This easy No Bake Energy Balls Recipe with rolled oats, peanut butter and dates makes a delicious healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. Energy bites are the perfect snack for after school or whenever you need a quick pick-me-up!
I am always looking for easy snack recipes with healthy ingredients, especially during the school year. My kids are always starving when they come home from school, and they usually head straight for the fridge.
Luckily, they love munching on these portable little protein balls made with feel-good ingredients! This is definitely one of our favorite recipes for snack time.
Not only are these peanut butter bites easy to make, but they also taste absolutely delicious. My daughter thinks they taste like chocolate peanut butter bars -- only healthier!
These no bake treats are a great option when you need a quick snack for after school sports, dance or other activities.
Rushed in the morning? These no bake energy bites are perfect for a quick breakfast and faster than overnight oats or a protein smoothie!
Simple Ingredients
This easy recipe uses simple pantry ingredients:
- Rolled oats -- I use quick oats, but regular old fashioned oats are fine
- Peanut butter -- Use creamy, all natural peanut butter without high fructose corn syrup if you can
- Dates -- Pitted, either medjool dates or deglet noor are fine
- Honey -- Adds sweetness without refined sugars
- Cinnamon -- Ads flavor
- Chocolate chips -- or mini chocolate chips, because chocolate makes everything better!
If you don't already have the ingredients to make this delicious recipe on hand, you can pick them up at your local grocery store or online.
By the way, if you're wondering if you can eat raw oats in energy balls, don't worry. They are perfectly safe to eat!
How to Make Peanut Butter Energy Balls
First, finely chop the dates into small pieces. You'll need ¼ cup, which is about 7 or 8 dates.
Next, add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl. I find it easiest to mix everything by hand. If you don't want to use your hands, you can use a food processor to mix everything together.
The mixture may seem dry at first. But, as you mix everything together, it comes together easily.
Once, the oat mixture is well incorporated, start forming the balls. Scoop up a teaspoon-sized amount of the mixture, using a teaspoon or mini cookie scoop. Then roll it into a ball, about ½ inch wide.
Place the balls on a wax paper lined baking sheet. When you finish forming all of the balls, store them in an airtight container.
Variations
This is pretty much a basic energy ball recipe. You can easily change up the ingredients to suit your own tastes.
Use raisins instead of dates. Skip the chocolate chips if you want an even healthier snack. You can also use different nut butters, like almond butter or cashew butter. You can try using seed butters instead of peanut butter.
Keep in mind, the texture and taste will change.
Storage
Store the energy balls in the refrigerator. While, it's safe to leave them at room temperature, they'll get too soft, especially if your house is warm.
They keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge, although ours never last that long! You can also keep energy bites in the freezer for longer storage. Just make sure you use a freezer safe container.
Recipe
No Bake Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats quick cooking or old fashioned
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips or mini chips
- ¼ cup dates pitted, finely chopped -- roughly ¼ cup
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a medium-sized mixing bowl, and mix well until fully blended.
- Roll into ½ inch balls, and place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Store in airtight container in the refrigerator
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Not only are these peanut butter date balls are perfect for a quick snack at home or on the go, but they're also a healthy midnight snack!
The teens can definitely use some extra energy for those late-night assignments that are due the next day but were somehow forgotten until the last second. Remember those days? Oh yeah, I have to confess that I do!
Recipe originally published in 2015 and updated in 2021
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Ellen says
This No-Bake Energy ball recipe is so easy. We used raisins instead of dates and we loved them!
Matt says
Wow are these great! Cheaper to make than to buy! The kids just love them!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Matt! My kids love them, too!
Mary Beth says
These are amazing!! The perfect little treat!
Krystle says
These are really good. Love taking them with us on picnics and hikes.
Catalina says
These energy balls are exactly what I need! The best snack!
Beth says
These no bake energy balls are so delicious and very yummy! We absolutely love these here and my hubby just loves to have a couple of these. Perfect for when my teens go back to school too!