Make a batch of these no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls to have on hand for hungry kiddos during the week. They taste so good and are filled with nutritious ingredients. Plus: They’re ready in under 10 minutes!
Before anyone states the obvious, I do realize that most toddlers do not need more energy! They usually have plenty all on their own. But these “energy balls” are such a delicious (and easy toddler snack) full of nutritious ingredients for little bodies.
Quick Look: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Serving: 16
- Flavor Profile: Peanut butter cookie dough flavor and texture
- Difficulty: Easy, perfect for everyday snacks and dessert
- Why to Make: It’s a quick, nutritious snack to share
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Table of Contents
And they have a texture that’s sort of like edible cookie dough so they’re great for younger toddlers, too—just dice them up if needed.
Along with my Almond Butter Protein Balls and Bliss Balls, we love these for afternoon snack with some milk, as an easy bedtime snack, or a quick on-the-go bite.
Why this Recipe Works
These are an easy snack to make at home in under 10 minutes and keep in the fridge to serve quickly. Plus, you don’t need to use any fancy ingredients or complicated methods to make these energy bites—yet they are full of nutrition including protein, beneficial fats, and fiber.
(You may also like Peanut Butter Muffins, no-bake Chewy Granola Bars, and Chocolate Balls.)
Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the pantry ingredients you’ll need to make this Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls recipe to share with the kids so you know what to have on hand.
- Creamy unsweetened peanut butter: I like the “natural” kind from Smuckers or Teddies, but any brand will do.
- Honey: The honey in this recipe helps the bites hold together. You can also swap in brown rice syrup for a less sweet taste.
- Vanilla extract: You can use pure or imitation vanilla extract here.
- Rolled oats: You can use the oats as they are out of the canister or bag, or you can grind them up in a food processor or blender to make a finer texture. (We like them ground up so the bites have the texture of cookie dough.)
- Chia seeds: These little seeds add some texture and additional fats. You can omit them if you don’t have them.
- Raisins or chocolate chips: Add these in for more flavor and yumminess.
How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
Here’s a look at how to make this easy energy ball recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.
Step 1. Warm the peanut butter and honey. Stir together
Step 2. Cut the raisins in half, if large, to make the balls easier to bite into for the little eaters.
Step 3. Add all ingredients to a medium bowl and stir together.
Step 4. Use a measuring spoon or mini cookie scoop to form into balls.
TIP: The recipe works with regular oats, but grinding the oats—or using quick oats or oat flour—makes the balls taste more like cookie dough. You can skip the chia seeds if you don’t have any!
Featured Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Sooo good! I tried another batch and used date paste in place of the honey and it was just as yummy! Great, quick snack for the whole family.” —JV
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls FAQs
Sure, just use mini chocolate chips in place of the raisins! That will definitely taste like cookie dough and I expect will make the kids really happy. (And probably the grown ups too!)
If you can’t do peanut butter in your house or you need a nut-free snack to send to preschool or school, try these energy bites with sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter. They should work just fine and taste similar.
Sure thing, just reach for certified gluten-free rolled oats and you should be good to go.
How to Store
You can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. They will likely be gobbled up well before that. though—I make these as much for my kids as I do for myself. I store each batch in a quart-size mason jar in the fridge and cut them up for younger eaters to ensure they are easy to chew.
Best Tips for Success
- Grind the oats in a blender or food processor. Or use quick oats or oat flour. This will make the final texture smoother and more like cookie dough.
- Cut the raisins in half if they are very large so they are easier for the kids to bite into and chew.
- Use Date Paste in place of the honey.
- Use sunflower seed butter to make these nut-free.
- Cut up if needed to serve to younger kids.
- If they feel too firm for younger eaters, simply let sit at room temperature for a bit before storing.
- Serve with a Toddler Protein Shake, Vanilla Milk, fresh fruit, or veggies as you like.
More No-Bake Bites
I’d love to hear your feedback on the recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy unsweetened peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 cup rolled oats ground into a coarse flour in a blender or food processor (or use quick oats or oat flour)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- ¼ cup raisins, cut in half (optional, but recommended for overall texture)
Instructions
- Place the peanut butter and honey in a heat-proof container (such as a glass measuring cup) and warm for 15-30 seconds in the microwave.
- Add to a medium bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
- Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon as much as you can. If the dough is at all stiff, mix with clean hands.
- Use a tablespoon-size measuring spoon to portion and roll into balls. Squeeze the batter, then roll it into a ball to help it hold together easily.
- Serve or store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Equipment
Notes
- To store, place in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Let sit at room temperature to soften slightly if needed for your toddler.
- If you don’t have chia seeds on hand, you can simply skip them.
- Nut-free: Use Sunbutter or another sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter.
- Grind the oats in a blender or food processor or use quick oats or oat flour. This will make the final texture smoother and more like cookie dough.
- Cut the raisins in half if they are very large so they are easier for the kids to bite into and chew.
- Warm the peanut butter and honey so they are easy to stir into the other ingredients.
- Use a tablespoon measuring spoon or a small spoon to portion out the dough.
- Cut up if needed to serve to younger kids.
- Try snipped dried cherries, cranberries, or apricots instead of the raisins.
- Use mini chocolate chips instead of raisins.
Nutrition
This recipe was first published June 2017.
Love these!! So easy to make and equally delicious! I’m always confused about chia seeds though, I read before that they need to soak in water first. Is that not the case especially for toddlers?
You don’t have to soak them for this recipe. Usually you only do that when you want them to help bind a batter.
Made these this morning. Used half the amount of honey and the rest used date syrup and substituted the chia seeds for flax seeds and added a few chocolate chips and they were lovely, little one enjoys them, thinks they’re little chocolate bites
Can I use corn syrup instead of honey?
I haven’t tested that so I can’t say for sure. It might work!
Sooo good! I tried another batch and used date paste in place of the honey and it was just as yummy! Great, quick snack for the whole family.
Glad to hear that!