should you eat a day? ›

For men of reference body size, the average allowance is 2,900 kcal/day; for women, it is 2,200 kcal.

How often should you eat for energy? ›

Eating regular meals and snacks helps keep your energy at an even level, without highs and lows. “Aim to eat every three to four hours. That means three small-to-moderate-size meals and two snacks,” says Raphael. Make them well balanced, and include complex carbs, proteins, and fats.

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