Need a snack that’s healthy but also tastes like dessert? These no-bake Oatmeal Raisin Energy Balls will do just the trick!
Check out the full recipe for these chewy, bite-size treats in the video below:
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!
OATMEAL ENERGY BALL 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
- Coconut flakes
- Ground flaxseed
- Mini chocolate chips (optional)
- Raisins
- Peanut butter
- Honey
- Vanilla extract
There’s nothing like recreating your favorite recipes into healthier versions that tastes just as good, if not better! And if you want to learn how many parents are doing this while eliminating processed foods and sugars from their family’s diet check out my Family KickStart Program.
It emphasizes on making family-favorite recipes with fresh ingredients while making room for some incredible clean treats!
HEALTHY ENERGY BALLS RECIPE
These are also a gluten-free option, and if you want to make them nut-free, I can help you there too! Swap the peanut butter with soy or sunflower butter or your favorite nut-free option. I have a review on the best nut butter alternatives, and by far, soy and sunflower butter are the most similar in texture to peanut butter.
Snack time is a must around here, and I love helping families keep their pantry stocked with healthy, easy options like this recipe and other energy bites. They taste like dessert, are good for you, and in my book- the perfect snack!
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!
You’ll find everything from no-bake treats, smoothies, homemade fruit leather, and mini-meals, you know, the works!
What are some of your favorite and healthy go-to treats?
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
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
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
Keeping all of the other ingredients the same, what can I use instead of the coconut?
Thanks!
MOMables - Laura
You can omit the coconut. If the dough is too sticky, add just a bit more oats. Enjoy!
Elisha
Hi! What kind of oats do you use in this recipe? Rolled oats (quick cook)?
MOMables-Laura
Hi Elisha, I used regular old-fashioned (rolled) oats.
Heather Sipe
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
absolutely. press it down and allow it to set, then cut.
Deb Hatton
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
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
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
Do these HAVE to be cooled for a half an hour before rolling them? Is that part absolutely necessary?
MOMables
No you don’t have to!
Emily
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
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
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
they can be left out without issues. enjoy!
Amber
Thanks for the reply!
Katie
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
Katie, the oats are definitely a problem. they must be quick oats. I’m sorry!!
Katlyn Tang
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
the recipe calls for “rolled oats” not quick oats. sorry!
VALERIE BOURQUE
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
I’m allergic to oats so I used Flax seed Meal worked like a charm
jackie giroux
Try adding chia seeds. They should do the trick. :)
Winnifred
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
These sound like a grape at snack for kids. Is it possible to use maple syrup instead of honey?
MOMables
absolutely. I consider honey/maple syrup interchangeable.
Michele
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
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
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
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
Can you make these without the coconut and raisins? What are some good substitutes for them? Thanks!
MOMables
you can make these. they don’t have either.
Martha
I’m planning on making these, they sounds great but I have a question. The last ingredient is vanilla. Is that vanilla extract?
MOMables
yes. sorry
Kgiuliani
Any suggestions on substitutions for the butter-my kids are allergic to all nut and seed butters
MOMables
unfortunately, this is the base for the snack so no.
Sue
You can substitue with “WOW” butter!
MOMables
Of course!
Alejandra Pazos
I’m trying to figure calories before making these… On average how many balls do you get from a recipe?
MOMables
I get 18-20 bites
Ilissa
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
thanks Ilissa!
Elizabeth
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
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
Michelle, did you make any substitutions? they hold fine for me every time. perhaps add a little bit more honey
Pam
Love the recipe. Do you know the calorie count when rolled into small balls?
Thanks.
MOMables
I don’t know Pam. You can plug all the ingredients to some of the calorie counting websites out there.
Renae
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
did you use quick oats? that will do it.
Jenny
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
Yes, I am sure they last longer than a week.
Becca
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
I have tried making these with toasted oats (as in granola). they turn out pretty good too.
Sara
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
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
yes, you can leave it out. enjoy!
Jamie
Good recipe. I did add about 1/4 cup shredded carrots and 2 T chopped sunflower seeds.
Cynthia
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
I grind flax seeds in my blender. It works great. Just an old blender no special kind. I have not tried toasting.
Newbie
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
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
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
Sarah, you can absolutely freeze them! :)
Casey
Could you do this without the coconut. My kids are not fans of the texture.
MOMables
Absolutely! it’s just an added ingredient.
LissyS
I love this recipe, but tend to not be able to stomach oats – any ideas for a substitute?
Laura
Lissy- check out this recipe. It’s delish and no oats! https://www.momables.com/raw-cookie-dough-bites/
Beth
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
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
Let us know how they come out! :)