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These no-bake energy balls with oatmeal and raisin are an easy-to-make snack that kids will ask for in their lunchboxes often!
Energy Bites for Kids
The colorful packages from the store-bought snacks may look appealing, but flavor and nutrition will be the winners once your kids try these energy bites! As a busy mom, I’m all about easy recipes, and if this isn’t the easiest snack ever, I don’t know what it is.
I really mean it. You combine the ingredients in a bowl, and BOOM! You have a healthy snack to enjoy throughout the week. If you want to know what they taste like, imagine oatmeal raisin cookie dough and peanut butter in every bite. No wonder they are a favorite healthy treat!
Speaking of, I love snacks so much that I wrote an entire book, The Best Homemade Kids’ Snacks on the Planet, devoted to helping families master homemade snacking!
Ingredients
I love how easy it is to whip up a dozen of these bite-size treats with simple ingredients like oats, shredded coconut, and peanut butter. Plus, they keep their chewy, delicious texture for up to a week, so you’ll have a healthy snack on hand all week long. Here’s what you need to make these happen:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: have the best texture for these bites. You can use quick oats, but you might need to add more oats since the mixture might be sticky.
- Coconut flakes: tasty and good-for-you!
- Ground flaxseed: adds tons of nutrition.
- Mini chocolate chips: optional but so tasty!
- Raisins: add sweetness and fiber.
- Peanut butter: you can swap it for soy or sunflower butter or your favorite nut-free option. I have a review on the best nut butter alternatives.
- Honey: helps holding the ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract: makes everything tastier!
How to Make Oatmeal Energy Bites
How easy these no-bake energy balls are? Well, if you can combine ingredients in a bowl, you can make them! Check it out for yourself:
- Mix ingredients
Combine oats, coconut flakes, flax seed, mini chocolate chips, and raisins in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. - Combine
Pour the wet mixture into the oat mix, and mix to incorporate. - Refrigerate
Let the mixture chill in the fridge for half an hour. - Shape
Once the mix is chilled, roll it into balls and store in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Check out the full recipe for these chewy, bite-size treats in the video below:
More School Lunch Snacks
Kick up lunchbox nutrition with healthy snacks you can easily make at home, like peanut butter granola bars, baked banana chips, or cinnamon sugar pretzel bites. You can also make these no-bake chocolate brownie bites for chocolate lovers. Amazing!
No-Bake Oatmeal Raisin Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup coconut flakes
- ½ cup ground flax seed
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips, or raisins
- ½ cup peanut butter, or other nut/non-nut butter*
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix the oats, coconut flakes, flax seed, mini chocolate chips, if using, and raisins.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture into the oat mix, until thoroughly incorporated. Let it chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll it into balls. Store in an airtight container or lunchbox, and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Chrysta says
My teenagers have decided that this is their favorite breakfast “cereal.” They don’t wait for it to be rolled into balls; they scoop the muesli into a bowl and top with blueberries and yogurt.
Question… could I make a big batch ahead of time and freeze for later? Or would the honey act weird when it thawed? Starting to think ahead for busy school mornings next fall.
MOMables - Laura says
they are smart those teens… bc it’s delicious! You can absolutely make a big batch and freeze it. I suggest you simply line a baking sheet with plastic wrap and spread the dough on there in crumbles. Once frozen, transfer it to a zip bag. Also, this is the perfect recipe to print and have the teens make themselves :)
Eileen says
Keeping all of the other ingredients the same, what can I use instead of the coconut?
Thanks!
MOMables - Laura says
You can omit the coconut. If the dough is too sticky, add just a bit more oats. Enjoy!
Elisha says
Hi! What kind of oats do you use in this recipe? Rolled oats (quick cook)?
MOMables-Laura says
Hi Elisha, I used regular old-fashioned (rolled) oats.
Heather Sipe says
Can these be put into bars instead of balls? Like maybe pressed into a pan and then cut into bars? Do you know how I could do that with this recipe? Thanks!! If not then that’s OK…they’ll be great anyways!
MOMables says
absolutely. press it down and allow it to set, then cut.
Deb Hatton says
These are absolutely awesome! The perfect grab-and-go breakfast or pre-workout snack. We used to buy Aussie Bites from Costco but we just do up a batch of these on Sunday for the week now instead. Thanks a bunch!
Tiffany says
Dear Laura,
Thanks for this recipe! I’m just weeks away from baby no 2. Can I freeze these bites and if so, what’s the best way to thaw and eat for a little extra energy on busy nights?
Emilie Hebert says
Congrats!! What an exciting time. You can definitely freeze these bites. To thaw them, put them in the fridge overnight, or at room temperature for a couple hours. Hope you enjoy!
Mary says
Do these HAVE to be cooled for a half an hour before rolling them? Is that part absolutely necessary?
MOMables says
No you don’t have to!
Emily says
I’ve made these a bunch now and love the recipe! It’s fun to play with different ingredients too. I have a 19 month old and Baby 2 is on the way, as well as a very busy firefighter husband. Needless to say they don’t last too long in our house. I made a double batch to send with him to the firehouse during this last big snow storm and they were devoured.
I’m thinking of trying to add a little Brewers yeast to the mix to make them more like “lactation energy bites” once the baby comes since most of the ingredients are what you see in lactation cookies. . Any thoughts!?
Great easy recipe! Thanks!
Emilie Hebert says
I’m so glad you all love them! I’ve never tried added Brewer’s yeast, but if they turn out well for you, let us know!
Amber says
Hello! I’m looking for things my husband can take to work and eat on the go. These seem perfect. Do they have to remain refrigerated at all times?
MOMables says
they can be left out without issues. enjoy!
Amber says
Thanks for the reply!
Katie says
Hi Laura,
I ordered your book recently and love it!
I tried making this recipe two times this week and both times the mix crumbled and I couldn’t roll it into a ball. I used sunflower seed butter since my son can’t eat peanut butter. I used additional sunflower seed butter and honey but it still crumbled. I used old fashioned oats (maybe they aren’t a quick oat). Any ideas? I am not giving up on this recipe.
MOMables says
Katie, the oats are definitely a problem. they must be quick oats. I’m sorry!!
Katlyn Tang says
I did the same thing at first and then when I did it again it was a sloppy sticky mess…
What did I do wrong? I used: Quick oats+ granola, coconut, dried strawberries chopped, peanut butter, honey, and well chopped peanuts
MOMables says
the recipe calls for “rolled oats” not quick oats. sorry!
VALERIE BOURQUE says
Quick oats are just chopped up oats. Throw the regular oats in a blender and you have quick oats. They cook faster in tiny pieces which makes the magical quick oats. The smaller pieces also allow these balls to stay together easier :)
Nelson Thulin says
I’m allergic to oats so I used Flax seed Meal worked like a charm
jackie giroux says
Try adding chia seeds. They should do the trick. :)
Winnifred says
Thanks for the great recipes, Laura!
Trader Joes has a new Peanut Butter with added flax and chia seeds. This can be used beautifully in this recipe.
Shirley says
These sound like a grape at snack for kids. Is it possible to use maple syrup instead of honey?
MOMables says
absolutely. I consider honey/maple syrup interchangeable.
Michele says
I realize this recipe has been around for a while and I’m just way behind the times but I thought I’d share a couple adjustments I made to this recipe. My kids LOVE them and I feel so good about them eating them over the processed things found in the store that don’t even help with energy at all!
First,..I did not add the raisins or coconut as my kids aren’t fans of those. Second, I added about 1/2-3/4 cups protein powder to the mixture. I typically stay around 1/2 cup. If the bites are too dry to roll into balls I add a little more honey. I just love peanut butter and chocolate so our favorite is to mix 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder and 1/4 cup chocolate protein powder. I’ve also used banana flavored powder with the vanilla and those were delicious too (I mean, who doesn’t love peanut butter and bananas, right?).
With the addition of the protein powder these delicious bites give an even longer lasting energy boost! I even asked our Dr. about all the added vitamins my kids were getting (from the protein powder) and whether that could potentially cause health problems and she assured me that unless they were eating in excess of 5-6/day they should be fine. Not only are they perfect for snacks but they can serve as a healthy breakfast alternative when you’re running late (which of us mom’s are never running late when we’ve got a houseful of busy kids?!) !!!
If anyone is still reading about these delicious bite, I hope this helps if you decide you need to change them up a little once in a while!
Kristi says
I’m not familiar with protein powder. Where do you buy it? Can you give me a little more information about cooking with it?
MOMables says
Kristi, the protein powder in this recipe can be omitted or substituted with milk powder. You don’t actually cook with it it’s for added nutritional benefit.
NoAdditives says
Protein powder is what you use to make a protein shake. You can find it pretty much everywhere, Target, GNC, I think even grocery stores. Most brands use artificial sweeteners, but there are some good natural brands. I like Now Sports or the natural line from Optimum Nutrition. There are all kinds of ways to add it to cookies and other foods, do a google search for recipes.
Amber says
Can you make these without the coconut and raisins? What are some good substitutes for them? Thanks!
MOMables says
you can make these. they don’t have either.
Martha says
I’m planning on making these, they sounds great but I have a question. The last ingredient is vanilla. Is that vanilla extract?
MOMables says
yes. sorry
Kgiuliani says
Any suggestions on substitutions for the butter-my kids are allergic to all nut and seed butters
MOMables says
unfortunately, this is the base for the snack so no.
Sue says
You can substitue with “WOW” butter!
MOMables says
Of course!
Alejandra Pazos says
I’m trying to figure calories before making these… On average how many balls do you get from a recipe?
MOMables says
I get 18-20 bites
Ilissa says
I just made these today. They were not holding together as some other people had also indicated so I added more peanut butter. They rolled together much easier after that. I think the recipe should call for 1 cup of peanut butter instead of 1/2.
MOMables says
thanks Ilissa!
Elizabeth says
hi I made these last night. put them in the fridge overnight. I made some balls input the rest into a pan and covered it. thinking I could make those into bars. They weren’t sticking this morning so I put that tan in the freezer. I read a comment I need to add more liquid than? I will try this again I tasted it and it taste yummy.
Michele says
I have made these twice now. They are very good, but the first time I really struggled to get it all to hold together for balls and this time I can’t get the balls to form at all; it’s too crumbly. Obviously it needs more liquid, but at this point what should I add, and how much?
MOMables says
Michelle, did you make any substitutions? they hold fine for me every time. perhaps add a little bit more honey
Pam says
Love the recipe. Do you know the calorie count when rolled into small balls?
Thanks.
MOMables says
I don’t know Pam. You can plug all the ingredients to some of the calorie counting websites out there.
Renae says
Not sure what I did wrong….they tasted wonderful but there’s no way I could have rolled them into balls, they just all fell apart. I did omit the raisins, would that have been the problem?
MOMables says
did you use quick oats? that will do it.
Jenny says
Do you think they are really only good for a week? All the ingredients are shelf stable much longer then a week! Just trying to get as much out of them as I can!
MOMables says
Yes, I am sure they last longer than a week.
Becca says
I think I’ve burned my kids out on snack cookies that use raw oats. Have you tried doing this with toasted oats? I’m wondering if it would give it enough of a cooked flavor that my kids would eat it.
MOMables says
I have tried making these with toasted oats (as in granola). they turn out pretty good too.
Sara says
You can use any nuts, make sure to graind them first. Or sunsflower sedd, also chopped… or almonds. And coconutflakes can tasete nice too :)
Kim says
Hey! I’m wanting to try making these right now but I don’t have any flax seed. Can i just leave it out this time? Or use something else to replace it?
MOMables says
yes, you can leave it out. enjoy!
Jamie says
Good recipe. I did add about 1/4 cup shredded carrots and 2 T chopped sunflower seeds.
Cynthia says
Wondering if you might know the answers to these questions. Can ground flaxseed be made by taking flax seeds and grinding them in a mini food processor? Can flaxseed be toasted, or is it better to use as is?
I want to try this substituting the raisins for cranberries! Thanks!
Jay Melo says
I grind flax seeds in my blender. It works great. Just an old blender no special kind. I have not tried toasting.
Newbie says
I tried to make these, but because the oatmeal I made was fresh …thus warm, it melted all if the chocolate chips and turned into a gooey, sticky chocolate mess. Is the recipe supposed to say just oats or do you use oatmeal from the fridge?
MOMables says
I apologize, the oatmeal is dry. or, Dry oats. What you have you can warm a serving in a bowl and serve with milk. We call that an “energy bowl”
sarah says
I really want to make these, but would probably end up freezing them, since we have a small family! Anyone know how long they will keep in the freezer? Thanks in advance!!
MOMables says
Sarah, you can absolutely freeze them! :)
Casey says
Could you do this without the coconut. My kids are not fans of the texture.
MOMables says
Absolutely! it’s just an added ingredient.
LissyS says
I love this recipe, but tend to not be able to stomach oats – any ideas for a substitute?
Laura says
Lissy- check out this recipe. It’s delish and no oats! https://www.momables.com/raw-cookie-dough-bites/
Beth says
We love these at our house! I use a small ice cream scooper, it’s a little bigger than a melon baller to make these. I do the scooping part and my 4yo makes them into the little balls! She loves to help and is always so proud when we are done. The last few times I made them I added a couple Tbsp. of melted coconut oil and they tasted just like an Almond Joy!
Sunithi says
Love the no bake version of a yummy healthy snack and the size is just perfect. Going to try this on the weekend with my kids :)
Laura says
Let us know how they come out! :)