No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls are made with wholesome oats, ground flax, and hemp hearts and they're naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey. Add your choice of mix-ins, like dried fruits, nuts, or chocolate chips to this basic recipe. Perfect for a late afternoon energy boost!
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Basic recipe: Here's a basic no-bake oatmeal energy ball recipe that you can adapt by adding different mix-ins.
- Wholesome ingredients: These oatmeal balls are made with wholesome ingredients and sweetened with either honey or maple syrup.
- Quick and easy: They're quick to make when you have a sweet craving!
Love energy bites? You might also like these Chocolate Cherry Almond Energy Bites or these Grain-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Energy Balls.
🛒 Ingredients and substitutions
You'll find a complete list of ingredients with quantities in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about the ingredients.
- old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats if necessary)
- creamy peanut butter with no added sugar or salt (or almond butter)
- honey or maple syrup
- ground flaxseed
- hemp hearts, also called hemp seeds
- vanilla extract
- sea salt (optional)
- additional add-ins: chopped nuts, dried fruits, chia seeds, coconut flakes, etc
🔪 Instructions
Here's an overview of what you'll do to make this recipe perfectly. You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Combine the dry ingredients
- Warm the peanut butter and honey
- Combine peanut butter-honey mixture with the dry ingredients
- Chill the mixture
- Shape into balls
- Enjoy, or refrigerate or freeze
- Enjoy them as a quick and nutritious snack whenever you need an energy boost. Great for traveling!
🔁 Change the flavor with add-ins!
Feel free to experiment with different add-ins to customize these energy balls according to your taste preferences! Here's a list of ideas:
- Chopped nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts
- Dried fruits:
- cranberries
- raisins
- apricots (chopped)
- dates (chopped)
- cherries
- blueberries
- Seeds:
- chia seeds
- sunflower seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- Coconut:
- shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- coconut flakes
- Chocolate:
- dark chocolate chips: mini chocolate chips work best in energy balls
- white chocolate chips: use the mini ones
- Spices:
- cinnamon: a teaspoon
- nutmeg: ¼ teaspoon
- allspice: a pinch or two
- Flavor enhancers:
- espresso powder
- orange or lemon zest
- Protein boosters:
- protein powder
Feel free to mix and match these add-ins to create your unique flavor combinations. I like chocolate chips with dried cranberries. Adjust the quantities based on your taste preferences, and don't hesitate to get creative with additional ingredients that you enjoy!
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
If you find the mixture is too dry to roll, add a little more peanut butter or maple syrup. If you think it's too wet, add a little more rolled oats or ground flax.
⏰ Storage Instructions
To store: Store these oatmeal energy bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
To freeze: Freeze them in an airtight container or a resealable bag for up to 3 months.
🗒 More sweet treat recipes
- Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding (Easy)
- Gluten-Free White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Collagen Bars
- No-Bake Chocolate Almond Snowballs
🌟Did you make this recipe?
When you make this recipe for no-bake oatmeal energy balls, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
📖 Recipe
No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats if necessary)
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter with no added sugar or salt , with no added sugar or sal, (or almond butter)
- ⅓ cup honey, or maple syrup
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts (also known as hemp seeds)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
- ½ to 1 cup add-ins, like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruits, chia seeds, coconut flakes, etc
Instructions
- Combine the dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the old-fashioned oats, ground flaxseed, hemp hearts, and any additional dry ingredients like chopped nuts, dried fruits, or chia seeds. Mix well.
- Warm the peanut butter and honey: In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the peanut butter and honey until they are easily mixable. Stir continuously to ensure they blend smoothly. If you prefer, you can also microwave them in a heat-safe bowl in short increments, stirring between each.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Pour the warmed peanut butter and honey mixture over the dry ingredients. Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt if desired. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add a bit more honey or peanut butter.
- Chill the mixture: Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes. Chilling helps the mixture firm up, making it easier to shape into balls.
- Shape into balls: Once the mixture has chilled, take small portions and roll them into bite-sized balls using your hands. I use a small cookie scoop, so the balls are all the same size. If the mixture is too sticky, lightly coat your hands with a bit of water or oil to prevent sticking.
- Store or enjoy: Place the energy balls on a parchment-lined tray or plate and refrigerate for at least an hour before transferring them to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for a longer shelf life.
Leave a comment