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These healthy peanut butter energy balls are my favorite mid-day pick-me-up! My peanut butter oat balls are super easy to make with just 7 wholesome ingredients and no baking required! Oats, banana, peanut butter, coconut, flaxseed, chocolate chips, and just a touch of sugar create perfectly balanced energy-boosting protein balls. My kids love eating them as a healthy treat in their lunchboxes, and I love that I can take them with me on the go!
This is the time of year when parents are getting their kids ready, teachers are decorating their classrooms, and I… well I’m brainstorming healthy breakfast ideas and snack ideas. Don’t act surprised! Coming up with tasty and healthy treats to pack in school lunches is an important job, and I’m happy to do it.
These healthy peanut butter balls have quickly become a hit with my kids. They think they’re eating cookie dough bites, so it’s a total mom win! Plus, these peanut butter oat balls are great for adults too. Each one has 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber to help fill the gap between meals.
What’s in This Healthy Peanut Butter Balls Recipe?
- Peanut Butter: Adds protein to these energy balls and helps bind everything together.
- Banana: Adds a touch of sweetness and moisture to the energy balls.
- Oats: Old-fashioned oats make these energy balls chewy and delicious!
- Coconut: Small flake coconut enhances the sweet, dessert-like taste of these energy balls and adds healthy fats. You can also use shredded coconut, but I recommend chopping finer if so.
- Flaxseed: Ground flaxseeds are a great source of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids!
- Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chips add a pop of sweet chocolatey flavor.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar adds just a hint of extra sweetness.
Tips for Success
- I have found that creamy, no-stir peanut butter works best. If you choose to use all-natural peanut butter, you will need to stir with some real elbow grease to help everything hold together.
- If your kids have a nut allergy, you can easily swap out the peanut butter for sunflower butter, or your favorite alternative.
- I like to make a big batch and store them in the freezer for easy snacking!
How to Store
Store leftover peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours on the counter before enjoying.
5-Star Review
“I can’t get enough of these! They satisfy my sweet tooth and guilt-free beside they are healthy!” -Deborah Freiss Zito
Healthy Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanut butter 135 grams
- 1 banana chopped
- 1½ cups old-fashioned oats 150 grams, plus more if needed
- ⅔ cup small flake coconut 75 grams
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed 35 grams
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips 89 grams
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 13 grams (or sweetener of your choice)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Using a fork, mask and stir until all ingredients are well combined. If you feel the consistency is a bit too sticky, add more oats as needed.½ cup peanut butter, 1 banana, 1½ cups old-fashioned oats, ⅔ cup small flake coconut, ¼ cup ground flaxseed, ½ cup mini chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will help in creating the bites later.
- Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and roll "dough" into 1-inch sized balls.
- Keep bites refrigerated.
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Balls Step by Step
Mix the Dough: Combine ½ cup of peanut butter, 1 chopped banana, 1½ cups of old-fashioned oats, ⅔ cup of small flake coconut, ¼ cup of ground flaxseed, ½ cup of mini chocolate chips, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar in a bowl. Using a fork, mask and stir until all ingredients are well combined. If you feel the consistency is a bit too sticky, add more oats as needed. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will help in creating the bites later.
Shape the Balls: Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and roll “dough” into 1-inch-sized balls. Keep bites refrigerated.
More Morning Pick-Me-Ups to Try!
Am looking forward to trying these!! Can one freeze them?
Absolutely!
This recipe is a hit for my family! Will definitely be making this often
I love to hear that!
I can’t get enough of these! They satisfy my sweet tooth and guilt free beside they are healthy!
I am happy to hear they are working for you!
Very nice 👍
Thank you, Joanne!
Fast, easy, and very tasty! All ingredients are in your kitchen. They were very delicious, I love this recipe definitely recommend you try. They were fabulous I would definitely make these again. Even my 13 year old can make these and she loved them. My whole family enjoyed these lovely treats.
Thanks for sharing! Those look mighty tasty!
I made these and substituted hemp hearts for the coconut and they turned out perfectly! My 10 month old and 2 year old love them, and I have to hide them in the veggie drawer so my husband doesn’t eat them all before the kids do!
I also gave the oats a quick blast in the food processor because they were very large flake and I thought my 10 month old might have a little trouble with them. They softened up nicely in the fridge, so next time I won’t even bother with the extra step.
Fantastic recipe! Will be making many times!
Thanks for sharing, Cora! Great modifications!
Made the recipe and they’re pretty soft and sticky still. Still taste good. Going to try and freeze to see if they harden a bit
Thanks for sharing, Shelby!
I can’t wait to make these!! Are the coconut and flax seed absolutely necessary or can I leave them out? Or substitute with something else? Thank you!
You could try sunflower oil!
Are the nutrition facts per energy bite or per batch?
I did some tweaking…it’s per ball now. Enjoy!
Thank you!! Can’t wait to try them!
Hope you love them!
Is the serving size for the Peanut Butter Balls one ball or 12 balls for the 196 calories?
Each Peanut Butter Ball has approx 200 calories