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!
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!
Here's how you make energy bites:
- Add the peanut butter and honey to a small bowl and mix them up.
- 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!
- Mix everything together well.
- Let the mixture chill.
- Form into balls (about 10 to 12 per recipe).
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for about a week.
- We loves these for easy breakfasts, snacks, and additions to lunches. They make the perfect little afternoon or nighttime treat.
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.
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
- 8 Easy Homemade Granola Bar Recipes You Should Try TODAY
- 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 Oatmeal Energy Balls
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 10 balls 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
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.
Ingredients
Scale
Monster Cookie Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup dry roasted peanuts
- ¼ cup mini M&M's
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- dash of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup dried blueberries
- dash of salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- dash of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Sweet and Salty Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup crushed pretzels
- ¼ cup chopped roasted salted almonds
- dash of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Peanut Butter Cookie Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup roasted salted peanuts
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup toasted coconut
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- dash of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Double Chocolate Energy Bites
- 1 cup dry oats (old fashioned, instant, or a mix of the two)
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- dash of salt
- ½ 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)
- ½ 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.
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.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Category: snack
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: no bake oatmeal bites, oatmeal balls, oatmeal bites, energy bites, energy balls, energy balls recipe, energy bites recipe, no bake energy balls, oatmeal energy balls
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!
Alicia
Hello, can you add a scoop of protein powder to these? If so, would we need to adjust the amounts of the ingredients we add in?
Melissa
Yes! I do all the time! I don't normally need to adjust anything but if they are feeling a little dry if you added it you could add a tablespoon of honey and/or the nutbutter to help it come back together!
Juliet Dubow Wettle
Not sure if you know, but there is a typo on this recipe. You have written Engery instead of Energy. I only noticed since I was sharing with my child's teacher. We are going to do these as an in-school project. I'm excited to teach them a snack they can make with their families.
Melissa
Fixed, thank you!
MAILE
How long they good for in fridge?
Melissa
They're good a week or so, they last pretty well and tend to dry out before they are spoiled.
Rose
Have any recipes for non-nut energy balls? Have a granddaughter who is allergic to nuts.
Melissa
You can just replace the nut butter called for in the recipe with a sunflower seed butter! It'll work great.
Gayle
The sweet and salty ones are delicious! Love the crunch of the pretzel bits. Can’t wait to try the other options too.
★★★★★
Audrey Parramore
My son is in Culinary at his school we made these this morning they are in the fridge now can’t wait to roll them smile. They already look good. He also used a chocolate almond butter.
Melissa
Ohhh that almond butter sounds amazing! Good choice!
Kyrie
This is my first time making energy balls and i was SO happy with the results! They came out so perfect and you gave easy steps and i made 2 different batches (peanut butter honey with peanut topping and then banana and peanut butter). I didnt use any chocolate chips or other toppings and they are perfect! I will be making these quite often now, thanks to you. I was paying like 2 dollars per energy ball at stores and now i can make like 20 balls for 3 bucks! Thank you!
★★★★★
imsen
Really easy and adaptable recipe for no bake energy balls. All the family love them and really helps when you want to reach for a sweet treat and you have the balls made so quickly to hand!
Quick and Easy Family Recipes
★★★★★
Sarah
I was looking for something small to snack on before my morning workouts and stumbled on these. I made the Monster Cookie version yesterday and oh my gosh were they delicious. I was worried about the honey because I am not a big fan of the taste, but I can’t even taste it once everything is mixed together. I can’t wait to try some of the other variations. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Emily
Love love love!!! My favorite is the double chocolate chip. Highly recommend all versions though.
★★★★★