These healthy peanut butter energy balls are my favorite mid-day pick-me-up! My peanut butter oat balls are super easy to make with just 7 wholesome ingredients and no baking required! Oats, banana, peanut butter, coconut, flaxseed, chocolate chips, and just a touch of sugar create perfectly balanced energy-boosting protein balls. My kids love eating them as a healthy treat in their lunchboxes, and I love that I can take them with me on the go!

overhead view of healthy peanut butter energy balls on a plate.

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This is the time of year when parents are getting their kids ready, teachers are decorating their classrooms, and I… well I’m brainstorming healthy breakfast ideas and snack ideas. Don’t act surprised! Coming up with tasty and healthy treats to pack in school lunches is an important job, and I’m happy to do it.

These healthy peanut butter balls have quickly become a hit with my kids. They think they’re eating cookie dough bites, so it’s a total mom win! Plus, these peanut butter oat balls are great for adults too. Each one has 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber to help fill the gap between meals.

What’s in This Healthy Peanut Butter Balls Recipe?

  • Peanut Butter: Adds protein to these energy balls and helps bind everything together.
  • Banana: Adds a touch of sweetness and moisture to the energy balls.
  • Oats: Old-fashioned oats make these energy balls chewy and delicious!
  • Coconut: Small flake coconut enhances the sweet, dessert-like taste of these energy balls and adds healthy fats. You can also use shredded coconut, but I recommend chopping finer if so. 
  • Flaxseed: Ground flaxseeds are a great source of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids!
  • Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chips add a pop of sweet chocolatey flavor.
  • Sugar: Granulated sugar adds just a hint of extra sweetness.
ingredients for healthy peanut butter energy balls.
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Tips for Success

  • I have found that creamy, no-stir peanut butter works best. If you choose to use all-natural peanut butter, you will need to stir with some real elbow grease to help everything hold together.
  • If your kids have a nut allergy, you can easily swap out the peanut butter for sunflower butter, or your favorite alternative.
  • I like to make a big batch and store them in the freezer for easy snacking!

How to Store

Store leftover peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours on the counter before enjoying.

closeup of a bitten peanut butter energy ball on a plate.

5-Star Review

“I can’t get enough of these! They satisfy my sweet tooth and guilt-free beside they are healthy!” -Deborah Freiss Zito

Recipe Card

Healthy Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe

4.55 from 74 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 bites
Author: Becky Hardin
overhead view of healthy peanut butter energy balls on a plate.
Healthy peanut butter energy balls are super easy to make. Peanut butter oat balls have just 7 ingredients and no baking is required!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Equipment

  • Kitchen Scale (optional)

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup peanut butter 135 grams
  • 1 banana chopped
  • cups old-fashioned oats 150 grams, plus more if needed
  • cup small flake coconut 75 grams
  • ¼ cup ground flaxseed 35 grams
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips 89 grams
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 13 grams (or sweetener of your choice)

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Using a fork, mask and stir until all ingredients are well combined. If you feel the consistency is a bit too sticky, add more oats as needed.
    ½ cup peanut butter, 1 banana, 1½ cups old-fashioned oats, ⅔ cup small flake coconut, ¼ cup ground flaxseed, ½ cup mini chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    energy ball mixture in a glass bowl with a spoon.
  • Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will help in creating the bites later.
  • Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and roll "dough" into 1-inch sized balls.
    overhead view of healthy peanut butter energy balls on a plate.
  • Keep bites refrigerated.

Video

Becky’s Tips

Storage: Store peanut butter banana energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving: 1ballCalories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 27mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Balls Step by Step

Mix the Dough: Combine ½ cup of peanut butter, 1 chopped banana, 1½ cups of old-fashioned oats, ⅔ cup of small flake coconut, ¼ cup of ground flaxseed, ½ cup of mini chocolate chips, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar in a bowl. Using a fork, mask and stir until all ingredients are well combined. If you feel the consistency is a bit too sticky, add more oats as needed. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will help in creating the bites later.

energy ball mixture in a glass bowl with a spoon.

Shape the Balls: Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and roll “dough” into 1-inch-sized balls. Keep bites refrigerated.

overhead view of healthy peanut butter energy balls on a plate.

More Morning Pick-Me-Ups to Try!

 

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.55 from 74 votes (63 ratings without comment)
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105 Comments
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Sandra
Sandra
October 13, 2023 7:57 pm

Am looking forward to trying these!! Can one freeze them?

Samantha Marceau
October 16, 2023 9:15 am
Reply to  Sandra

Absolutely!

Kyndall
Kyndall
May 15, 2022 8:20 pm

This recipe is a hit for my family! Will definitely be making this often5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
May 16, 2022 3:58 pm
Reply to  Kyndall

I love to hear that!

Deborah Freiss Zito
Deborah Freiss Zito
February 23, 2022 9:54 pm

I can’t get enough of these! They satisfy my sweet tooth and guilt free beside they are healthy!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
February 28, 2022 9:10 am

I am happy to hear they are working for you!

Joanne n
Joanne n
November 12, 2021 1:56 pm

Very nice 👍4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 18, 2021 1:27 pm
Reply to  Joanne n

Thank you, Joanne!

Gabriela orozco
Gabriela orozco
July 7, 2021 11:43 pm

Fast, easy, and very tasty! All ingredients are in your kitchen. They were very delicious, I love this recipe definitely recommend you try. They were fabulous I would definitely make these again. Even my 13 year old can make these and she loved them. My whole family enjoyed these lovely treats.5 stars

FBC77637-AE72-4315-B361-3B5F51DD75B2.jpeg
Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:07 am

Thanks for sharing! Those look mighty tasty!

Cora
Cora
May 30, 2021 9:06 pm

I made these and substituted hemp hearts for the coconut and they turned out perfectly! My 10 month old and 2 year old love them, and I have to hide them in the veggie drawer so my husband doesn’t eat them all before the kids do!

I also gave the oats a quick blast in the food processor because they were very large flake and I thought my 10 month old might have a little trouble with them. They softened up nicely in the fridge, so next time I won’t even bother with the extra step.

Fantastic recipe! Will be making many times!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 2, 2021 2:12 pm
Reply to  Cora

Thanks for sharing, Cora! Great modifications!

Shelby w.
Shelby w.
February 25, 2021 7:57 pm

Made the recipe and they’re pretty soft and sticky still. Still taste good. Going to try and freeze to see if they harden a bit3 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 2, 2021 1:16 pm
Reply to  Shelby w.

Thanks for sharing, Shelby!

Stephanie
Stephanie
February 11, 2020 9:00 am

I can’t wait to make these!! Are the coconut and flax seed absolutely necessary or can I leave them out? Or substitute with something else? Thank you!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
February 13, 2020 12:46 pm
Reply to  Stephanie

You could try sunflower oil!

Marlena
Marlena
January 12, 2019 1:55 pm

Are the nutrition facts per energy bite or per batch?

Marlena
Marlena
January 12, 2019 4:27 pm
Reply to  Becky Hardin

Thank you!! Can’t wait to try them!

Briggit
Briggit
August 10, 2018 5:04 pm

Is the serving size for the Peanut Butter Balls one ball or 12 balls for the 196 calories?