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 you 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 protein balls not sticking together? ›

If your protein balls are not sticking together you probably need to add a little bit more moisture. Add a teaspoon of water at a time until your protein balls stick together to form a ball!

Why are energy balls healthy? ›

These tasty bites are made with whole food ingredients, like dates, nuts and whole grains, and are packed with flavor. Full of healthy fat, fiber and protein, these energy balls will keep you full and energized through your afternoon (or morning) slump.

Do energy balls need to be refrigerated? ›

Energy balls will last a few days at room temperature. To make them last longer, store in fridge. Can I Make Energy Balls Without the Sweetener? The stickiness of the maple syrup or honey is not just for a touch of sweetness, but also essential to binding together the ingredients.

Can you eat too many protein balls? ›

It's best not to go overboard eating too many in one sitting! Protein balls make a stellar high protein snack, but they shouldn't replace full meals. As a guideline, two Peanut Butter Cacao Protein Balls make a serving and can be eaten once or twice per day to give you an energy boost without going over the top.

Are protein bites good for you? ›

By snacking on protein bites instead of sugary sweets, they are the perfect healthy alternative whenever you get hungry throughout the day. Provides An Energy Boost: The protein, healthy fats, and fiber in the nut butter energy balls pack the perfect punch when you need an energy boost to start your day off right.

Why are they called energy balls? ›

These balls are a simple no-bake, quick-to-make way to pack a ton of fueling power into a portable, easy-to-eat snack. I guess that's why they're called energy balls. And why nearly every single health-inspired blog out there has a version of these.

Is peanut butter high in protein? ›

They're rich in protein and healthy fat, and they're calorie-dense. Two tablespoons, or 32 grams, of peanut butter gives you 7.2 grams of protein. Peanut butter also contains: fiber.

When should you eat protein balls? ›

Due to the natural high sugars in protein balls, they can also be consumed as a pre-workout snack around 30 minutes before exercise to give you that energy boost you need to really achieve your fitness goals.

Are energy balls good for cholesterol? ›

Known as a top choice for lowering cholesterol, oat energy balls are versatile and convenient bite-sized snacks packed with heart-healthy ingredients.

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.

How many Energy Balls should you eat a day? ›

Protein or energy balls are a great snack to enjoy between meals, as they contain ample amounts of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. One or two balls will keep you satisfied and energised between your main meals.

Do Energy Balls go bad? ›

For the Energy Balls to keep its flavor and not go bad, it's best to store them in an airtight container and leave them refrigerated for 1 to 2 weeks. You can eat them cold right out of the fridge or let them come to room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour. These Energy Balls can also be stored in the freezer.

What is the shelf life of protein balls? ›

Shelf Life: Protein Health Balls will remain fresh up to 45 days room temperature & 3 months refrigerated.

How many red balls can you have in a day? ›

There is no restriction on the number of cans that can be consumed per day. Like any food or beverage containing sugars, The ORGANICS by Red Bull ® products should be consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced, varied diet and healthy lifestyle.

How many energy drinks can you have a day? ›

For most popular energy drinks, a healthy amount for adults is two servings per day. This means you can drink about 16 ounces (500 mL) of non-concentrated liquid energy drinks per day, including Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar.

How many energy can you have in a day? ›

If you decide to consume energy drinks, limit them to no more than 16 ounces (473 ml) of a standard energy drink per day and try to limit all other caffeinated beverages to avoid excessive intake of caffeine.

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.

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