Power up your day with these No-Bake Oatmeal Protein Balls! Made with almond butter, maple syrup and chocolate chips, these easy energy balls take minimal time to prepare and are perfect for snacking on throughout the week. A great make-ahead option that’s freezer-friendly too! {Gluten-free & vegan}
Almond Butter Oatmeal Balls – Portable & Easy!
In our house, there’s never a shortage of energy balls kicking around. They just so happen to be one of my favourite snacks to have on hand because they’re quick, portable, healthy and everyone loves them!
Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of energy ball recipes, but I always come back to these No-Bake Oatmeal Balls because no fancy equipment or food processor is required AND they always hit the spot. Perfect for breakfast or a mid-morning or afternoon snack!
Plus, with the oatmeal, almond butter, maple syrup and chocolate chips, they’re so satisfying and taste just like oatmeal cookie dough balls. I don’t know about you, but that’s my kind of snack!
If you’re an oatmeal fan, be sure to also check out these recipes for Healthy Oatmeal Bars and Healthy Oatmeal Muffins! Or if you’re a peanut butter lover, try out these 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls.
Why We Love These Protein Balls with Oatmeal
- Quick & easy: These no bake oatmeal energy balls contain simple ingredients and take only a few minutes to prepare. Just throw the ingredients in a bowl, mix it all up and roll it into balls. That’s it!
- Portable: We all have those moments where we’re in search of a quick and easy snack to take on the go. The solution? No bake energy balls. They are so convenient to grab and are completely mess-free!
- Kids can help make them: Looking for a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen? This recipe is a great place to start! It’s easy enough that even toddlers and preschoolers can help add the ingredients to the bowl, mix it all together and roll it into balls (and maybe snack on a few along the way)!
- Family-friendly: These bites offer a sweet little treat that the whole family love will love! Make up a large batch for the family to snack on throughout the week.
- Nutritious: This is a snack that you can feel good about eating. These bites are packed with soluble fibre, antioxidants and healthy fats and are free of refined sugar. The can also be made gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan to meet all different kinds of dietary needs!
Ingredient Notes
- Oats – When making these oat energy balls, I tend to prefer using rolled oats since they lend a chewier consistency. That being said, you can sub in quick oats if that’s what you have on hand. Use certified gluten-free oats if there are any gluten intolerances.
- Almond butter – Helps to bind the energy ball mixture together. Use almond butter with just “almonds” on the ingredients list to limit the addition of processed ingredients. You can also sub in another nut butter such as peanut butter or cashew butter.
- Flax Seed – Incorporates some omega-3 fatty acids and additional fibre into these bites. Be sure to use ground flax seed or flax meal since whole flax seeds aren’t readily digested by the body.
- Chocolate Chips – Adds a rich flavour and additional texture to the bites. Use darker chocolate chips for higher antioxidant content. You can use regular sized or mini chocolate chips.
- Maple syrup – Use pure maple syrup. You can also sub in honey if that’s what you have on hand.
- Vanilla extract – Incorporates some additional flavour and sweetness into the bites. Use pure vanilla extract for best results.
How to Make Oatmeal Balls – Step by Step Instructions
To make these balls, all that you really require is a bowl, a spoon and your hands! They’re really THAT easy.
Step 1: In a large bowl, mix together the oats, chocolate chips and flax meal.
Step 2: Add the almond butter, maple syrup and vanilla to the bowl and mix until well combined.
Step 3: Using your hands, roll the mixture into approximately 1 1/2 inch balls. You may need to place the mixture in the fridge for 20 minutes or so to allow it to firm up a bit before rolling it into balls.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the full recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- Place the energy ball mixture in the fridge: Once you’ve mixed all of the ingredients together, it’s recommended that you place the mixture in the fridge for a few minutes to allow the oats and flax to absorb some of the liquid and thicken up a bit. If you try to roll the balls right after mixing, you might find that the mixture is still too sticky and messy.
- Adjust recipe depending on nut butter: Different brands of almond butter (or other nut or seed butters) will have various consistencies, so you might need to adapt the recipe accordingly. If you find that the mixture is too dry, add a bit more nut butter or a bit of water to the mixture. If it’s too wet, slightly increase the oats until the desired consistency is reached.
- The right consistency: The texture should be sticky enough that the mixture adheres together but not so sticky that it’s gooey and sticking to your hands.
- Make up a double batch: These balls freeze really well, so I highly recommend doubling the batch to keep on hand for easy snacking!
Storage Guidelines
Room temperature: You can store the oatmeal balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
Refrigerator: Store energy bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Freezer: Freeze the balls in a large freezer safe bag or container for up to three months. If you’re stacking the oatmeal protein balls, separate them with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
Recipe FAQs
For the purpose of this recipe, you can use either old fashioned oats (also known as rolled oats) or quick cooking oats. Rolled oats will give these bites more texture and a chewier consistency, while quick oats will make them smoother and less chewy. It’s totally up to you which type you go with!
The only type of oats that won’t work in this recipe are steel cut oats since they are too hard and crunchy. Not exactly the texture we’re going for.
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to consume raw oats in energy balls. They lend a nice chewy texture to the balls. To soften the oats and make them easier to chew, it’s recommended that you allow them to sit in the bowl with the other ingredients for several minutes before rolling the mixture into balls.
Yes! If you prefer the taste of peanut butter, you can definitely use it instead of almond butter. Stick to a natural peanut butter with just “peanuts” on the ingredients list if possible.
You can keep the energy balls at room temperature for several days, but generally I recommend storing them in the fridge or freezer to preserve their freshness and extend their shelf life.
Oatmeal balls can be a great healthy option since they contain wholesome ingredients and incorporate fibre, protein, and healthy fats in addition to vitamins and minerals all in one little ball. Add-ins such as flaxseed can also provide extra fibre and omega-3s for even more health benefits and staying power.
Additionally, energy balls are convenient and portion-controlled, so having some on hand can help prevent you from grabbing for those more processed convenience options.
One ball that’s approximately 1-1/2 inches in diameter contains about 113 calories. I typically recommend sticking to about 150-250 calories for a snack, so 1-2 balls would be a good option for a snack or treat.
Optional Add-Ins
The amazing thing about these no bake oatmeal balls is that they’re so easy to adapt according to your personal taste preferences!
Try any of the following add-ins for one delicious bite:
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Hemp hearts
- Chia seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- White chocolate chips
- Protein powder
- A pinch of sea salt
Recipe Variations
- To make nut-free: Sub in sunflower seed butter, pumpkin seed butter or Wow butter instead of the almond butter.
- To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free rolled oats. Although all oats are inherently gluten-free, some brands can’t guarantee that there hasn’t been cross-contamination with gluten, so your best bet is to go with a brand that clearly labels the product as gluten-free.
- To make dairy-free? Sub in dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Different sweetener: If you don’t have any maple syrup on hand or don’t enjoy the taste of it, you can sub in honey instead of maple syrup.
- No flax meal? Add some extra oats. You could also try adding in chia seeds or Hemp seeds instead, but I personally haven’t experimented with either of these add-ins, so let me know if you give it a try!
- More protein: Add in a scoop of protein powder for some protein energy balls. If you choose to go this route, you will probably have to add more liquid so that the energy balls aren’t too dry. Try adding in extra nut butter or almond milk until desired consistency is reached. You could also add Hemp hearts to incorporate more protein as well.
Looking for more healthy energy balls? Check out these recipes!
- Healthy Protein Cookie Dough Balls
- No Bake Peanut Butter Balls without Chocolate
- Carrot Cake Energy Balls
- Nut-Free Energy Balls
- Pina Colada Energy Balls
- Chocolate Coconut Balls
- No Bake Pumpkin Balls
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
No Bake Oatmeal Protein Balls {Without Peanut Butter}
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons flax meal
- 1 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together oats, chocolate chips and flax meal.
- Add almond butter, maple syrup, and vanilla and mix until well combined.*
- Using your hands, roll mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls. You may wish to place mixture in the fridge for 20 minutes or so to allow it to firm up a bit before rolling into balls. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge or freeze for later.
Video
Notes
- Place the energy ball mixture in the fridge: Once you’ve mixed all of the ingredients together, it’s recommended that you place the mixture in the fridge for a few minutes to allow the oats and flax to absorb some of the liquid and thicken up a bit. If you try to roll the balls right after mixing, you might find that the mixture is still too sticky and messy.
- Adjust recipe depending on nut butter: Different brands of almond butter (or other nut or seed butters) will have various consistencies, so you might need to adapt the recipe accordingly. If you find that the mixture is too dry, add a bit more nut butter or a bit of water to the mixture. If it’s too wet, slightly increase the oats until the desired consistency is reached.
- The right consistency: The texture should be sticky enough that the mixture adheres together but not so sticky that it’s gooey and sticking to your hands.
- Make up a double batch: These balls freeze really well, so I highly recommend doubling the batch to keep on hand for easy snacking!
- To store: Store energy balls in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to three months.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in March 2020 and was updated in February 2021 to include more helpful tips and photos.
So good! I added vanilla protein powder and it was so delicious.
Love the addition of the protein powder Mia! I bet they were super tasty :) Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a rating and review!
I got about 16 balls but I omitted the maple syrup and used a different sweetner and probably didnt quite use a cup of almond butter. BUT they were delicious.
So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks so much for leaving a rating and review!
We loved these! Our toddler can’t stop eating them! I used peanut butter and rolled oats. How many are in a Serving?
Yay! So happy they’re a hit! The nutritional information is based on one energy ball about 1 1/2 inches in size, but it depends on how big/small you made your energy balls. I got about 24 balls from the mixture. Hope that helps!
Made these with dark roast natural peanut butter, so good! These are a new go-to snack for my family and me.
So happy you and your family loved these energy balls and found a new favourite snack! Love using PB in these bites…they’re so easy to adapt! Thanks so much for stopping by to comment :)