No-bake Energy Balls are the ultimate no-bake snack I always have the ingredients for and great for meal prep or on-the-go fuel.
I always have these Energy Bites in my fridge.
I always have these Energy Bites in my fridge.They’re my go-to snack for busy days because they’re so easy to whip up; 5-minutes with ingredients I always have on hand! Plus no baking, no fuss, and only one bowl to wash. I like to start with the base recipe for these protein balls, and then mix in whatever I want—protein powder, chopped almonds, raisins, craisins, even butterscotch chips if I’m craving something sweet. You can use any nut butter you like, or even sunflower butter to make them allergy-friendly. My family loves them and I feel good knowing they’re getting a wholesome snack.
A note about the oats: We use a mix of rolled oats and steel cut oats in this recipe. The rolled oats give a soft, chewy texture, while the steel cut oats add a satisfying crunch and a boost of fiber and protein. No need to cook them first—they’ll soften as they chill with the rest of the ingredients.
Want more healthy snacks? Try my Protein Bars, Chocolate Overnight Oats, Applesauce, or Healthy Banana Muffins!
How to make Energy Balls:
Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix until well incorporated. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before forming into balls (if the mixture is too dry, you can add a little more nut butter or honey to help it bind).
Scoop: Use a cookie scoop to make 1 or 2 inch uniform balls then gently roll them with your hands. You can wet your hands with water or spray lightly with cooking spray to make the rolling easier. Enjoy, refrigerate or freeze.
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Recipe
Energy Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (100g)
- 1 cup steel cut oats (176g)
- 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut (60g)
- 1 cup crispy rice cereal (25g), like Rice Krispies or crushed rice chex
- 1 cup peanut butter (258g), or other nut butter)
- 1 cup ground flaxseed (120g)
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips (113g)
- 3/4 cup honey (255g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10mL)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup steel cut oats, ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut, 1 cup crispy rice cereal, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup ground flaxseed, 2/3 cup chocolate chips, ¾ cup honey, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before forming into 1-2 inch balls. (If the mixture isn't holding together well enough you can add a little more nut butter or honey to help it bind). Keep refrigerated for an easy snack on the go.
- Feel free to include other “add-ins” like chopped almonds, raisins, etc.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, depending on freshness of your ingredients.
Notes
- Add dried fruit: dates, raisins, or anything you like.
- Higher protein: add 1 scoop of protein powder (any flavor) and about 1 Tablespoon more honey to ensure they aren't dry or crumbly.
- Add nuts: Add chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans.
- Without flaxseed: Replace flaxseed with an extra ½ cup oats or cereal.
- Nut Butter: Swap out the peanut butter for almond butter or any nut butter. You may also use sunflower butter for anyone with a nut allergy!
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe March 2017. Updated July 2020, January 2022, and July 2025.
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I love this recipe! It’s so quick and easy to make and my kids love it for an on-the-go snack. They are seriously addicting. I love the extra crunch from the Rice Krispies cereal and the chewiness of the coconut. So yummy! I just have a question on the macros – is the serving size for 1 or 2? Also, do the macros change drastically if I use almond butter in place of peanut butter?
So glad you (and your kids!) love them—totally agree, they’re dangerously snackable 😄 To answer your questions: the nutrition info is per 1 ball if you make about 30 from the batch. And swapping peanut butter for almond butter won’t change the macros drastically—it might tweak the fat content slightly (almond butter has a little more unsaturated fat), but it’s still in the same ballpark for calories and protein.
My balls failed!! Will not stick together. Very disappointed. Followed instructions carefully but just got a mess of granola that won’t stick. Put them in freezer to hopefully help as too expensive to throw out.
Wowza! These are so yummy! It tastes like I am eating a peanut butter bar or no bake cookie without over indulging! Perfect afternoon pick-me-up. It has the perfect sweet/salty/crunchy ratio. Also, big win when my picky eater will eat it and love it!
Hi! Would using maple syrup instead of honey work okay so it could be safe for my toddler and my baby under age 1?
Yes, that should work! It may change the consistency a little but will still be delicious!