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    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Gluten Free

    8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls

    Published: Jan 4, 2021 · Modified: Jan 4, 2021 by Melissa · 220 Comments

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    Title Image for 8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Bites Recipes with examples and titles for each variety

    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!

    Four photo collage collage on how to make oatmeal balls. The first photo is of peanut butter and honey in a glass bowl. The second photo is of the peanut butter and honey mixed together with a rubber spatula in the glass bowl. The third photo is of oats added to the glass bowl. The last photo is of the rest of the ingredients added to the glass bowl.
    Four photo collage on how to make oatmeal peanut butter honey balls. The first photo is of the ingredients mixed in a glass bowl. The second photo is of a hand grabbing some of the mixture from the bowl. The third photo is of a hand holding an oatmeal peanut butter honey ball. The fourth photo is of a glass container filled with the oatmeal balls.

    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.

    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!)
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    all 8 kinds of oatmeal energy bites all lined up in a 5 by 8 pattern on a white board

    8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls


    ★★★★★

    5 from 6 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 30 min
    • Yield: 10 balls 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    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)

    1. Add the nut butter and honey and stir to combine well. Add the all of the other ingredients and stir to combine well.
    2. Refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes.
    3. 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.
    4. Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.

    For the Banana Oatmeal Bites:

    1. In a medium bowl, add the peeled banana and mash thoroughly with a fork.
    2. Add the dry oats and chocolate chips and stir to combine.
    3. Refrigerate until the mixture holds together, about 30 minutes.
    4. 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.
    5. 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

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    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!

    Related Posts:

    • No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Energy Balls
      No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Energy Balls
    • No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Energy Balls
      No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Energy Balls
    • 9 Date Energy Balls Recipes
      9 Date Energy Balls Recipes
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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Robyni

      March 03, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      I changed the honey to pure maple syrup due to allergies in the house to honey. Very good.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Kim Moore

      March 03, 2021 at 11:52 am

      These are wonderful! So easy to make. I recommend spraying your bowl,measuring cups & spoons with Pam cooking spray. Makes the process easier.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. LindaHutch

      February 07, 2021 at 9:31 pm

      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.

      Reply
    4. Donna

      October 02, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        October 02, 2020 at 4:47 pm

        I'll get it sorted out, thank you!

    5. George Christie

      September 28, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      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.

      Reply
    6. Lindsey Smith

      August 24, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        August 25, 2020 at 7:17 am

        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.

    7. gracie

      August 16, 2020 at 3:07 pm

      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!

      Reply
    8. Cbreezy

      August 07, 2020 at 4:28 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        August 10, 2020 at 10:52 am

        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!

    9. Hannah

      July 08, 2020 at 7:40 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Melissa

        July 08, 2020 at 10:01 pm

        Yesss they freeze great and are good cold! I ate these so so often while nursing babies too. Congratulations on a little one!

    10. Kerry Bosch

      July 06, 2020 at 11:15 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        July 07, 2020 at 12:14 pm

        I haven't, but I'd be curious to see how they stick together!

    11. Amanda

      June 17, 2020 at 7:42 pm

      Are the calories correct? The blueberry shows 1 cal per ball & the double chocolate shows over 1500 cal per ball!

      Reply
    12. Michelle

      May 14, 2020 at 12:03 pm

      Hello-great recipe ideas!. Could you send me the 1 pager? Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        May 14, 2020 at 5:44 pm

        There's a box in the post that you just put your email in and it send it your automatically!

    13. Heidi

      May 06, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      Hi, I'm making these tomorrow as a test run for a cooking demo I'm doing (I"m a registered dietitian) and I'd love the one-pager I'm reading about to share with attendees. Thank you

      Reply
      • Melissa

        May 06, 2020 at 10:04 pm

        https://www.blessthismessplease.com/8-no-bake-oatmeal-energy-balls/ Feel free to send them to this page where they can sign up to have the paper emailed to them!

      • Heidi

        May 07, 2020 at 2:22 pm

        Thank you. I can do that. I misunderstood others' comments. I thought you had a one pager with your logo, etc. of the base recipe with the various other options. I'm also thinking ahead to when I'll be doing live demos and education tables that would have been a great resource

      • Melissa

        May 07, 2020 at 2:54 pm

        I do have one and they can get it right from me! They just add their email to the box in the post and it emails it right to them.

      • Heidi

        May 23, 2020 at 6:49 pm

        Oh subscribe ok thank you. I just did that myself. I can recommend others here too.

    14. Tamikia Samford

      April 07, 2020 at 5:01 am

      What is the calorie count for the Blueberry Muffin No-Bake Energy balls?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        April 07, 2020 at 9:27 am

        It'll depend on the ingredients you use. Do you have myfitnesspal the app or another calorie calculator? I'd pop it in there with the ingredients you are using.

    15. Pam Litada

      February 26, 2020 at 9:32 am

      Hi! Is it too late to get the 1 page print out?

      Reply
    16. Shannon Ollis

      February 22, 2020 at 5:44 pm

      I used light Karo syrup in place of honey. Because it's a bit sweeter imo, I used 3/8 cup instead of 1/4 cup. We made the monster cookie balls gluten free and they were DELICIOUS!! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Shannon Ollis

        February 22, 2020 at 9:29 pm

        *3/16 cup of Karo! (1/8 cup plus 1 tbsp)
        I accidentally wrote 3/8 cup

      • Melissa

        February 24, 2020 at 5:16 pm

        Thank you for telling us what worked for you!

    17. Cindy Brevik

      December 18, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      Can I please get the one page recipe also? Laminating to prevent messy page!! LOL Monster are grandkids favorite and husbands also. Thank You

      Reply
      • Melissa

        December 18, 2019 at 2:54 pm

        Just emailed it to you! Let me know if you don't see it!

    18. Yves Beaulieu

      September 06, 2019 at 11:01 am

      I'd use my food processor for the dry ingredients, it help to keep everything togheter. Just a suggestion for nuts allergies, WOW-BUTTER (it,s made with chick-pea) is awesome

      Reply
      • Melissa

        September 06, 2019 at 11:05 am

        Great tip, thank you! And I haven't tried the WOW-butter yet, so I'm so pleased to have your recommendation. Where did you find it at?

    19. Marleen

      August 26, 2019 at 5:05 am

      Hi
      If I want to leave out the "nut" butter, what else can I use to bind these with?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        August 26, 2019 at 11:46 am

        I'd use additional sweetener or something like pulsed dates or figs, something sticky for sure.

    20. Cynthia Reinhardt

      July 22, 2019 at 11:39 am

      Also, could I please have the one page printable? I have been making these and they taste great. I was just wondering about the raw oatmeal thing.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        July 22, 2019 at 2:52 pm

        I just sent it to the email that you used for the comment! Let me know if you don't see it! And we've had zero issues with eating raw oatmeal...

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