8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls
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!
Table of Contents
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
- 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 Oatmeal Energy Balls
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
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.
- 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!
I changed the honey to pure maple syrup due to allergies in the house to honey. Very good.
These are wonderful! So easy to make. I recommend spraying your bowl,measuring cups & spoons with Pam cooking spray. Makes the process easier.
I started making these several years ago, via your recipes. I would make a batch of 24 of them on Sunday, and my husband and I would each take 2 to work each day for an afternoon (or morning, depending on how the day was going!) snack.
We are retired now, and still trying to eat healthy. After a dalliance with commercial energy bars, I went back to the tried and true recipe from you.
I see that you have changed the recipe some. I like the idea of mixing the peanut butter and honey together first, then adding the other ingredients. Otherwise, I’m sticking with the original amounts of ingredients, so I only have to make them once a week!
Here’s a couple of tips: use some of those nitrile gloves you may have hanging around from the first few weeks of the COVID quarantine, to roll the portions into balls. It’s kinda messy. I use my kitchen scale (covered with wax paper) to weigh the dough before I make the balls. 25g per ball gives me 25 perfectly-formed balls.
I think there may be an error with the calorie count for the blueberry and the double chocolate versions. The first says only 1 calorie per serving (I wish!) and the latter about 1500 calories.
I’ll get it sorted out, thank you!
Tried the blueberry ones. I guess I did something wrong but they didn’t hold together well and, frankly, weren’t tasty. Composted the lot.
My 13-year-old has been trying really been trying to eat more healthier lately. She hasn’t mentioned anything to me, but I have noticed. She has always been on the thinner side, and is a dancer. She is very prone to getting an eating disorder. I am worried about her! These look like some great options for snacks for her – to maybe encourage her to eat more. Is there a specific one you think she would like enough to maybe help keep her energy up, and get her to eat more? Thank you so much!
I have a 13-year-old too and my momma heart hurt reading this, as someone who had an eating disorder for 8+ years I really have sympathy for you. Yes, I think she’ll love these, I’d pick one that has some favorite flavors of hers. My personal favorite is the blueberry one, but my kids love the monster cookie one. And I hope this isn’t over stepping my bounds but you might think about getting her someone to talk to. A mentor, a counselor, a friend you trust, just someone that can help her navigate what she’s feeling. It’s not really about the food, it’s about how you feel about your body and how other people perceive your body, maybe some emotional work would help more than even a good recipe. You can do this, your girl needs you.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I 100% recommend making these! I was hooked on nature valley bars but those have so many preservatives and unknown ingredients, these are such a better alternative! So soft and chewy, perfect for after a workout! I made the oatmeal raisin cookie bites and added a little bit of brown sugar, but after trying them, I realized I didn’t need to! They were already so flavorful! Thank you for the awesome recipe!
Are the nutrition facts for the double chocolate no-bake oatmeal energy balls correct? It shows over 1500 calories, 217 carbs, 142g sugar for 1 ball, which seems rather high compared to the other recipes.
I have it showing as 109 per ball, so I’ll go in and try to figure that out. Thank you for letting me know!
I absolutely LOVE these recipes! Thanks so much! I just had a quick question…do you think these could be made and then frozen for consumption at a later date? Wanting to make these an “after the baby” prep snack 🙂
Yesss they freeze great and are good cold! I ate these so so often while nursing babies too. Congratulations on a little one!
Have you ever made an energy ball with homemade apple sauce? Like apple pie flavor? Would you be able to use apple sauce instead of the honey?
I haven’t, but I’d be curious to see how they stick together!