More Than Our Story

No-Bake Energy Balls (Your Way)

Assorted energy balls.
Assorted energy balls.

Total Time: About an hour

No Cooking Required!

Vegetarian with Vegan Options

Table of Contents

Inspiration

A quick and easy, no-bake recipe for healthy, delicious energy balls using ingredients you already have in your pantry. With back-to-school on the horizon and endless variations possible, these energy balls make a great snack for everyone. Best part? They’ll keep up to 2 weeks in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer – so time to get food prepping!

Ingredients

This simple recipe has three core ingredients: oats, seed or nut butter and liquid sweetener; it’s what you do beyond these that makes this recipe exciting.

  • (1 Cup) Oats. Oats form the base of these energy balls. You can try using other flours, but rolled oats are my favorite and among the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat, packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. One cup of rolled oats contains 56 grams of carbs, 12 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat, and 8 grams of fiber, and if that weren’t enough they’re cheap, tasty and filling too.
  • (⅔ – 1 Cup) Butter (Nut or Seed): Serving as one of the binding ingredients, butters add healthy fats and make the energy balls more satisfying and substantial. If the energy balls are headed for school lunches, avoid peanuts, opting instead for almond butter or even tahini (sesame butter)
  • (¼ Cup) Liquid Sweetener: Serving as the other binding agent and a source of sweetness, add a ¼ cup of honey, or if you’re looking for vegan energy balls, use maple syrup or agave.
  • Time for some Excitement: This is where the fun begins. Keep it sweet and kid-friendly for school lunches, or get adventurous and experiment with exciting flavor combinations.
    • Fruits: Adding chopped up dried berries or stone fruits, like blueberries, cranberries, dates, apricots or cherries can turn up your energy ball recipe.
    • Seeds, Nuts, Beans: Experiment with what’s in your pantry. Try adding ground flaxseed, chia seed, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, ground peanuts, hazelnuts, shredded coconut, almonds, walnuts or even ground roasted coffee beans can make excellent compliments for this versatile recipe.
    • Sweeteners: Have a sweet tooth? Trying to make these more appealing to your kids? Try adding chocolate chips, vegan chocolate chips, cocoa powder or even jams and jellies.
    • Spices: Spice up your energy balls with some cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, or even some heat for a different twist.
    • Flavor Extracts: Take a cue from baking and add a few drops of your favorite extracts and flavorings to make your energy balls unforgettable. Think almond, coconut, hazelnut, vanilla, rum, mint… The possibilities are truly endless.

READY FOR SOME EXCITEMENT?
Think spicy, salted chocolate energy balls!

PLANT-BASED OPTION:
If you’re looking for vegan energy balls, use maple syrup or agave instead of honey.

Preparations

  1. Stir everything together. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until well mixed.
  2. Chill. Cover and chill in the fridge for up to an hour or until the mixture is chilled.
  3. Portion. Roll into bite size balls or place into a baking tray and cut into bars.
  4. Enjoy. These can be served immediately, refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Tips

  • If you are gluten intolerant, or have celiac disease, make sure you buy oats labeled certified gluten free, to avoid the risk of gluten cross-contamination.
  • You want rolled oats – avoid Steel-Cut or Irish oats as they won’t soften, and require cooking.
  • Depending on the type(s) of butter you use and the amount of extras you add the result can vary quite a bit. If your mixture won’t hold together, add more butter to make it more sticky. If it’s too soft or sticky, add more oats.
  • To store these, place them in an airtight container and they’ll keep in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Denise

Denise is the most positive person you will ever meet. She takes pleasure in sharing and giving and is selfless beyond imagination. She is also an animal lover and will never miss the opportunity to say hello to any four legged friends along her journey. Denise is also an advertising and PR wizard and will charm your socks off. In 2021 her journey began becoming an irreplaceable part of More Than Our Story.

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