• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life Around The Table
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
    • Alternative Flours
    • Comfort Food
    • Most Popular
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Blog » Recipes

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

Jun 27, 2021 · 21 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

These no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls are the perfect yummy treat. Nourishing and energizing, they provide fuel for a busy person.  Oats, unsweetened shredded coconut and ground flaxseed are held together with sticky natural peanut butter and coconut oil. Peanut Butter Energy Balls are sweetened with just maple syrup and mini chocolate chips.

This recipe is dairy-free and gluten-free which makes it a perfect addition to your recipe collection for you or anyone in your circle of friends who has dietary restrictions. (Another recipe idea to check out if you have various dietary restrictions are my Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies.)  Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls are a favourite for satisfying cravings for chocolate and sugar and you feel great after eating them.

They freeze well and are such a handy quick snack to grab when you’re hungry and running out the door. I try to never leave the house without a nutritious snack!

This recipe has been a staple for me for at least the last 10 years. I often triple or quadruple the recipe and put several batches in the freezer because they make a great "grab and go" snack for the whole family. I have relied heavily on these snacks after each of my three pregnancies when I’m breastfeeding and never know when hunger will strike.

I will always remember the time when hunger struck at the most inopportune time. In 2017, Geoff and I hopped on a plane to see Vancouver for the first time when our oldest son was just 3 and a half months old. We did SO much hiking and walking and I was exclusively breastfeeding so the amount of calories I was burning was insane.  I was not prepared.

I seriously wish I had taken a batch of these powerballs with me. We did some mountain hikes and lots of walking around the city but our longest walk was actually around the seawall.

Walking around the seawall takes hours. It’s about a 10 km walk. I was already hungry when we started out but my friend who was travelling with us insisted that it was only a 5 km walk and I thought I could push through. My son was in the midst of a major growth spurt and I had stopped to breastfeed him twice before we were even halfway around the sea wall and shortly after setting him back into his stroller and starting off again, I started to feel very hungry and shaky and dizzy. Not a good sign!

I joked around a bit that I wasn’t going to make it but then I seriously started to feel light headed. In desperation, my friend actually chased down a family walking by who had a bag of sliced apples. She asked them to give us some and they passed her the whole bag. No doubt they were a bit intimidated to be chased down for food!  I still feel a bit bad for that family but I am certainly glad they had the foresight to pack a snack! I started to feel SO much better after eating a few apple slices. We made it the rest of the way around the sea wall, found the first burger place we could and ordered a huge dinner.

As a new mom, I didn’t realize how suddenly my blood sugar could drop!  Needless to say, I learned a big lesson from that scenario.  Postpartum is a time when I absolutely can’t leave the house without a snack. I need nourishing food options to fuel my busy life and these peanut butter oatmeal energy balls are the easiest way to be prepared.

When I am running out the door with no time for breakfast, I have also been known to grab 3-4 of these snacks.   Geoff works from home and has commented that when these are in the fridge,  he has a way more productive afternoon of work.  Peanut Butter Energy Balls get him through that midday lull. If you make this recipe, please take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lifearoundthetable.ca. I would love to see them!  Enjoy!

Why You Have to Try Energy Balls!

  • Naturally sweetened with delicious maple syrup.
  • Easily store several batches in the fridge or freezer. 
  • An easy grab-and-go snack for any time of day.
  • The perfect treat to drop off to a postpartum mom or a friend who is extra busy. 
  • Provides a boost of energy for your day. 
  • Gluten-free and dairy-free.
  • No-bake! You can make them so quickly.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls Notes

It’s best to store ground flaxseed in the fridge in a bag or a container that protects it from light. The cool temperatures help to preserve the delicate fats in the ground flax and prolong its shelf life.

You can use regular-sized chocolate chips if that’s all you have in your cupboard. I do that all the time! The mini chocolate chips are my preference because the balls stay together with a little better with them and I find it’s nicer to get smaller bites of chocolate throughout.

Your hands will definitely get messy when you’re rolling these balls together.  Don’t worry!

If you find the balls are not staying together very well and the mixture seems a tad too dry, try adding a bit more peanut butter.  If the mixture seems a bit too sticky, you can add another tablespoon of shredded coconut. Sometimes the recipe has to be adjusted slightly depending on how dry your preferred brand of peanut butter is.

If peanut butter isn’t your favourite flavour, you could try substituting any nut or seed butter such as almond butter, sunflower seed butter, tahini or cashew butter.

How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

In a large bowl, combine the oats, unsweetened shredded coconut, ground flaxseed, cinnamon and cocoa powder, mixing well.

In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil on low heat until just melted. To the large bowl add the peanut butter, maple syrup and melted coconut oil.  Stir together all ingredients.

Add in the mini chocolate chips and stir again.

Form dough into small balls approx 1 tablespoon to 1 ½ tablespoon in size. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Save Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls to Pinterest:

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls Recipe

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls Recipe

Christy Faber
These no-bake Peanut Butter Powerballs are the perfect yummy treat.  Nourishing and energizing, they provide fuel for a busy person.  Oats, unsweetened shredded coconut and ground flaxseed are held together with sticky natural peanut butter and coconut oil.   Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls are sweetened with just maple syrup and mini chocolate chips. This recipe is dairy free and gluten free which makes it a perfect addition to your recipe collection for you or anyone in your circle of friends who has dietary restrictions.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Chilling in Fridge 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 22 Energy Balls
Calories 141 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ¼ cups rolled oats gluten-free
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
  • ½ cup ground flaxseed 
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 
  • pinch of salt
  • ½ cup natural peanut butter   or any nut butter
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup 
  • ¼ cup coconut oil melted
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips dairy-free if desired

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl combine the oats, unsweetened shredded coconut, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, salt and cocoa powder, mixing well.
  • In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil on low heat until just melted.
  • To the large bowl, add the peanut butter, maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Stir together all ingredients.
  • Add in the mini chocolate chips and stir again.
  • Form dough into small balls approx 1 tablespoon to 1 ½ tablespoon in size.
  • Store in the fridge or freezer.
  • Makes about 20-22 small balls.

Video

https://lifearoundthetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LQ-Peanut-Butter-Oatmeal-Energy-Balls-V1.2.mp4

Notes

If you find the balls are not staying together very well and the mixture seems a tad too dry, try adding a bit more peanut butter.  If the mixture seems a bit too sticky, you can add another tablespoon of shredded coconut. Sometimes the recipe has to be adjusted slightly depending on how dry your peanut butter is.
If peanut butter isn’t your favourite flavour, you could try substituting any nut or seed butter such as almond butter, sunflower seed butter, tahini or cashew butter.
Keyword energy balls, healthy snacks, peanut butter

If you make these peanut butter energy balls please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went!  Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!

'Till next time,

Christy

Google Result Preview
recipe image
Recipe Name
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
Author Name
Christy Faber
Published On
2021-06-27
Preparation Time
15M
Cook Time
30M
Total Time
45M

More Recipes

  • Cranberry Apple Buckwheat Salad
  • Chocolate Covered Cranberries
  • Healthy Chocolate Pudding
  • 15+ Cookies Sweetened with Coconut Sugar

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aya says

    June 30, 2021 at 1:23 pm

    These look so delicious, and the recipe is great! I love the use of flaxseed in energy balls; it provides fuel and helps with the skin (fun fact)!

    I'm so happy that the family had snacks with them, lifesavers. When breastfeeding, snacks are essential to have even at home. My mum always made protein bars and balls to give her energy... or maybe we were a handful

    Thank you so much for the recipe! ☺️

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:08 pm

      That is a great fact! Thank you for your kind comment!

      Reply
      • Valery Brown says

        February 18, 2022 at 8:44 am

        5 stars
        I absolutely love these . I love to keep them in the freezer in a 4x batch. My husband and children love them too.
        They make an amazing healthy post partum nursing snack, a quick "I gotta get in the car right now without breakfast!" Snack,
        And they even feel like desert with your coffee or to curb your hunger for something sweet.
        Thanks for this recipe! It's a keeper for sure !
        What I love about these is that they're so easy to modify to add in anything you're feeling ! Bravo.

        Reply
  2. Sadie says

    June 30, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    This looks like such an awesome snack!! I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      Thank you! It's been one of my top survival hacks having these in the fridge for when life gets hectic!

      Reply
  3. Renee Rendall says

    June 30, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    5 stars
    I'm a lifelong peanut butter addict, and a few chocolate chips make everything better. Also, Vancouver is one of my favorite cities. Haven't been there since I was a teenager. Glad you survived your trip. 😉

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      I would really like to go back to Vancouver and conquer some more of those hikes one day!

      Reply
  4. Jeannie says

    June 30, 2021 at 7:45 pm

    5 stars
    I love energy balls they are my quick to go snack before and after running

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      I totally agree!

      Reply
  5. Kristy says

    July 02, 2021 at 4:52 am

    Sounds like a great healthy snack, adding it to my to make list.

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      Thank you! Hope you enjoy

      Reply
  6. Emma says

    July 02, 2021 at 8:52 pm

    Just finished making these! SO good!

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      SO great to hear! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Meg says

    July 07, 2021 at 12:35 am

    5 stars
    MMMmmmmm.....yep!!!

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 07, 2021 at 4:14 pm

      Reply
  8. Kimberlie says

    July 07, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    I’m excited to try these since they’re full of some of my favorite ingredients. I love that the recipe is simple, too.

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      July 15, 2021 at 12:43 am

      I hope you love them!

      Reply
  9. ashley says

    July 18, 2021 at 8:29 pm

    made mine with almond butter and love em! will be making these on repeat as i live on constant snacks 🙂 haha

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      August 18, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      That sounds delicious! Thanks for trying them!

      Reply
  10. Bekah says

    September 26, 2021 at 8:24 pm

    5 stars
    Just made these for the weekend and we gobbled them up! They were soo good! I love that they're easy to grab for my toddler and he loves thwm so much! Definitely doubling the recipe to stock up the freezer!

    I didn't have enough flaxseed, so I topped up with hemp hearts and it worked great!

    Reply
    • Christy Faber says

      October 13, 2021 at 10:31 am

      Great to hear that hemp hearts made a great substitution! So heart warming to hear that your toddler loved them too!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome,

I’m Christy

a happy wife and mother to three boys, a nutritionist, a food lover and a Canadian. Creating and experimenting in the kitchen is my idea of an afternoon well spent. To me, a clean kitchen is an empty canvas of possibility and that means my kitchen never stays clean for long. My dream is that one or more of the recipes I share here will inspire you, perhaps even becoming a cherished family favourite.

READ MORE >

Most Recent

  • Date Paste

Look Forward to Spring

  • No-Bake Carrot Cake Energy Balls
  • Chia Seed Lemonade
  • Lilac Lemonade
  • Olive Oil Carrot Cake

Reader's Favourites

  • Wild Rice Cranberry Soup
  • Healthy Chocolate Haystack Cookies
  • Gluten-Free Buckwheat Flour Brownies
  • Coconut Flour Oatmeal Cookies

Christy's Favourites

  • Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup
  • Healthy Oat Flour Banana Pancakes
  • Tahini Stuffed Chocolate Covered Dates
  • Fudgy Chocolate Orange Pudding Cake

Naturally Sweetened

  • Healthy Chocolate Pudding
  • Blended Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
  • Oat Flour Brownies
  • Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies

Follow For More Recipes

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2023 Life Around The Table on the Cravings Pro Theme