Healthy Oatmeal Bites - Peanut Butter Chocolate

You'll love making this Healthy Oatmeal Bites recipe! Learn how to make snack-able oatmeal balls packed with coconut, peanut butter, and chocolate. The perfect low calorie and high protein snack that can be eaten any time of the day.

Jump to:

• Oatmeal Energy Balls
• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• Variations
• Storing & Freezing
• Recipe FAQ’s
• More No-Bake Recipes
• Healthy Oatmeal Bites
• #respond

Check out my Almond Butter Energy Balls and Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Bites for more on-the-go snack recipes.

Oatmeal Energy Balls

Looking for a quick healthy snack or post-workout energy boost? Look no further. This healthy oatmeal bites recipe is what you need. They come together in a matter of minutes and travel well, so you can quickly grab a few and go.

These low-calorie energy balls are packed with nutritious ingredients but taste like an indulgent, sugar-heavy dessert. Made without any added refined sugar, these bites are a great way to cure a sugar craving while getting in plenty of protein and fiber.

There is not much to making these balls aside from mixing the ingredients into a dough, rolling it into bite size balls, and refrigerating. The recipe makes about 40 bites which may seem like a lot but I promise you—they will be long gone by the end of the week!

You might also enjoy this low calorie cookie dough!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and convenient. Energy balls are easy to make with basic pantry ingredients.
• Low calorie and high in protein. A great pre and post-workout snack!
• Versatile. You can change up the ingredients to suit your personal tastes. 
• Kid approved! Your kids will love these healthy snacks.
• Great for meal prep. They store well and are great to grab and go.

More tasty snacks to make: Air Fryer Cinnamon Pretzel Bites

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Old Fashioned Oats: Aka rolled oats provide the base and structure of the balls. To make gluten-free energy bites, make sure your oats are certified gluten-free. (Oats themselves are not wheat and don't contain any gluten, but they're often grown and processed near wheat. Because of this, trace amounts of wheat and flour can get into the oats. This is not a problem if you're simply trying to avoid eating refined white flour and prefer to load up on heart-healthy oats, but it is a problem if you have Celiac's.)
• Coconut Flakes: Add a little crunch. If you prefer a sweeter energy ball, use sweetened coconut flakes (keep in mind those are sweetened with refined sugar). If your coconut flakes are in long pieces, you can pulse them in a food processor for a few seconds to break them up. It's just a matter of texture and totally up to you. I prefer the smaller snowflake-like pieces of coconut flakes.
• Peanut Butter: Helps bind the bites into a round ball shape. You can use any nut butter you enjoy or even sunflower seed butter if you’re nut-free.
• Flaxseed: Adds a boost of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Use ground flaxseed (flaxseed meal) for the most nutritious benefit. If you don't like how flaxseed tastes (it is a little too "nutty" sometimes), substitute some of it with more coconut an chia seeds.
• Mini Chocolate Chips: Give each ball bursts of rich chocolate flavor to balance the salty peanut butter. Use milk or dark chocolate, up to you!
• Raw Honey: Sweetens things up without adding any refined sugar. Its sticky texture also helps the bites stay together. Since we're not cooking these balls, here's where it helps to get a high-quality local raw honey that has all kinds of live enzymes and health benefits. But any honey will work!
• Chia Seeds: Adds more fiber and protein and helps bind this snack together.
• Vanilla Extract: For a hint of sweet dessert-like flavor.

NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

More nutritious snacks to make: Low Calorie Bran Muffins

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the no-bake oatmeal ball dough. In a large bowl, add all ingredients. With a heavy spoon, mix together until a dense, workable dough forms.

Step 2: Chill the dough. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes.

Step 3: Roll dough into balls. Once chilled, with clean hands, roll dough into about 40 bite-size 1 inch balls. They don't have to be perfect. Tip: Wet your hands in cold water after every 2-3 balls to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. Or use a spring-release cookie scooper and just gently press them into a ball.

Step 4: Store. Transfer to an airtight container and chill for up to 2 weeks.

Expert Tips

• Toast the coconut in a dry skillet before adding it to release its fragrant flavor.
• If your coconut flakes are long, pulse them in a food processor until you get more of a crumb-like texture.
• Be sure to allow the dough enough time to chill in the fridge. It will firm up and be much easier to work with.
• If your bites keep falling apart, the mixture is too dry. Add peanut butter, a small amount at a time, and mix until it becomes stickier.
• You could also skip making the balls and make bars instead. Simply spread the mixture into a square baking dish, chill and slice into squares or granola bar shapes.

Variations

When it comes to customizing your no-bake energy bites, the options are endless! Check out these no-bake energy bites ideas:

• Double up on the chocolate. To make these oatmeal bites for the chocolate lovers in your life, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the mixture.
• Make trail mix energy balls by adding M & M's and raisins to the mixture.
• Add cinnamon! It has antioxidant properties, and it's delicious.
• Try different chocolate chips (milk or dark), or use butterscotch chips.
• Pumpkin protein balls. Replace half of the peanut butter with canned pumpkin and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to the mix.
• Nut Free Energy Bites. Use sunflower seed butter to replace the peanut butter for those on a nut free diet that can tolerate coconut.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: To maximize the shelf-life, store bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing: These energy bites are great to make in batches and freeze for later. Simply freeze the balls in an airtight container for up to 3 months and thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Recipe FAQ’s

More No-Bake Recipes

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