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

Are energy balls actually healthy? ›

No bake energy balls are a perfect healthy snack, treat, and breakfast on the go. They are balanced with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Energy balls for runners, kids, grandma, and anyone between!

How many energy balls should 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 aren't my protein balls sticking together? ›

As you're making these, if you find the protein balls aren't sticking together, it's likely because your dough doesn't have enough moisture. If it seems too dry, add in 1 tbsp of maple syrup or even almond milk at a time until the dough molds together better.

Are power balls good for you? ›

THEY'RE HIGH IN PROTEIN

Protein balls, as their name suggests, are a great source of protein. With the inclusion of protein powder plus other protein-rich ingredients such as nut butters, nuts, seeds and a variety of other ingredients, protein balls make for a great protein-packed snack and delicious treat.

Does peanut butter have healthy fat? ›

Peanut butter does contain plenty of heart-healthy unsaturated fatty acids, per the USDA. “Peanuts and peanut butter is rich in oleic acid, a type of omega-9 fatty acid which helps lower LDL or bad cholesterol,” says Largeman-Roth.

Do energy balls have to be refrigerated? ›

DO ENERGY BALLS NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED? Energy balls should be chilled to firm them up but are fine at room temperature as well. The great thing about these is that you can really make them your own to suit what you like. Here are some more ideas for healthy snacks.

What is the best energy snack? ›

10 Foods to Energize Your Afternoon
  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.

Do energy balls really give you energy? ›

The Benefits and Best Time to Eat an Energy Ball

If you want sustained maximum energy take an energy ball just before you hit the gym, as the proteins and carbohydrates help build lean muscle, boost energy (as they suggest) and keep your weight in check.

Does oatmeal give you energy? ›

Energy Booster:

Oats are rich in carbohydrates and this makes them an ideal breakfast option. The high amounts of B vitamins are another reason why oats boost the energy levels in the body. Since the fibre component is high, oats keep you feeling fuller for longer and you face less of the energy dumps.

Do protein balls go bad? ›

If bites are held outside of a refrigerated space (longer than 5 days) or hot warm temperatures for a prolonged period of time (48 hours) this can cause the bites to mold. Your protein bites are still good to eat for up to 5 days without refrigeration.

Can you mix peanut butter and protein powder? ›

In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup of the milk, protein powder and sweetener until smooth. Whisk in the peanut butter and the remaining ¼ cup of milk until completely smooth. Give it a taste and add more sweetener or a pinch of salt to taste. Scoop into a jar, seal tightly, and refrigerate to store.

Why are they called energy balls? ›

Why Are They Called Energy Balls? To put it simply, they give you energy! Ingredients like peanut butter, flaxseed, and chia seeds are filled with protein and good fats. Old-fashioned oats contain carbohydrates, which are also known to provide energy and stamina.

Does Powerball help carpal tunnel? ›

Spinning Powerball for at regular intervals for even a couple of seconds is enough to boost circulation in the upper limbs and prevent the onset of numbness or injury.

Why are energy bites so popular? ›

Energy Bites are a healthy no-bake snack you will actually look forward to! They're filling, easy to make (no food processor needed!) and stay good for days in the fridge. Energy Bites are convenient and perfect for snacks on-the-go or as a sweet treat in the lunchbox!

How healthy are bounce protein balls? ›

Bounce balls are a great snack choice for individuals looking to achieve a healthy balanced diet due to their composition of healthy fats from nuts and seeds, low to medium GI carbohydrates from brown rice and quality protein from whey/pea and brown rice. Bounce products are also a good source of fibre.

How much sugar is in energy balls? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 17
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 10g
Added Sugars 9g18%
14 more rows

Why are energy bites good for you? ›

Energy Bites Contain NO Refined Sugar & Lots of Nutrient Packed Ingredients. The best part about Energy Bites? There is absolutely no refined sugar!

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