No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls are the perfect snack for busy caregivers. Packed with nutrients and fiber to keep you going throughout the day.
NOTE: This post has been updated since it was originally published on December 1, 2022.
Made with real ingredients, and packed with lots of nutrients, fiber, and taste, these peanut butter oatmeal balls are easy to make, portable, and will help keep you going throughout your busy caregiver day.
Peanut butter oatmeal bites have been a go-to healthy snack for me for years.
As a caregiver for Doug, who is managing Parkinson’s disease, I need to have quick and easy healthy nutritious snacks available.
That way, if I am having a busy day, I can grab something healthy and nutritious rather than something processed and unhealthy.
Coping skills decline when we are feeling busy and stressed, and it seems like any willpower reserves we have, go straight out the window.
When we are in this state it becomes difficult to make healthy choices, often grabbing something quick and easy and not very healthy, like a candy bar or a bag of chips.
Make these delicious and nutritious peanut butter energy balls your healthy go-to snack instead of junk food.
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Kitchen Tools Used
- food processor
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- glass mixing bowls
- silicone spatula
- glass container with lid
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Rolled oats. I prefer to use organic regular or extra-thick rolled oats.
Walnuts. You will be breaking the walnuts down in a food processor, so you can use either whole walnuts or walnut pieces.
Peanut butter. Organic creamy peanut butter, without any added sugar or oil, is best – and healthiest.
Honey. Try to buy as high-quality honey as you can afford. Not only does it make a difference taste-wise but you also get more nutrition from high-end honey.
Vanilla extract. Look for high-quality pure vanilla extract versus vanilla flavoring.
Salt (optional). Sea salt or kosher salt is fine.
Optional Add-Ins
These oatmeal peanut butter balls taste amazing as is, however, feel free to fancy them up with the following add-ins.
- Chocolate chips. The Enjoy Life brand makes vegan mini semi-sweet chocolate chips that work great in this recipe.
- Dried fruit. Consider other dried fruits such as dried cranberries, blueberries, mango, or cherries.
- Other nuts. Instead of walnuts, you can use other nuts such as pecans, almonds, or macadamia nuts.
- Shredded Coconut. Coconut flakes add a delicious taste and texture to these already amazing peanut butter protein balls. I prefer a low-fat, unsweetened, shredded coconut such as the kind from Let’s Do Organic.
How To Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
NOTE: For the exact measurements, full recipe, and nutritional information, please see the printable recipe card below.
Combine the oatmeal, walnuts, and salt (if using) in a food processor until crumbly.
Add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Blend until smooth and dough ball starts to form.
If using any of the add-ins, gently fold those in using a spatula.
Scoop and roll all of the dough into balls.
Place the peanut butter oatmeal balls into a glass container and tightly seal.
Store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Notes About The Recipe
Type of oats. It is best to use regular or extra-thick rolled oats versus instant oats.
Scrape down. You may need to stop the processor and scrape down the sides a few times before the dough ball starts to form.
Nut allergy. Feel free to use any nut you prefer. If you have a nut allergy, you can use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
Nut butter. Swap out peanut butter for almond butter or any other kind of nut butter if you prefer.
Allergy swaps. If you have a nut allergy, tahini, sunflower or pumpkin butter works great!
Sweetener swaps. Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup, brown rice, yacon syrup, or even molasses.
Add-ins. You can add any of the add-in ingredients if you wish – about 1/3 cup. Experiment and have fun!
Double recipe. You can easily double this recipe if you wish and then store them in the freezer. These energy bites freeze very well. In fact, this is how I most often store mine.
When I am feeling a little sluggish, I will pull out a couple of peanut butter oatmeal balls from the freezer.
You can eat them right away, or let them sit for a couple of minutes before biting into them. Your choice!
How To Store
These peanut butter oatmeal balls store best in a tightly sealed glass container.
They store in the fridge for up to one week.
For longer storage, you can place your oatmeal balls in the freezer. These bites do not freeze completely. They will last in the freezer for about 3-4 months.
Preparation Is Key For Health
Although I am a caregiver for Doug, I am also a Lifestyle Medicine Nurse, and I teach people how to take care of their health in order to best prevent disease.
Here is something I tell my clients. Someone who consistently makes healthy food choices does not necessarily have more discipline.
They are not more proficient at following a recipe or cooking in the kitchen. What they are good at is being prepared.
Half the battle of eating well is preparation, which is why I wanted to share with you this peanut butter oatmeal ball recipe.
This recipe is one of my all-time favorite go-to snacks.
The energy balls take only minutes to make, they are easy to double, last for weeks in the fridge or freezer, and you can take them anywhere.
So get making these delicious and nutritious peanut butter oatmeal balls, and enjoy a healthy snack when you need it on those busy caregiver days!
VIDEO: Making No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Additional Vegan Recipes
- Best Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe
- 5-Minute Berry Non-Dairy Kefir: Healthy Vegan Recipe
- Vegan Turmeric Golden Latte: Anti-Inflammatory Recipe
- Black Bean Soup Recipe: Simple and Delicious
More Healthy Recipes and Caregiver Support
Let’s Connect
I hope you enjoyed this article, and I hope you make these yummy peanut butter oatmeal balls as a healthy and nutritious snack!
QUESTION: What are some other healthy snacks you like to make as a busy caregiver or someone on the go?
Let me know in the comment section below, and if you have any other questions or concerns, I’d love to hear from you.
Printable Recipe Card
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Equipment
- glass container with lid (for storage)
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup peanut butter – or almond butter.
- 1/3 cup honey – or maple syrup.
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt (optional)
Optional Add-Ins
- chocolate chips – mini-size works great.
- dried fruit – cherries, blueberries, mango, etc.
- other types of nuts – pecans, almonds, macadamia, etc.
- flaked coconut
Instructions
- Combine oatmeal, walnuts, and salt if using, in a strong food processor and blend until crumbly.
- Add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and a large dough ball starts to form.
- If the dough is still too dry, add water to the mixture, one tablespoon at a time, being careful not to add too much water. Your dough should just come together – not too dry or too wet.
- If you are using any of the add-in ingredients, gently fold those into the dough until evenly combined.
- Scoop using a large tablespoon, and roll in the palm of your hand to form a tight ball.
- Place each ball into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Continue rolling out the dough until complete.
- Cover and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Notes
- Type of oats. It is best to use regular or extra-thick rolled oats versus instant oats.
- Scrape down. You may need to stop the processor and scrape down the sides a few times before the dough ball starts to form.
- Nut allergy. Feel free to use any nut you prefer. If you have a nut allergy, you can use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- Nut butter. Swap out peanut butter for almond butter or any other kind of nut butter if you prefer.
- Nut allergy swap. If you have a nut allergy, tahini, sunflower or pumpkin butter works great!
- Sweetener swaps. Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup, brown rice, yacon syrup, or even molasses.
- Add-ins. You can add any of the add-in ingredients if you wish – about 1/3 cup.. Experiment and have fun!
- These peanut butter oatmeal balls store best in a tightly sealed glass container.
- They store in the fridge for up to one week.
- For longer storage, you can place your oatmeal balls in the freezer. These bites do not freeze completely. They will last in the freezer for about 3-4 months.
