No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

If you often make lunchboxes for your kids to bring to school, you know the importance of healthy snacks. These no-bake oatmeal balls are the best.

They are packed with a blend of healthy fats, proteins, and fiber from plant-based ingredients that kids love.

Plus, they are very versatile, and you can create a range of flavors and textures by changing just a few ingredients.

So let me share how to make this easy healthy snack.

How To Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

It’s so easy to whip up a batch of these healthy snacks. You don’t even need a food processor, or fancy kitchen tools, just a bowl and a few ingredients.

Ingredients

Here’s the list of basic ingredients you need to make these no-bake peanut butter balls:

• Natural Peanut Butter – You need peanut butter with no added sugar, no added oil, or salt.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats or quick oats. If you don’t want to add ground flaxseeds in the next step, then use quick oats. It has a thinner texture and it holds into balls without the the flaxseeds.
• Ground Flaxseeds, ground chia seeds, or oat flour.
• Maple Syrup or any liquid sweetener you love, like agave syrup, coconut nectar, or sugar-free syrup such as monk fruit syrup.
• Mix-In – You can add any seeds, nuts, shredded coconut, or dried fruits.
• Sea Salt – If peanut butter is unsalted.

Preparation

In a mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients: oats, salt, and flax meal. Stir to combine evenly.

Next, stir in the maple syrup and fresh drippy natural peanut butter. If your peanut butter is too firm, microwave it with the maple syrup in a separate glass bowl for 30 seconds.

Stir until smooth then incorporate with oat.

Finally, fold in the mix-in – I use dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.

Stir and press to coat all dry ingredients nicely with the wet ingredients. The dough shouldn’t be too wet. It should be dense, thick, and sticky.

Refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes before rolling it into balls. This is optional, but it makes it easier to form balls.

Rolling Into Balls

Before you roll the oatmeal mixture, prepare a plate covered with parchment paper. Or a sealed container that fits all the batter for storing in the fridge for later.

Also, rub your hands with some coconut oil because the batter is sticky.

Scoop some mixture using an ice cream scoop and release it into your hand. Roll into a ball and place on a plate covered with parchment paper

Repeat until no more oatmeal mixture is left. You should form about 20 no-bake oatmeal balls, depending on their size.

Storage Instructions

These no-bake oatmeal balls store very well in the fridge – for about one week in a sealed glass container.

You can freeze this healthy snack and simply thaw a ball at room temperature for 3 hours before eating or overnight in the fridge.

Serving

These no-bake oatmeal peanut butter balls are great after or before a cardio workout to give quick energy to your muscles.

Or, you can use them as in a kid’s lunchbox. If your school has a nut-free policy, look at my allergy swap options below.

Flavoring Ideas

You can create a range of different no-bake oat balls with this recipe.

You can change the nut butter – use peanut butter, cashew, or almond butter.

Next, change the mix-ins. Below are my favorite combinations:

• Dark chocolate chips, shredded coconut – this tastes like almond joy.
• Dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
• Dried banana chips pieces and chopped almonds.
• Pecans and white chocolate chips.

Frequently Asked questions

Below are my answers to your most common questions about this oatmeal balls.

Can I Use Almond Butter?

You can swap peanut butter with the same amount of fresh drippy almond butter. However, almond butter is often tougher and dryer.

In order to thin out the nut butter, stir almond butter and maple syrup together in a separate glass bowl.

Then microwave for 30-45 seconds, stir to combine and add to the dry ingredients.

Are Oatmeal Balls Healthy?

No-bake oatmeal balls are packed with nutrients: mostly fiber, proteins, and healthy fats from ground flaxseeds, oats, and peanut butter.

It means that their high fiber and protein content keeps you full very quickly, and they are perfect for fixing a sweet craving or refueling energy after a workout.

Plus, they are naturally refined-sugar-free and small, so you can control servings.