3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

Name: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ cup creamy peanut butter ((can substitute almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower butter)); ¼ cup honey ((can substitute maple syrup or agave)); 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats ((use certified gluten-free oats to keep the recipe gluten free)); ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon; 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips; 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed or chia seeds; ¼ cup shredded coconut; 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder

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Get ready to roll into a world of flavor with these easy no-bake 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls! These bite-sized treats are packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They can be made in 15 minutes and are the perfect wholesome and delicious snack to satisfy your sweet tooth.

A stack of Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls on a white dish in front of more balls on a pink baking sheet.

Today I'm diving into the world of wholesome snacking with these delicious 3-Ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls. It's always smart to have an arsenal of quick and easy healthy snack recipes that you can turn to when hunger hits. Some of my favorite nutritious snacks are my giant peanut butter rice cake, chocolate almond clusters, kale chips, and coconut date balls.

These tasty oatmeal energy balls are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients and are a simple and satisfying treat. And they feature one of my favorite ingredients- oats!

It's a simple recipe that can be made with a few basic pantry ingredients and requires no baking. And the beauty of the recipe is that you can customize these no-bake oatmeal balls with a variety of add-ins to suit your taste.

Whether you're in need of a post-workout snack or a quick pick-me-up during a busy day, these 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls are here to fuel your day with long-lasting energy.

Are you a pumpkin spice fan? If so, then try my tasty pumpkin protein balls (no-bake energy bites).

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Why You'll Love This Dish
Ingredients
How To Make 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls Step-By-Step
Chef's Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Tasty Snacks
Recipe
Reviews

Why You'll Love This Dish

Quick and Easy: These no-bake peanut butter oatmeal balls are a breeze to make with simple ingredients. This quick snack is ready in 15 minutes!
Wholesome Ingredients: Made with simple wholesome ingredients like old-fashioned oats, a healthy whole grain, and peanut butter.
Balanced Nutrition: Packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, these easy energy bites will fill you up and provide sustained energy.
Tasty: They have a delicious nutty flavor reminiscent of cookie dough.
Convenient and Portable: Perfect for on-the-go snacking, providing a nutritious option whenever hunger strikes.
Customizable: There are so many optional ingredients you can add to this basic recipe such as vanilla extract, chocolate chips, ground flax seeds, chia seeds or protein powder.
Portion Control: These oatmeal balls are bite-sized and the perfect healthy snack- it's instant portion control.
Kid-friendly- A lunchbox favorite and the perfect healthy after school snack.
Versatile: Easily adaptable to various dietary preferences, including gluten-free and peanut allergy-friendly options.

Doctor's Tip: Discover the remarkable health benefits of overnight oats! From promoting heart health to aiding in weight management, oats are packed with nutrition to kickstart your day!

Ingredients

Optional toppings for Oatmeal Energy Balls. — Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

Ingredient notes and substitutions. See recipe card at the end of the post for full ingredient list.

Basic Oatmeal Balls Recipe:

This basic recipe only requires 3 ingredients!

Old fashioned oats- use regular old fashioned rolled oats, not quick-cooking oats, steel-cut oats or instant oats. Use certified gluten-free oats if you're gluten free.
Peanut butter- use creamy peanut butter. You can use regular peanut butter or natural peanut butter- either one will work, as long as it's creamy. You can substitute almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower butter.
Honey- helps bind the balls; you can substitute another liquid sweetener like pure maple syrup or agave.

Optional Add-Ins:

There are so many ingredients you can add to these peanut butter oatmeal balls to add extra flavor or a nutritional boost. Here are some examples:

Vanilla extract- gives these oatmeal balls a cookie-like flavor
Cinnamon or other spices like nutmeg, ginger or pumpkin spice
Sea salt- a generous pinch of sea salt can help balance out the sweet flavors in these balls
Mini chocolate chips- you can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate!
Ground flaxseed or chia seeds- will help bind the balls and add a boost of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids
Shredded coconut- adds flavor and texture; you can also add cocoa powder for an almond joy flavor
Protein powder- you can add vanilla or chocolate protein powder. It will make the balls drier so you may need to add extra honey to get the right texture
Dried fruit- chopped medjool dates, dried cherries, cranberries or raisins add flavor and texture.

My favorite combination of add-ins is vanilla, cinnamon, mini chocolate chips, protein powder, and ground flaxseed for a boost of fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and beneficial phytochemicals. Learn all about the amazing health benefits of flaxseed.

How To Make 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls Step-By-Step

See recipe card at the end of the post for full recipe details.

Step 1- Mix the peanut butter and honey together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
Step 2- Add the oats. Add any additional ingredients at this point.
Step 3- Using a spatula, stir to combine all the ingredients well.
Step 4- Form the mixture into balls, about 1-inch in size. You can do this with your hands or a small cookie scoop. Roll them around in your hands to compact them so that they stay together. Enjoy the oatmeal balls right away or chill them in the refrigerator first. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Chef's Tips

I like to give the oats a rough chop in a food processor to break them up into smaller pieces before making this dish. This helps the balls hold together better.
The texture of the oatmeal balls will differ depending on whether you use regular peanut butter or a natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter balls may be a little bit drier.
Depending on how many add-ins you use, especially protein powder, you may need to add more liquid (honey) to moisten the balls so they can hold together.
I like to use a small cookie scoop so that the balls are all the same size.
You can wet your hands with a little water to make rolling them easier.
You can stick the bowl in the fridge for about 15 minutes to get the mixture to firm up a little and make it easier to roll.

Oatmeal Energy Balls on a pink baking sheet.

Recipe FAQs

How do you store 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls?

You can store the energy balls in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let frozen peanut butter oatmeal balls thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before eating.

Are energy balls healthy?

Absolutely! Energy balls are packed with a nourishing blend of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. They offer a wholesome option for breakfast, between meals, or as a pre/post-workout snack. They are a great choice for anyone looking to make healthier snack decisions.