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3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls are an easy, no bake snack that are filled with fibre, protein and healthy fats! Made with simple ingredients and requiring less than 15 minutes prep time, these yummy peanut butter oat balls are the perfect make-ahead snack for busy weekdays! {Gluten-free & Vegetarian}
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls – Easy Snack Recipe!
If you often run out of ideas for snack time, these 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls are a total lifesaver! With only 3 simple ingredients that you probably have on hand and no baking required, an easy snack is only a few steps away.
Better yet, you can feel good about serving this nutrient-rich snack. These no bake peanut butter oatmeal balls contain protein and fibre to keep kids satisfied and energized for the day. They make a great bedtime snack too.
Kids will love the soft cookie dough texture and nutty flavour. For younger kids, I recommend cutting the balls into smaller chunks and encourage lots of chewing. Serving these balls with milk will also help kids break down the oatmeal peanut butter balls and make for a balanced snack!
Peanut butter oat balls
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Why We Love Peanut Butter Honey Oatmeal Balls
- Healthy: Peanut butter contains healthy fats and protein to give growing kids energy. The oats contain soluble fibre which can help with digestion and keep their tummies satisfied.
- Easy: With only 3 simple ingredients and no baking, this recipe is super easy to make ahead of time or any time you need a quick snack.
- Packed with protein: With 5 grams of protein per peanut butter oat ball, you can feel good about serving these nutritious snacks. They are great for busy moms or caregivers too!
Ingredient Notes
- Rolled oats: Provide some fibre and a chewy texture. If desired you can grind the oats to provide more of a cookie dough texture.
- Peanut butter: We used natural creamy peanut butter to cut down on added sugar and salt. You can use regular peanut butter, including crunchy peanut butter, or any other nut or seed butter.
- Honey: To hold everything together. Use more or less depending on how sweet you prefer the oatmeal balls. Remember that babies under one should not be served honey. Use pure maple syrup if preparing for children under 12 months.
How to Make Peanut Butter Oat Balls – Step-by-Step
- In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, peanut butter and honey. MIx together until well combined. Fold in any additional add ins.
- Chill mixture for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Roll the mixture into 16 1-inch balls. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
TIPS FOR THE BEST OATMEAL BALLS
- For a less chewy texture, you can also combine the peanut butter, oats and honey in a food processor before rolling into balls to help break down the oats a bit.
- Since these oatmeal energy bites contain honey, they shouldn’t be served to babies under the age of one. You can use an alternative such as maple syrup if desired, or hold off on serving them to baby until past the age of 12 months.
- If serving these balls to toddlers or small children, encourage them to take small bites or roll the energy ball mixture up into tiny balls since the mixture can be a bit sticky to chew. It also helps to serve them with a glass of milk!
- Adjust the amount of honey depending on your personal taste buds. Start with 3 tablespoons and add a little extra if the mixture still seems dry or you prefer them a little sweeter.
- Feel free to switch up the add-ins in these peanut butter energy bites. There are so many different combinations to try out. See below for some ideas!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, quick oats can be used instead of rolled oats. Quick oats will yield a less chewy consistency since they’re steamed longer and rolled into thinner, smaller flakes. Rolled oats are more chewy since they’re steamed for a shorter time and rolled into larger thicker oats. You can switch it up depending on your preferred texture.
To make peanut butter balls less sticky, add more oats or other less sticky add ins. Refrigerating the peanut butter balls can also help reduce their stickiness.
Absolutely! This is a great alternative to regular rolled oats and will give these no bake energy bites a softer texture. Since oat flour can be pricey, try blending oats in your food processor to break them down into flour. You can even add the honey and peanut butter directly to the food processor to save yourself the effort of stirring this simple recipe together!
Energy balls can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Yes, you can eat raw oats in energy balls. When the oats are processed and packaged, they undergo a heat treatment to prevent bacterial pathogens.
Furthermore, Health Canada completed a small study testing 318 samples of oats sold across canada for various pathogens. All samples tested were free from the pathogens they tested for (source).
However, it’s important to remember to practice safe food handling skills when preparing food to prevent cross-contamination.
Storage Guidelines
- Refrigerator: These oatmeal energy balls can actually be stored at room temperature for a few days, but I recommend storing them in the fridge for a firmer texture and to keep them fresh. You can store them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Place in a freezer-safe bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
OPTIONAL ADD-INS
There are so many ways to spruce these simple 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls up!
Try experimenting with the following add-ins:
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Raisins
- Mini chocolate chips (we love chocolate peanut butter balls!)
- Mini M&M’s
- Shredded coconut
- Dried cranberries
- Dried apple pieces
- Finely chopped nuts
- Cocoa powder
- Rice krispies
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
No bake peanut butter oatmeal balls are delicious when served for breakfast, as a snack, after school, before bed with milk, or served with a smoothie or yogurt for even more nutrients.
Try these peanut butter energy balls paired with any of the following:
- Smoothie (like this Strawberry Banana Smoothie without Yogurt)
- Yogurt
- Fresh cut fruit
- Glass of milk or milk alternative
RECIPE VARIATIONS
- Switch up the nut butter: Try using cashew butter, almond butter or walnut butter.
- To make nut-free: Use sunflower butter, Wow butter or pumpkin seed butter or try these Sunbutter Energy Balls instead!
- To make vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey.
More Healthy Snacks
- Blueberry Bliss Balls
- Strawberry Bliss Balls
- 3-Ingredient Cookies {No Egg}
- 3-Ingredient Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
- 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Muffins
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3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls {No Bake}
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 3-4 tablespoons honey (depending on how sweet you like it)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Fold in any optional add-ins, if desired.
- Chill mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Use your hands to roll the mixture into approximately 16 1-inch balls. Store the balls in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Notes
- For a less chewy texture, you can also combine the peanut butter, oats and honey in a food processor before rolling into balls to help break down the oats a bit.
- Since these oatmeal energy bites contain honey, they shouldn’t be served to babies under the age of one. You can use an alternative such as maple syrup if desired, or hold off on serving them to baby until past the age of 12 months.
- If serving these balls to toddlers or small children, encourage them to take small bites or roll the energy ball mixture up into tiny balls since the mixture can be a bit sticky to chew. It also helps to serve them with a glass of milk!
- Adjust the amount of honey depending on your personal taste buds. Start with 3 tablespoons and add a little extra if the mixture still seems dry or you prefer them a little sweeter.
- Feel free to switch up the add-ins in these peanut butter energy bites. There are so many different combinations to try out. See post above for some ideas!
