By Becky Hardin
Published Jan 3, 2025
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!
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.
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.
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
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup peanut butter 135 grams
- ▢ 1 banana chopped
- ▢ 1½ cups old-fashioned oats 150 grams, plus more if needed
- ▢ ⅔ 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)
Video
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
- 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.
- Keep bites refrigerated.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
Shape the Balls: Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and roll “dough” into 1-inch-sized balls. Keep bites refrigerated.
More Morning Pick-Me-Ups to Try!
Walnut Brownie Protein Balls
Banana Bread Protein Balls
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Maple Syrup Granola Recipe
Healthy Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanut butter 135 grams
- 1 banana chopped
- 1½ cups old-fashioned oats 150 grams, plus more if needed
- ⅔ 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
- 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.
- Keep bites refrigerated.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
