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Home Recipes By Type Snacks

Oatmeal Balls

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By: Diana Last updated on September 11, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

a ridged white plate stacked with chocolate chip oatmeal balls. Text overlays says "oatmeal balls {energy balls}"

Naturally sweetened Oatmeal Balls are packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats from delicious ingredients like oats, peanut butter, and honey.

Mini chocolate chips add a decadent touch that makes oatmeal balls perfect for snacking or a grab-and-go breakfast.

a ridged white plate stacked with chocolate chip oatmeal balls.


I don’t always have time to make myself a fresh breakfast on weekday mornings, so I try to have healthy breakfast options ready ahead of time. Easy Oatmeal Balls are perfect for that!

It only takes about a half hour to make these sweet, delicious protein balls, and most of that is chilling time. They can be kept for 2 weeks in the fridge or even longer if you freeze them.

Then you can just grab one or two of these peanut butter chocolate chip energy balls on your way out the door, and have an amazing day! If you have a bit more time, try making Baked Oatmeal Cups filled with fruit and yogurt, Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars, or Baked Oatmeal with Berries and Nuts.

You might also like my Chocolate Overnight Oats, Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars, or Peanut Butter Bread recipes!

a metal sheet pan with rows of homemade chocolate chip oat bliss balls.

Why You’ll Love This Oatmeal Ball Recipe

  1. No Bake, Make Ahead, Easy Recipe – This oatmeal balls recipe has all of the makings of an easy recipe that you’ll want to make over and over again! There’s no cooking or baking required, everything is mixed up in one bowl, and you can keep them in the fridge for weeks!
  2. Chocolate and Peanut Butter – Quite possibly the best flavor combination there is! Creamy natural peanut butter, crunchy nuts, and miniature chocolate chips make this healthy snack seem more like a dessert. They’re known as “bliss balls” for a reason!
  3. A Healthy Sweet Snack– Compared to cookies, muffins, and sugary cereals, these oatmeal balls are just as satisfying, but with natural ingredients, no refined sugar, and plenty of protein and healthy fats.

Ingredients In Oatmeal Balls

Here’s what you need to make this delicious snack:

the ingredients in protein oatmeal bliss balls, measured into small bowls and arranged on a counter, viewed from overhead.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Rolled Oats: Old-fashioned oats work best in this recipe. Instant or quick oats can be used, but the balls will have a softer texture.
  • Raisins: These add sweetness, and after a quick trip in the food processor, help to stick the ingredients together.
  • Peanuts and Coconut: These add bulk and flavor to the mixture. Unsweetened finely shredded coconut is preferred, but the sweetened kind can also be used.
  • Natural Creamy Peanut Butter: Look for one without added sugar or salt. You can also use almond butter.
  • Honey: this natural sweetener works with the peanut butter to bind the dry ingredients together into a mixture that you can roll into balls.
  • Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon, and Salt: Add some flavor to your oatmeal balls!
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: I love a little bit of chocolate in the morning. Mini chocolate chips are ideal as you’ll have chocolate in every single bite.

How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Oatmeal Balls

a collage of four images showing how to make no-bake peanut butter oatmeal balls using a food processor and mixing bowl.
  1. Use the Food Processor: Oatmeal balls come together easier if the ingredients are chopped up first. Add the oats, raisins, peanuts, and coconut to a food processor and pulse a few times, but not so much that the mixture is completely powdered. You should still have visible pieces of everything.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: Whisk together the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Combine: Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until well combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips, cover, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to firm up.
  4. Make Balls: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out the dough. Use your hands to roll each portion into a smooth ball.

Tip!

These oatmeal balls are high in protein from the nuts and nut butter, but if you want more protein power in your energy balls, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the mix! 

Recipe Tips

  • Switch up the ingredients. Instead of raisins, try dried cranberries, dates, or other soft dried fruits. Peanut butter can be replaced by almond butter, sunflower butter, or any similar product.
  • Mini chocolate chips are key to ensuring that there is lots of chocolate in every bite, but you can also use regular-sized chips or chopped chocolate if you like. Try these with dark chocolate or white chocolate too!
  • If you don’t have a food processor, you can try to pulse the ingredients in a blender instead. It might be easier to do a few batches rather than adding everything at once. You can also chop up the nuts and raisins by hand.
  • If your energy balls won’t stick together you should add a bit more nut butter or honey to the mixture.
  • On the other hand, if the mixture seems too wet, add in extra oats or coconut until it’s perfect.
  • This recipe makes 16-18 oatmeal balls that are about 225 calories each and with at least 6 grams of protein. You can make them smaller or larger if it makes sense for you. If I’m making energy balls for kids, I sometimes make them half-sized so they’re just one bite.
oatmeal balls with mini chocolate chips on a plate, viewed from above.

Storing Tips

These easy protein-packed oatmeal balls can last for 2 weeks in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer!

Pack them in an airtight container, with parchment paper in between layers so that they don’t stick together.

What To Serve With Oatmeal Balls

Enjoy for Breakfast: Bliss balls go wonderfully with a Mixed Berry Smoothie, Veggie Omelet, or a perfect cup of coffee.

As a Healthy Snack: Pop one or two of these protein balls in your lunchbox for a tasty on-the-go snack! They’re also perfect for after kids’ sports games or taking on car trips.

Kids also love Lucky Charms Treats, made with their favorite cereal.

More Easy Sweet Snack Recipes

Candied Pecans

Classic Puppy Chow

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Homemade Almond Butter

All Snacks →

FAQs

Can I use regular peanut butter?

I suggest using natural peanut butter because it’s lower in sugar than traditional peanut butter and because the texture is thinner and runnier. You can use regular peanut butter, but you may find that the balls are more difficult to form.

What flavor protein powder should I add?

You don’t need to add protein powder, but if you’d like to, I’d suggest unflavored or vanilla-flavored in this recipe. The flavor from protein powder will come through, so be sure it’s one that you enjoy!

Can I freeze energy balls?

This recipe freezes very well! Keep oatmeal energy balls well-packed in the freezer for up to 6 months. Let them thaw before eating.

Make up a batch of these delicious and healthy Oatmeal Balls today, and enjoy them for breakfast or snacks all week long! Be sure to pin the recipe for next time too.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe
a ridged white plate stacked with chocolate chip oatmeal balls.
5 from 16 votes
(Click stars to rate!)

Oatmeal Balls

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Author: Diana
Print Rate Recipe
Easy to make Oatmeal Balls made with peanut butter, coconut, and chocolate chips are high in protein and delicious!
16 servings
Easy to make Oatmeal Balls made with peanut butter, coconut, and chocolate chips are high in protein and delicious!

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Medium cookie scoop

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cup old fashioned whole rolled oats
  • ½ cup raisins or dried cherries or dried cranberries
  • ½ cup unsalted peanuts or cashews
  • ⅓ cup shredded coconut unsweetened or sweetened
  • 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter no sugar added
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • Add oats, raisins, peanuts, and coconut to a food processor and pulse a few times to break up the ingredients a bit, but not completely.
  • Whisk together the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add in the dry mixture and stir until well combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes.
  • Use a 2 tbsp cookie dough scoop to portion out the oatmeal dough, then use your hands to roll each portion into a ball. Repeat with the remaining batter.
  • Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Notes:

  • For more protein, mix in a scoop of your favorite unflavored or vanilla-flavored protein powder. 
  • Troubleshooting: The mixture can turn out differently depending on the type of honey and peanut butter that you use. If it’s too soft, add more oats to bind it together. If it’s too dry, add more honey or peanut butter.
  • To Store: Keep your oatmeal balls refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1ball, Calories: 228kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 82mg, Potassium: 198mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 13IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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  1. Brenda Hatchett says

    Posted on 6/18/24 at 02:04

    5 stars
    made these , delicious looking forward to next time had to make a substantial change because I didn’t have honey and used unsweetened syrup…turn out great.

    Reply
    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      Posted on 6/18/24 at 16:34

      I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Brenda. Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Kelly Smith says

    Posted on 2/4/24 at 18:51

    5 stars
    My 11 year old son loves them. Enough said.

    Reply
    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      Posted on 2/5/24 at 17:14

      That’s wonderful! It’s always great when you can find something that kiddos will love and that is healthy for them, right?

      Reply
  3. Sandy says

    Posted on 2/4/23 at 21:43

    5 stars
    Just made this for the first time and it is a really yummy! I love different concoctions for protein balls and this really is a home run. Super easy and absolutely delicious.

    Reply
  4. Dan Cline says

    Posted on 1/27/23 at 23:03

    If I omit the coconut, how will impact the saturated fats levels.

    Reply
    • Diana says

      Posted on 2/2/23 at 13:51

      You will have to check that yourself, the nutrition values that we provide are just rough estimates that we calculate using an online calculator.

      Reply

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Welcome to Little Sunny Kitchen! I'm Diana and I’m here to teach you how to make easy meals that are quick, family-friendly, and delicious!

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