Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Prep Time:20 minsTotal Time:20 minsServings:17Yield:35 ballsJump to Nutrition Facts

Prep Time:20 minsTotal Time:20 minsServings:17Yield:35 balls

Prep Time:20 mins

Prep Time:

20 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Total Time:

Servings:17

Servings:

17

Yield:35 balls

Yield:

35 balls

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Jump to recipeYou could buy premade snacks at the store, but if you’re looking for something more satisfying, make these nutritiousPeanut Butter Energy Ballsinstead. All you need is five ingredients and one large bowl for mixing! In under 20 minutes, you can whip up these delicious peanut butter and chocolate energy balls, which provide a blend of simple and complex carbohydrates to give you a quick boost of energy whenever you need it. We’re sharing our Test Kitchen tips as well as everything else you need to know to add this recipe to your routine.How to Make Peanut Butter Energy Balls1. Use Rolled Oats for Best ResultsQuick oats are thinner than rolled oats and don’t hold up as well or provide the same texture and chew as rolled oats.2. Stir WellThe mixture should be thoroughly combined so you can form it into balls. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to fold and stir, and make sure the dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl are incorporated into the mixture.3.  Portion and StoreRoll the mixture into 1-tablespoon-size balls, arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Using parchment paper helps make cleanup a breeze! When the balls are firm, place them in a resealable container in the refrigerator. Once they are cold, it’s fine to layer them on top of each other.Ingredient Swaps to TryUse chopped dark chocolate.For a big flavor and antioxidant boost, swap the mini chocolate chips for an equal amount of chopped dark chocolate.Add some spice.Ground cinnamon is a warm spice that pairs well with the other ingredients in these energy balls. You’ll only need about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon—mix it right in with the other ingredients.Swap maple syrup for honey.If you have maple syrup on hand, it can be an excellent swap for the honey in this recipe. It’s a 1-to-1 swap, which makes things easy.Trade fruit for chocolate.Chop up some raisins or unsweetened dried cherries, blueberries or apricots for a delicious,high-fiber addition.Use a different nut or seed butter.Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter or tahini are all good swaps.Make sure you use a nut or seed butter labeled “natural” and confirm that the ingredients are just nuts or seeds with no added sugar or trans fats.Tips from the EatingWell Test KitchenThese are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!Use room-temperature peanut butter and honey to make it easy to mix and combine the ingredients. Natural peanut butter has a tendency to separate and may need to be stirred before use.To make rolling into balls easier, consider chilling the mixture first. A quick 30-minute trip to the refrigerator will firm up the nut butter and honey, which will help the ingredients stick together when rolling. You can also spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray or dampen them with water to prevent the mixture from sticking.Nutrition NotesOatsare an excellent source of whole grains and deliver several important nutrients, including complex carbohydrates,plant protein,fiberand some iron. The nutrients in oats are associated with lower cholesterol levels, balanced blood sugar and a healthy gut.Sincepeanut butteris primarily just ground-up peanuts, and peanuts offer a wealth of nutrition and health benefits, these benefits extend to peanut butter.Peanutsprovide healthy fats, plant protein, fiber, antioxidants, folate and magnesium, as well as smaller amounts of other nutrients. Regularly eating peanuts (or natural peanut butter) has been linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Jump to recipe

You could buy premade snacks at the store, but if you’re looking for something more satisfying, make these nutritiousPeanut Butter Energy Ballsinstead. All you need is five ingredients and one large bowl for mixing! In under 20 minutes, you can whip up these delicious peanut butter and chocolate energy balls, which provide a blend of simple and complex carbohydrates to give you a quick boost of energy whenever you need it. We’re sharing our Test Kitchen tips as well as everything else you need to know to add this recipe to your routine.How to Make Peanut Butter Energy Balls1. Use Rolled Oats for Best ResultsQuick oats are thinner than rolled oats and don’t hold up as well or provide the same texture and chew as rolled oats.2. Stir WellThe mixture should be thoroughly combined so you can form it into balls. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to fold and stir, and make sure the dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl are incorporated into the mixture.3.  Portion and StoreRoll the mixture into 1-tablespoon-size balls, arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Using parchment paper helps make cleanup a breeze! When the balls are firm, place them in a resealable container in the refrigerator. Once they are cold, it’s fine to layer them on top of each other.Ingredient Swaps to TryUse chopped dark chocolate.For a big flavor and antioxidant boost, swap the mini chocolate chips for an equal amount of chopped dark chocolate.Add some spice.Ground cinnamon is a warm spice that pairs well with the other ingredients in these energy balls. You’ll only need about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon—mix it right in with the other ingredients.Swap maple syrup for honey.If you have maple syrup on hand, it can be an excellent swap for the honey in this recipe. It’s a 1-to-1 swap, which makes things easy.Trade fruit for chocolate.Chop up some raisins or unsweetened dried cherries, blueberries or apricots for a delicious,high-fiber addition.Use a different nut or seed butter.Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter or tahini are all good swaps.Make sure you use a nut or seed butter labeled “natural” and confirm that the ingredients are just nuts or seeds with no added sugar or trans fats.Tips from the EatingWell Test KitchenThese are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!Use room-temperature peanut butter and honey to make it easy to mix and combine the ingredients. Natural peanut butter has a tendency to separate and may need to be stirred before use.To make rolling into balls easier, consider chilling the mixture first. A quick 30-minute trip to the refrigerator will firm up the nut butter and honey, which will help the ingredients stick together when rolling. You can also spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray or dampen them with water to prevent the mixture from sticking.Nutrition NotesOatsare an excellent source of whole grains and deliver several important nutrients, including complex carbohydrates,plant protein,fiberand some iron. The nutrients in oats are associated with lower cholesterol levels, balanced blood sugar and a healthy gut.Sincepeanut butteris primarily just ground-up peanuts, and peanuts offer a wealth of nutrition and health benefits, these benefits extend to peanut butter.Peanutsprovide healthy fats, plant protein, fiber, antioxidants, folate and magnesium, as well as smaller amounts of other nutrients. Regularly eating peanuts (or natural peanut butter) has been linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

You could buy premade snacks at the store, but if you’re looking for something more satisfying, make these nutritiousPeanut Butter Energy Ballsinstead. All you need is five ingredients and one large bowl for mixing! In under 20 minutes, you can whip up these delicious peanut butter and chocolate energy balls, which provide a blend of simple and complex carbohydrates to give you a quick boost of energy whenever you need it. We’re sharing our Test Kitchen tips as well as everything else you need to know to add this recipe to your routine.

How to Make Peanut Butter Energy Balls

1. Use Rolled Oats for Best Results

Quick oats are thinner than rolled oats and don’t hold up as well or provide the same texture and chew as rolled oats.

2. Stir Well

The mixture should be thoroughly combined so you can form it into balls. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to fold and stir, and make sure the dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl are incorporated into the mixture.

3.  Portion and Store

Roll the mixture into 1-tablespoon-size balls, arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Using parchment paper helps make cleanup a breeze! When the balls are firm, place them in a resealable container in the refrigerator. Once they are cold, it’s fine to layer them on top of each other.

Ingredient Swaps to Try

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

Nutrition Notes

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)Ingredients2cupsrolled oats1cupnatural peanut butter or other nut butter½cuphoney¼cupmini chocolate chips¼cupunsweetened shredded coconut

Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

2cupsrolled oats

1cupnatural peanut butter or other nut butter

½cuphoney

¼cupmini chocolate chips

¼cupunsweetened shredded coconut

Directions

Combine oats, peanut butter (or other nut butter), honey, chocolate chips and coconut in a medium bowl; stir well. Using a 1-tablespoon measure, roll the mixture into balls.

Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, these five-ingredient peanut butter energy balls are no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and peanut butter. Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl, stir well and roll the mixture into balls.Absolutely. Simply store them in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer.There are plenty of ways to modify these for a bigger nutritional punch. Know that any additions will also affect calories and other nutritional information. Try rolling the balls in finely chopped nuts, like almonds, peanuts or pistachios. You can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons of small seeds like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed or chia seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, these five-ingredient peanut butter energy balls are no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and peanut butter. Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl, stir well and roll the mixture into balls.

Absolutely. Simply store them in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer.

There are plenty of ways to modify these for a bigger nutritional punch. Know that any additions will also affect calories and other nutritional information. Try rolling the balls in finely chopped nuts, like almonds, peanuts or pistachios. You can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons of small seeds like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed or chia seeds.

Originally appeared: Eatingwell.com, August 2019

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Nutrition Facts(per serving)174Calories9gFat18gCarbs4gProtein

Nutrition Facts(per serving)

• Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.