Oatmeal Balls – Easy No Bake Recipe

No Bake Oatmeal balls are a delicious, healthy, homemade snack. One that requires almost no effort to make! It’s the perfect snack whenever you need a quick pick-me-up.

Full of tantalizing ingredients, such as natural rolled oats, honey, peanut butter, and a sprinkling of candied chocolate chips to keep you going, these oatmeal balls might just be the best healthy mouthful of energy you’ve ever had.

And have I mentioned that there’s no baking required? (Um… only three times already). Yep, no need to crank up that hot oven like you do for so many other “energy bars.”

Can You Eat Raw Oats In Energy Balls?

Yes! Raw oats are perfectly safe to eat. It’s important to use old-fashioned rolled oats, though. They have a soft, tender texture that is perfect for this quick and easy snack.

Do not use steel-cut oats for these oatmeal balls (unless you want to crack a tooth!) But if you’ve got a hankerin’ for steel-cut oats, try my Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe. It’s quick, easy, and amazing!

And don’t use quick-cooking oats either. They won’t hold up well to the other ingredients. Classic rolled oats is the way to go.

Ingredients In Oatmeal Balls

• Rolled Oats – Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. (See full recipe below.)
• Honey – This gives the oatmeal balls a lightly sweet taste and acts as a natural binder to keep it all together. I prefer raw honey.
• Peanut Butter – Great for that burst of protein. You can also use almond butter if you prefer.
• Candied Mini Chocolate Chips – I love the color these little morsels add, but you can also use mini cacao chips for a lower sugar version.
• Vanilla – You just need a hint of it, but it really brings out the flavors.

Just mix, chill, roll, and chill again. These no-bake oatmeal balls (some call them protein bites because they’re packed with all that protein goodness) are a great back-to-school treat, camping goody, or even a midnight snack (yes, my husband has a midnight snack pretty much every night! How can he be in such good shape?? I’m pretty sure I’d outgrow my jeans in a big hurry if I did that! Go figure.)

How To Make Oatmeal Balls

1. Mix together oats, honey, candied chocolate chips, peanut butter, and a wee bit of vanilla until well-mixed. (See full recipe below.)
2. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. Scoop 1 1/2 tablespoons into oiled hands (can use cooking spray) and roll into a tightly formed ball.
4. Place on a plate or cookie sheet and place back in the refrigerator or freezer. Serve as needed.

Great Add-In Ideas

While I love the recipe exactly as written, the beauty about this one is that you can incorporate any little goodies you want. Here are some alternative choices:

• regular mini chocolate chips
• cashew pieces
• coconut
• almond butter in place of the peanut butter
• dried cranberries

The list is as long as your imagination. Just make sure that when you have it all mixed together, the ball holds together. You will likely need to add more honey or peanut butter if you have a lot of dry ingredients.

I absolutely love taking this with us on the day we head out camping. They provide a quick and easy grab-and-go snack while we’re on the drive, setting up, or winding down in front of the campfire (with that glass of wine).

P. S. Here’s our other favorite “camping snack” (Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs – easy, healthy, and yummy!)

Equipment Used In This Recipe

• Mixing Bowl
• Wooden Spoon

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