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Energy Balls are sweet, no bake treats that take minutes to throw together, are filled with good-for-you ingredients, and make for quick, portable breakfasts and snacks. Today, I’m sharing that master recipe for energy balls, along with all sorts of tasty ways to use it to create different energy ball flavors.
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I have made dozens of batches of energy ball recipes over the years, and while I’m constantly looking for fun ways to vary them up, inevitably, they come back to one simple, foolproof formula.
This is the ONLY Energy Ball recipe you’ll ever need.
Plus I’ve created six easy no bake energy ball flavor ideas!
5 Star Review
“This is been my go to snack for over a year! Everyone loves them! Even the picky children in my life. My favorite lunch snack, the opportunities are endless, I just changed it up (nuts, chocolates or fruits) and its a whole new amazing dessert?
— Kelsey —
Types of Energy Balls
Energy balls go by a variety of different names; energy bites, protein balls, power balls, and vegan truffles are but a few.
As much as I love trying different energy ball recipes and techniques, today’s basic energy ball recipe is the little black dress of them all.
Primary Ingredients in No Bake Energy Balls
My tried-and-true energy ball recipe is comprised of four basic ingredients.
Oats
- While you can use other flours, oatmeal is the champion.
- Rolled oats are filling, inexpensive, versatile, and gives me the sensation that I’m eating oatmeal cookie dough instead of a healthy snack. YES.
Gluten Free Energy Balls
- One of the questions I receive most often from readers is how I can state that my oatmeal recipes are gluten free, when most oats on the market run the risk of being cross-contaminated with gluten, a real concern for those diagnosed with celiac.
- My answer is to look for a brand that is labeled certified gluten free.
Nut Butter
- Nut butter, like peanut butter or almond butter, helps bind the balls.
- It adds healthy fats, making the energy balls sustaining.
- Nut butter is delicious!
Nut-Free Energy Balls
If you have a peanut allergy or just prefer a different kind of nut butter, any sort can be used. Use sunflower seed butter to make the energy balls nut free.
Natural Peanut Butter
If you opt for the drippy “natural” refrigerated nut butter, your batter may be extra sticky. Simply add a few more tablespoons of oats to even it out, and you will be ready to roll.
Sticky Liquid Sweetener
- Honey or pure maple syrup can be used to bind the energy balls.
- I use honey the most, but maple syrup is a really nice option if you’d like vegan energy balls or are making a recipe like these Pumpkin Energy Balls where the maple syrup’s flavor complements the other ingredients.
What About Dates?
Some energy ball recipes use dates (like these Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls) as the sweetening ingredients.
Dates do require you to bust out the food processor, so when you are in a hurry or want to keep it as quick and easy as possible, energy balls without dates like these are the move.
Mix-Ins!
- This is where the tasty experimentation begins.
- I like to do a combination of superfood additions, such as ground flaxseed and chia seeds (or whatever other superfood you bought a giant bag of at Costco on a whim and now need to use up), along with ingredients I love purely for their taste, like chocolate, chopped dried fruit, and did I mention chocolate?
- Vanilla extract is a must!
- If you aren’t a big chocolate fan,
we can’t be friendsfear not. I have non-chocolate options for you too!
How to Make No Bake Energy Balls
- You don’t need a food processor to make energy balls and no fancy equipment is needed.
- While there are many other methods to make energy balls that range from soaking and blending dried fruit in the food processor to using assorted grains and nut flours instead of oatmeal, today’s master oatmeal energy ball recipe is the one I return to again and again.
- This recipe is simple, I always have the ingredients I need to make it on hand, and I only need to wash one bowl at the end.
Just pile everything into a large mixing bowl and stir!
- Start with the oats.
- Following the oats, add the binding ingredients: nut butter and honey or maple syrup.
Now that you have your base, you are ready for the good stuff: mix-ins!
- While I’ve tried enough different mix-in combos to open an energy balls food truck, I most often find myself choosing chocolate chips and…whatever else I can find in my pantry.
Energy balls = legit excuse to eat chocolate at all times of day.
I like this math.
Energy Ball Variations
- Chocolate Chip. The classic! I like mini chocolate chips for energy balls.
- Oatmeal Raisin. Especially good with almond or cashew butter. Add a pinch of cinnamon too.
- White Chocolate Cranberry. Use almond or cashew butter, honey, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips.
- Double Chocolate. Twice as nice! Add cocoa powder and mini chocolate chips.
- Almond Joy. Candy bar goes snack. Use unsweetened shredded coconut, almond butter, chocolate chips, and chopped almonds.
- Trail Mix. A little bit of everything. Use peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, and raisins.
A Fast and Fabulous Snack
From back-to-school to the holidays to getting by day-to-day, life is BUSY.
This easy energy ball recipe is here for you.
They take just 10 minutes to prep, can last 2 weeks in the refrigerator or in the freezer forever (or until you remember they are in there and immediately eat them), and are endlessly adaptable, so you’ll never tire of them.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store leftover energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- To Freeze. Energy balls can save in freezer for up to 3 months in freezer-safe airtight container. Ziplock bags work great for this.
More Stellar Healthy Energy Ball Recipes
Even beyond the variations included in this guide, I have these additional healthy energy ball recipes, such as energy balls with dates, added protein powder, and some extra fun flavors!
- Ginger Cookie Healthy Energy Bites
- Pumpkin Energy Balls
- Cookie Dough No Bake Protein Balls
- Fig Almond No Bake Energy Bites
- Pistachio Truffles
- Salted Caramel Truffles
- Stackable Mixing Bowls. I use these bowls for everything!
- Cookie Scoop. Handy tool not just for cookies.
Below I’ve detailed the energy ball step-by-steps, as well as highlighted a few of my favorite combos.
Once you’ve worked your way through those, be sure to check out the other energy ball recipes linked above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Energy Balls Good For You?
No bake energy balls are a perfect healthy snack, treat, and breakfast on the go. They are balanced with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Energy balls for runners, kids, grandma, and anyone between!
How Long Do Energy Balls Last at Room Temperature?
Energy balls will last a few days at room temperature. To make them last longer, store in fridge.
Can I Make Energy Balls Without the Sweetener?
The stickiness of the maple syrup or honey is not just for a touch of sweetness, but also essential to binding together the ingredients.
Energy Balls
4.98 from 126 votes
The only Energy Ball recipe you’ll ever need, plus six no-bake energy ball flavors! Start with this easy base recipe, then add any of your favorite mix-ins.
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Total: 40 minutes mins
Servings: 18 (1-inch) balls, approx.
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Ingredients
ENERGY BALL BASE:
- 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats you can also swap quick oats or a blend of half quick, half old fashioned
- 2 tablespoons “power mix-ins” chia seeds,flaxseeds,hemp seeds, or additional rolled oats
- 1/2 cup nut butter of choice peanut butter is my go-to
- 1/3 cup sticky liquid sweetener of choice honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup mix-ins see below for flavor options
CLASSIC CHOCOLATE CHIP:
- Any nut butter honey, 1/2 cup chocolate chips
TRAIL MIX:
- Peanut butter honey, 3 tablespoons chocolate chips, 3 tablespoons chopped peanuts, 2 tablespoons raisins
WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY:
- Almond butter or cashew butter, honey, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
ALMOND JOY:
- Replace 1/2 cup of the oatmeal with 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes almond butter, any sweetener, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup chopped almonds
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE:
- Any nut butter any sweetener, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, ADD 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE:
- Almond butter or cashew butter, maple syrup, 1/2 cup raisins, ADD 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl: oats, power mix-ins, nut butter, sweetener, vanilla extract, salt, mix-ins, and any other spices you’d like to add. Stir to combine. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit more oats. If it’s too dry, add a bit more nut butter. It should resemble a somewhat sticky dough that holds together when lightly squeezed. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set (this will make the balls easier to roll later on).
Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and portion the dough into balls of desired size. (I use a cookie scoop to make mine approximately 1 inch in diameter). Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Store leftover energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
- For nut allergies: In place of the almond or peanut butter, try sunflower seed butter.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ball (nutrition info for Classic Chocolate Chip variation)Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPotassium: 115mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
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Erin Clarke
Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!
