Energy Balls with Oats (Printable)

Nutritious energy bites made from oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips, perfect for a tasty snack boost.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 0.5 cup mini chocolate chips
03 - 0.33 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 0.5 cup creamy peanut butter
05 - 0.33 cup honey or maple syrup
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - Pinch of salt

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the oats, chocolate chips, and coconut if using.
02 - In a separate bowl, stir together the peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
03 - Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until well combined.
04 - Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.
05 - Place the energy balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
06 - Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in 15 minutes with zero oven time, so you can make them while your athlete is still in their jersey.
  • One bite delivers real staying power—the combination of peanut butter, oats, and honey keeps you energized without the crash.
  • Kids actually eat them without complaint, which is half the battle with sports snacks.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling step, even if you're in a hurry—they'll be sticky and fall apart when you try to eat them otherwise.
  • The mixture should feel slightly damp and clumpy after mixing, almost like wet sand that's just barely holding together.
03 -
  • If your peanut butter is too thick to mix smoothly, warm it slightly in the microwave for 10 seconds before stirring with the wet ingredients.
  • The moment you feel the mixture starting to hold together as you stir is when you can stop—overmixing won't hurt, but it's unnecessary.
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