Recipe: No-Bake Energy Balls

Looking for a quick, delicious, and “good for you” snack? Of course you are, who isn’t? Well look no further — these no-bake energy balls will give you the fuel you need to get you through everything from an intense workout, to a hectic day.

Best of all, you can customize these to your liking and change up the recipe, so you don’t get tired of them.

 

What are energy balls?

If you haven’t tried these delicious snacks, you are missing out! Energy balls generally consist of oats, nut butter, and a sweetener, like honey. You can combine those 3 ingredients with other fixings to add different flavors, or to amp up the nutritional content. Some great options for adding more nutrition to your energy balls are hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax seeds. Just remember, there are virtually no wrong toppings to add to your energy balls, so get creative!

 

Are energy balls healthy?

Yes! They really are. These ones especially since they are filled with good, wholesome ingredients. Even if you add a little sugar or some chocolate chips, you are only eating very small amounts. In fact, these are great for helping to hit that sweet craving without going overboard.

 

Can you make energy balls without peanut butter?

Yes, you definitely can make these without peanut butter. Whether you have an allergy to peanuts or you just don’t like it, you can definitely substitute other nut butters. My favorite is almond (used in this recipe) or cashew butter. I recommend you give all the nut butters a try and see which one you like best!

 

Can you make energy balls ahead of time and freeze them?

Freezing these actually makes them taste so good! Especially on a hot day or after an intense workout. Lay out the energy balls on a flat tray and freeze for about 15 minutes. Then you can put the semi-frozen energy balls into a zip lock bag and put them back in the freezer to store. Then just pop one out whenever you get a craving for them. No need to defrost if you don’t want to! I’ll also say that if you live in a warmer climate or if your kitchen generally gets warmer, I recommend you store these in the freezer or the fridge anyway.

 

Multiple energy balls in a blue bowl

 

No-Bake Energy Balls

A perfect snack for pre-workout, post-workout, or practically anytime!

SERVINGS : Makes approximately 15 small balls
CALORIES: 111 kcal (per ball)

 

INGREDIENTS

1 TBSP milk (of your choice)
1 cup large rolled oats
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp ground flax seeds
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp hemp seeds
1/2 cup Almond butter
2 TBSP raw honey
2 TBSP unsweetened shredded coconut

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.) In a large bowl, add milk and oats to hydrate

2.) Add all other ingredients, except the coconut, into the bowl and mix to form a dough

3.) Roll out the dough into small balls, using your hands. You should get around 15 small (approx. 1 inch) balls

4.) Dip/roll into the unsweetened shredded coconut to coat the outside

 

NUTRITION

Serving size: 1 ball

Calories: 111 kcal

Carbohydrates: 10g

Protein: 3g

Fat: 7g

Saturated Fat: 2g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g

Monounsaturated Fat: 3g

Trans Fat: 1g

Cholesterol: 1mg

Sodium: 3mg

Potassium: 92mg

Fiber: 2g

Sugar: 5g

Vitamin A: 4IU

Vitamin C: 1mg

Calcium: 36mg

Iron: 1mg

About the Author:

Joyce Leung

Joyce is the founder of the Joyce of Cooking blog, where she provides recipes, writes about her food adventures, and reviews local eateries. She has worked in the food and beverage industry for over 10 years, in every position from dish washer to general manager. Now retired from the restaurant world, she is a marketing manager for a greenhouse.