Hello friends! I’m so excited to finally be getting this awesome post out to you today.
At The Agent household, we LOVE No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls, and I have been making them pretty much non-stop.
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.
Hello friends! I’m so excited to finally be getting this awesome post out to you today.
At The Agent household, we LOVE No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls, and I have been making them pretty much non-stop.
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!
The base of No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls is oatmeal, peanut butter, and honey. You can mix in a lot of things to suit your taste, but in general, they are made from just a few simple ingredients that I always have on hand. There’s nothing special to put on a shopping list, they can be mixed together in just a few minutes, and husbands are crazy for them.
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. It’s a must.
When in doubt, 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).
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!
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.
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, 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.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry oats (I like 1/2 old fashioned oatmeal and 1/2 quick cooking)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy – we like crunchy BEST!)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients and stir to combine well. The mixture should be a bit sticky. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- 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.
- Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.