No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls

These No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls take five minutes to make and are boosted with protein powder and chia seeds. Plus, they taste like peanut butter cookie dough. Perfect when you need a quick and healthy snack.

I love to keep these energy balls in the fridge or freezer. That way, they are ready for times when I feel like something sweet after dinner but don’t want a sugar crash afterwards. Since they are bite sized, they work well for this purpose.

Healthy protein energy balls

These healthy peanut butter energy balls contain a range of nutrients and have over five grams of protein per ball. Made without any added oil, they are also very low in saturated fat.

Rolled oats provide slow-release carbs and fiber, and they also contain some protein. I opt for natural peanut butter to flavor the balls, which is made with just peanuts and a little salt. Then I add some protein powder to make the balls more filling and chia seeds for a source of omega-3 fats.

How to make no bake energy balls

No-bake energy balls are usually made by blending all of the ingredients in a food processor. An expensive, high-powdered processor can be needed when the recipe calls for ingredients like dates, which tend to get stuck in the blades of cheaper processors.

However, these no-bake peanut butter energy balls can be made with any sort of food processor. I make them with the large processor attachment that came with my hand blender. You can see the one that I use in the recipe video below. Hand or stick blender sets are really inexpensive compared to heavy-duty processors, and they work well for these energy balls.

How to make these peanut butter energy balls without a food processor

There are two ways to make these peanut butter energy balls without a food processor:

1. Blender: If you have a basic blender, whiz the rolled oats in the blender until you get a flour, tip it into a mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients, then mix everything together by hand.
2. Bowl and spoon: You can make these energy balls with just a bowl and a spoon by substituting pre-made oat flour for the rolled oats. Measure out the same weight in grams of oat flour in place of the rolled oats, i.e. 68 grams as stated in the recipe below. If you don’t have a food scale to measure in grams, start with about 1/2 cup oat flour, then add more to the mixture as needed until you get a dough consistency.

Ingredients for no bake peanut butter oat energy balls

• Rolled oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are my preference in this recipe. However, quick oats will also work if that’s what you have at home. It shouldn’t make a difference since we are blending the oats into a flour.
• Protein powder: I use unflavored pea protein isolate to boost the protein content of the energy balls. However, any protein powder should work. Alternatively, you can use extra oats instead of protein powder.
• Chia seeds: Chia seeds provide some omega-3 fats and I also think they look pretty studded throughout the balls. It’s a good idea to store your chia seeds in an airtight container in the fridge to slow down the oxidation process and prevent their oils from going rancid.
• Natural peanut butter: Natural smooth peanut butter works best in my opinion. You could also use another nut butter, like natural almond butter. If your nut butter does not contain salt, I would add a generous pinch of salt to the mixture.
• Brown rice syrup: I sweeten the energy balls with brown rice syrup, also known as rice malt syrup, because it’s low fructose and adds to the chewy texture of the balls. However, you can use honey, maple syrup or another syrup sweetener if you prefer.
• Vanilla extract: A dash of vanilla extract gives the balls a peanut butter cookie dough vibe. You can leave it out if you don’t have any.

More healthy no bake snacks

• Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Slice
• Choc Mint Protein Balls
• Vegan Peanut Butter Oat Protein Bars
• No Bake Almond Nougat Protein Bars
• 4 Ingredient Vegan Peanut Butter Bars

You can find more ideas on the No Bake Recipes page.

No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls Recipe

Notes

1. Protein powder substitutes – You can substitute extra rolled oats for the protein powder if you prefer. However, if you have some protein powder at home it will give the energy balls a higher protein content. I use unflavored pea protein isolate, but most protein powders should work in this recipe. If using a flavored protein powder, make sure you enjoy the flavor because you will be able to taste it.
2. Brown rice syrup substitutes – I like to use brown rice syrup in this recipe. However, you can use honey, maple syrup or another syrup sweetener if you prefer.
3. Fixing dry or wet mixture – Variation in the texture of your peanut butter, or substituting protein powders or sweeteners, may make the mixture too dry or wet. If your mixture is too dry or crumbly, blend in some water or extra peanut butter until you get a pliable dough. If your mixture is too wet, blend in some extra rolled oats or protein powder. Add the adjustments slowly, about a tablespoon at a time.
4. Rolling the mixture into balls – To roll by hand, break off a piece of the mixture, press it firmly together to compact it, then roll it between the palms of your hands to smooth it out. You can also use a cookie dough scoop to portion out the mixture. In the recipe video above, I use a 1.5 inch / 4 cm scoop to get 12 balls.
5. Storage – Store the energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge. They also freeze well.

Nutrition Facts

• Serving size: 1 ball
• Energy: 112 Calories / 470 Kilojoules
• Total Fat: 5.6 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
• Total Carbohydrate: 11.2 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g
• Sugars: 5.5 g
• Protein: 5.2 g
• Sodium: 35 mg
• Potassium: 84 mg