Oatmeal Energy Balls in a square bowl with a few next to the bowl on a white surface sprinkled with oats, flax seed, and chia seeds (with logo overlay)

No Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls Recipe with Nut Butter

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Made with only 5 ingredients, Oatmeal Energy Balls are a perfect, quick, healthy snack for that afternoon slump.

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For a while any time I would look through Pinterest for recipe ideas I would see “energy ball” recipes. I was always intrigued by the idea. But almost all of them used peanut butter as one of their many ingredients. For those who don’t know, I can’t stand peanut butter. Just the smell makes me nauseous. So I decided to use some of those recipes as a base to make my own Oatmeal Energy Balls full of healthy fats.

So I set out to try to find a no-bake energy bites recipe that didn’t include peanut butter. Finally, I came across one with almond butter. I don’t really care for almonds (or any nuts for that matter) but I don’t hate them as I do peanuts.

I bought a jar of almond butter just for this recipe, and it worked wonderfully. After thinking more about it, I realized I could probably replace the creamy peanut butter with almond butter in almost any of the other recipes I had found.

After making these, though, we are pretty happy with the recipe. There’s just the right amount of sugar in them to give that boost. But also plenty of protein to help it last throughout the afternoon.

Batch Preparation

We like to make these in a large batch and keep them in the freezer. They taste much better cold, in my opinion, and when they get warm they start to lose their shape. We just take however many we want at the time out of the freezer to thaw for a few minutes before eating. Trust me, they are too solid to eat immediately out of the freezer.

One year, for our annual beach vacation, I put all of the ingredients in a large container and brought it with us. Then, on the first day, I mixed it all together, formed the balls, and put them in the freezer. The oatmeal energy balls were a perfect snack when we were worn out from the pool and beach. And they were cold for the hot summer days in South Florida.

Additional Add-Ins

There are so many things you can add to these Oatmeal Energy Balls. Just make sure if you are adding more dry ingredients that you also add extra nut butter to hold them together. 

  • Chia seeds
  • Protein powder
  • Vanilla extract
  • Mini M&M pieces
  • Medjool dates
  • Dark chocolate chips
  • Hemp seeds
  • Coconut flakes
  • Pure maple syrup

Nut Butter Options

  • Sunflower seed butter
  • Almond butter
  • Natural peanut butter
  • Cashew butter

Oatmeal Energy Balls Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seeds

Preparation

Measure out all of your ingredients. I have an adjustable measuring cup that is perfect for the almond butter and honey because it pushes everything out without having it all stick to the measuring cup.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients. It can be hard to mix at times, so I suggest using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Otherwise, this can also be mixed in a heavy-duty food processor. 

Use a cookie scoop to form the mixture into balls. You can also use a spoon or your hands, but I find a cookie scoop makes it quick and easy without much of a mess. Place them on a baking sheet without letting them touch.

Freeze the energy balls until they are set. Once completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer container and keep frozen.

Remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for a few minutes before eating.

Oatmeal Energy Ball Leftovers

Storage: Store extra energy balls in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. 

Freezing: Oatmeal Energy Balls can be kept in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. To eat, remove an energy ball from the freezer and thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes before eating. 

Recipe

Originally Published On: March 23, 2017

Last Updated On: August 1, 2024

Oatmeal Energy Balls in a square bowl with a few next to the bowl on a white surface sprinkled with oats, flax seed, and chia seeds

Oatmeal Energy Balls

Made with only 5 ingredients, Oatmeal Energy Balls are a perfect, quick, healthy snack for that afternoon slump.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Freezing Time 1 hour
Total Time 15 minutes
Course:
Snack
Cuisine:
American
Diet
Vegetarian
Keyword:
almond butter
|
chocolate
|
energy balls
|
honey
|
nut butter
|
oats
Dietary Needs:
Egg-Free
|
Gluten-Free
Servings: 20 pieces
5 from 7 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup ground flaxseed

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together
  • Roll out teaspoon sized balls and place on a baking sheet
  • Freeze until set, about one hour
  • Once frozen, you can move them to a container
  • Remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for a few minutes before eating
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Nutrition Facts
Oatmeal Energy Balls
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 104 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 4mg0%
Potassium 80mg2%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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19 thoughts on “No Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls Recipe with Nut Butter”

  6. Angela Tolsma

    Can we be best friends?? I also dislike peanut butter. In certain situations it’s okay but mainly I find it gross. It’s also why I never have made energy balls, but now I want to try these!

    Reply
  10. Kayla

    These are on of my favorite quick snacks to make. I love how simple the process is and even more so, how good they are for you. Almost too good if you ask me 😂. These are perfect right after a workout, for an on the go breakfast, or just a simple quick treat. You can also alter it and add brewers yast for a yummy lactational treat.

    Reply
  11. David Elliott

    5 stars
    These look so delicious. I would love to try these out. I do something pretty similar only I do it with peanut butter instead of almond butter. But almond butter sounds delicious.

    Reply
  12. Christa

    This looks like such a healthy way to satisfy my sweet tooth! I love almond butter so much, too. This is a great post-gym snack.

    Reply
  14. Di Hickman

    I agree with you. I’ve made similar date balls with peanut butter or recipes with peanut flour and it’s overpowering. All you can taste is peanuts. Almonds are a much more subtle flavor!

    Reply
  16. Alice Mola

    I love almond butter, and finally a use for that 1kg bag of ground flaxseed that I’ve purchased, haha! These sound delicious and heart healthy!

    Reply

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