These healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal balls are a perfect grab and go snack. Easy to make and made without a food processor. Healthy and loaded with old fashioned rolled oats, peanut butter and almonds these delicious energy balls are hard to put down.
About These No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
- It takes less than 10 minutes preparation to whip up a batch of these peanut butter protein balls. Great for when you want a snack in a hurry.
- It’s cheaper and healthier than anything you could buy, and you know exactly what is in them.
- These are a great meal prep idea because they can be made and stored in the fridge for one week or frozen for up to three months.
Ingredient Notes
Peanut butter – helps to bind all the ingredients together. We used crunchy peanut butter, because we like the texture. If you don’t like crunchy peanut butter, smooth peanut butter can used.
Dark chocolate chips – we added dark chocolate because it is not as sweet as milk or white chocolate. If you prefer to use white or milk chocolate do so, but remember it also increases the sweetness.
Rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats) – are best for this recipe. For gluten free make sure to use oats that are certified gluten free (i.e. not packaged in a factory that produces other wheat products).
Slivered almonds – these add extra protein, texture, flavour and crunch to the peanut butter balls.
Honey – adds a natural sweetness without making them overly sweet. For vegan energy balls replace the honey with maple syrup or agave.
Vanilla bean paste – gives a nice subtle soft flavour that goes well with the other ingredients.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1 – First toast the almonds by placing into a skillet and heat over a medium flame.
Dry roast the almonds until they just turn golden brown and smell fragrant. Shake and stir the almonds from time to time to ensure even colouring.
As soon as they have turned a light brown remove from the heat. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool completely.
Don’t let the almonds cool in the hot pan because, they will continue to cook and can burn.
When the almonds have cooled, chop them into small pieces.
Step 2 – Add all the ingredients except the water into a mixing bowl, use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix until combined.
Step 3 – Test the mixture. Take a spoonful of the mixture and press it into a ball. If you find that it is a little dry and not holding shape mix in the water. Put in the fridge for 30 minutes before shaping into balls.
Step 4 – Take a heaped tablespoon of the mixture and shape into 24 even sized balls.
Variations On The Recipe
Use this recipe as a base and add one or two of these to add variety.
• White chocolate chips
• Shredded coconut
• Chopped dried fruit like cranberries, apricots or raisins
• Other nuts like walnuts, pecans, pistachios
• Seeds like sesame seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds or flax seed
• Cocoa powder
• Protein powder
• Replace the honey with maple syrup or agave to make it vegan
If after making a variation to the recipe and find the mixture little dry, add a little more peanut butter or 1-2 tablespoons of water.
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat raw oats in energy balls?
Yes, oats can be eaten raw especially when combined with other ingredients. If eaten on their own they are dry but will soften when combined with other moist ingredients.
Do energy balls have to be refrigerated?
Yes, they are best stored in the fridge where they will stay firm and hold their shape.
How do you store energy balls?
These peanut butter energy balls can be stored in the fridge for up seven days.
For longer storage, arrange in a single layer on a tray and freeze until hard. Once frozen transfer to a freezer bag or container. Keep in the freezer for up to three months.
Other Recipes To Make Using Peanuts
- Peanut butter cookies with salted peanuts
- Indonesian garlic peanuts
- Easy fried ikan bilis peanuts recipe – this is our family recipe and one you should try, It’s so good.
- Crock pot chocolate peanut clusters – by simplyhappyfoodie.com
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Ingredients
- 250 grams crunchy peanut butter
- 80 grams honey or use maple syrup to make it vegan
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 135 grams rolled oats
- 42 grams slivered almonds
- 60 grams dark chocolate chips
- 2 – 4 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Place almonds in a skillet and heat over a medium flame. Dry roast the almonds until they just turn golden brown and fragrant. Shake and stir the almonds from time to time to ensure even colouring. As soon as they have turned a light brown remove from the heat. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool completely. Don’t let the almonds cool in the hot pan because, they will continue to cook and can burn.
- When the almonds have cooled, chop them into small pieces.
- Place the peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), vanilla, chopped almonds, and chocolate into a large bowl and mix well. Note: if the peanut butter has a layer of oil drain this off before weighing and adding to the bowl. The mixture should just hold together when pressed into a ball. If not, mix in a little water until you get the correct consistency.
- Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for 30 minutes, this will allow the mixture to firm up, making it easier to shape into balls.
- Divide the mixture into 24 even portions and press together and shape into balls.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Notes
- White chocolate chips
- Shredded coconut
- Chopped dried fruit like cranberries, apricots or raisins
- Other nuts like walnuts, pecans, pistachios
- Seeds like sesame seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds or flax seed
- Cocoa powder
- Protein powder
- Replace the honey with maple syrup or agave to make it vegan
Nutrition
Love to try this recipe? PIN THIS to your Snack Recipes board on Pinterest.
More Delicious Sweet Snack Recipes To Make
- Easy strawberry muffins using fresh strawberries
- Homemade apple sauce
- Chocolate truffles with condensed milk
- Homemade baked donuts
- Browse all sweet recipes
Pocket Food Facts
Did You Know?
It takes just over 500 peanuts to make 340 grams (12 ounces) of peanut butter.
Image by Andrea Toxiri from Pixabay
These sound delicious! Thank you for sharing them with us at the Homestead Blog Hop. Please come back again soon!
I love every single ingredient in these! Yum! Thanks for sharing with the fiesta
This looks like a perfect in-between meals snack. I like that they can be frozen. Thanks for sharing.
I can feel the weight gain already just looking at it. Yum!
Yes, you are right eating too many can make you fat.