Making these Peanut Butter Energy Balls With Dates means you’ll never wonder what to snack on ever again! Healthy and delicious; my kids are always reaching for them!
Looking for more healthy-ish, yummy recipes the kids will love? Check out all my kid-friendly recipes here!
I love making wholesome, homemade snacks for my kids and these Peanut Butter Energy Balls With Dates are a favourite in our house. They keep well in the fridge and are perfect for an easy, nutritious bite between meals. Everything in them is simple and recognisable, which makes them a great step if you’re trying to cut down on processed foods.
Jump to section: Peanut butter energy balls With Dates
- Peanut Butter Energy Balls Ingredients
- Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Healthy, delicious and packed with protein.
- No-bake recipe. Simply combine the ingredients, roll into balls and chill.
- A fun recipe to make with kids.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls Ingredients
Peanut Butter – Use a creamy natural peanut butter so the balls bind well. Almond or other nut butters work as substitutes.
Rolled Oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats help bind the mixture and add bulk.
Dates – Medjool dates add natural sweetness and moisture.
Chocolate Chips – Optional, for a little sweetness and texture.
Honey – For added sweetness; maple syrup can be used instead. Skip if your peanut butter is already sweetened.
Coconut – Desiccated or shredded coconut adds flavor; it can also be used for coating.
Flax Meal – Roasted flax meal boosts fiber and helps keep you full longer.
Vanilla Extract – For flavor.
I sometimes dip these energy balls in melted chocolate and finish with desiccated coconut, but they’re great plain as well.
Variations
Customize the energy balls however you like: add chia seeds or extra flaxmeal, toss in chopped nuts or dried fruit, or stir in a scoop of protein powder to increase protein content. For a more chocolate-forward version, add cocoa powder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Almond butter or a blend of nut butters will work well and change the flavour profile slightly.
Chill the mixture before shaping. If they still won’t hold, add a little more peanut butter or a touch of water or honey until the mixture is sticky enough to form balls.
Stored in an airtight container, they keep up to a month in the fridge. You can freeze them for up to six months; thaw before eating.
Yes. The oats are combined with moist ingredients here, so they don’t need to be cooked first.
These are filling—1–2 per day is usually enough as a snack, depending on your appetite and needs.
These Peanut Butter Oats Energy Balls are an easy, satisfying mid-day snack that the whole family will enjoy. If you like this style of recipe, try other simple, wholesome snacks from the same collection.
Share your recreations on Instagram @my_foodstory—I love seeing your versions and tips.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls With Dates
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- ½ cup oats preferably rolled oats
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips
- ¼ cup shredded coconutdesiccated coconut
- 1 tbsp flax mealroasted flax seed powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon powder
- 6 medjool datesdeseeded
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened peanut butter
- 2 tbsp honeyoptional – skip if peanut butter is sweetened
- melted chocolate and desiccated coconut for coatingoptional
Instructions
- Soak chia seeds in 1 tbsp water and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Pulse oats, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, flax meal and cinnamon in a food processor until coarse. Transfer to a bowl.
- In the processor, blend dates, water, vanilla and soaked chia until the dates form a coarse paste. Add peanut butter and honey (if using) and pulse again. The mixture should be sticky and dense.
- Mix the date-peanut butter paste into the oat mixture and combine well. Form into 10–12 balls.
- Optionally dip in melted chocolate or roll in desiccated coconut. Chill on a parchment-lined tray for an hour if using chocolate, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.
Notes
- Use rolled or instant oats since they process easily into a coarse powder.
- Increase chocolate chips or add a tablespoon of cocoa powder for a richer chocolate flavour.
- If coating in melted chocolate, you’ll need about ½–¾ cup melted chocolate.
- If using desiccated coconut for coating, you’ll need roughly ¾ cup.