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    Home » Recipes » Kid-Friendly » 4 Ingredient Energy Oatmeal Balls

    4 Ingredient Energy Oatmeal Balls

    Published : March 29, 2020 Updated : April 19, 2022 by Together As Family 57 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe

    Oatmeal Energy Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips for snack-sized energy oatmeal balls which make the perfect after school snack or healthier treat. 

    Energy Oatmeal Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips are all you need for these perfect snack-sized energy oatmeal balls. 

    ENERGY OATMEAL BALLS

    These energy oatmeal ball snacks have saved me during this "no-school-quarantined-at-home-with-4-kids" part of my life. You would think my kids are ravenous animals who have not eaten in weeks because they just snack and snack all day long.

    But thanks to these energy balls, which I have been making at least 2x per week lately, my kids have a grab & go snack that they can get themselves, and they are somewhat nutritious for them and will keep them full...... for like 10 minutes. 

    I also have these steel cut oatmeal energy balls and monster cookie energy balls on my site. But today's recipe is my favorite because it's only 4 ingredients, and the ingredients are mostly pantry staples that hopefully you already have. 

    Energy Oatmeal Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips are all you need for these perfect snack-sized energy oatmeal balls. 

    HOW TO MAKE ENERGY BALLS

    Quick Oats - I love quick oats for these energy balls because they have a finer, smaller texture which is more appealing to kids. Yes you can use whole, old-fashioned oats but I find that the balls tend to not hold together as well when you use the old fashioned oats. So for best results, stick with the quick oats. 

    Creamy Peanut Butter - Creamy peanut butter is best. Crunchy peanut butter can be used but it's a lot thicker and drier, and therefore will end up drying out the energy balls. It's also best to use the regular old peanut butter with all the oil. Natural peanut butter tends to be drier because it has less oil, which will effect the end result of the energy ball. 

    Honey

    Mini Chocolate Chips - I like using the mini chocolate chips because of the small size. But go ahead and use regular chocolate chips, semi-sweet chips, or even peanut butter chips if that's what you have in your pantry. 

    Energy Oatmeal Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips are all you need for these perfect snack-sized energy oatmeal balls. 

    MY TIPS FOR THIS RECIPE

    • If there are peanut allergies in your house then feel free to substitute the peanut butter with some other alternative. I don't know much about them, but I do know they sell SunButter in the stores which is a great alternative, and I have heard from readers that they use that in my no flour monster cookie bars with great success. 
    • The refrigeration time before rolling into balls is necessary and important! It helps the dough to not be sticky so you can easily roll into balls. It's only about 20 minutes or so of refrigeration time. 
    • This recipe makes 30 energy balls. They store well in the fridge for several days. I put mine in a quart-sized Ziploc bag (or use a Tupperware type container) and put it inside the snack drawer of the fridge. It's an easy grab & go snack that the kids can get themselves. 

    Energy Oatmeal Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips are all you need for these perfect snack-sized energy oatmeal balls. 

    TRY THESE OTHER KID FRIENDLY SNACK RECIPES

    • mini chocolate chip muffins
    • cinnamon & sugar banana muffins
    • one bowl applesauce muffins
    • chocolate chip banana snack bars
    • s'mores energy bites
    Energy Oatmeal Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips are all you need for these perfect snack-sized energy oatmeal balls. 

    Oatmeal Energy Balls

    Jessica
    Oatmeal Energy Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips are all you need for these perfect snack-sized energy oatmeal balls.
    4.02 from 303 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Fridge Time 20 mins
    Course Snack
    Servings 30 energy balls
    Calories 112 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups quick oats
    • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
    • ½ cup mini chocolate chips
    • ½ cup honey

    Instructions
     

    • Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. You can either stir by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula OR use a handmixer and beat on LOW speed until combined. Increasing speed as needed.
      The mixture is thick so it will take a few minutes to fully mix it all together.
    • Roll into balls. I use a small cookie scoop to get even sized energy balls, which holds about 1 tablespoon of the energy ball dough.
      TIP : If you are having difficulty getting the mixture to roll into a ball, try pressing the energy ball dough between your fingers (to loosen it up/warm it up) and then roll into a ball.
      TIP : If the energy ball dough is too sticky, which it will be naturally as there is honey in it, try refrigerting for about 20 minutes to see if that helps.
    • Eat right away or you can refrigerate for a couple of hours if you want to serve them cold. I think they're best tasting when they are cold so I always make them before I need them (like for after school) so they have time to refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours.
    • Store leftovers in the fridge, in a covered container, for several days.

    Video

    Notes

    HONEY : To make measuring honey easy, spray the measuring cup with cooking spray before adding the honey. When you pour it into the bowl the honey will slide right out!
    PEANUT BUTTER : It's best to use regular peanut butter because it has more oil, fat, and it's softer, which will hold together well without drying out the energy ball dough. Lots of people seem to have trouble with this recipe and I can almost guarantee it's because they are using the all-natural peanut butter instead of the regular peanut butter. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 112kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 42mgPotassium: 87mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword easy energy balls, oatmeal energy balls
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @togetherasfamilyblog on Instagram

     

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    Comments

    1. Allison

      April 26, 2020 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe. Curious on the nutrition is it that for 1 energy ball or what is the serving size?

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        May 06, 2020 at 5:24 pm

        The nutrition recipe is per oatmeal ball.

        Reply
        • April

          August 06, 2022 at 4:04 pm

          This can’t be correct . There is 16 g of fat in just 2 TBSP so peanut butter.

          Reply
          • Together As Family

            August 16, 2022 at 9:48 pm

            I will double check it. Nutrition facts are for informational purposes only. I am not a dietitian or anything. The recipe makes quite a bit of energy balls, so it's not like each ball has 2 tablespoons of peanut butter.

            Reply
          • Mary

            August 29, 2022 at 9:58 am

            I did tha math on my LoseIt app. I got 24 balls out of this recipe using a small cookie scoop.

            Altogether there is 250g of PB in this recipe, which amounts to 10.4g/ball, which equals 61cal of PB/ball, which is 6.8g fat/ball. I also came up with 121 cal/ball.

            Just so you know.

            Reply
    2. Olivia

      May 18, 2020 at 6:56 am

      What if they are crumbly and don’t form well?

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        May 18, 2020 at 6:38 pm

        They should not be so crumbly that they don't form well. Did you by chance use a natural peanut butter? Those peanut butters are drier and don't have the oil that's needed to bind. Or maybe just try refrigerating it for longer before rolling into balls. Hopefully that helps.

        Reply
      • Aryana

        September 05, 2022 at 5:22 pm

        I use all natural peanut butter and this happened to me too. But I found that refrigerating it for about 20 minutes made it so much easier. And don’t roll it in your hands like you would with cookie dough because it crumbles, if you squeeze it and keep transferring it back and forth between your hands you will eventually get it into a solid ball! Hope this helps!

        Reply
    3. Jeannine

      May 24, 2020 at 11:06 am

      Looking forward to making these. I am just getting back to work and I can keep these there in the freezer and put 2 in the fridge for the day.

      Reply
    4. Kathy

      August 17, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      5 stars
      First time making anything like this and I am superseded with how good they taste. Perfect way to food prep my weekly snacks for work.

      Reply
    5. Bonnie McCaskell

      August 24, 2020 at 7:00 am

      Is there any sugar-free substitution for the honey that would work in this receipe? Thanks

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        August 31, 2020 at 10:40 am

        I am not familiar with sugar-free substitutes so I can't say for sure. I've only ever used the honey. Sorry I can't help more!

        Reply
      • Melissa Batten

        September 27, 2020 at 12:17 pm

        I used sugar free maple syrup because I don’t care for honey that much. They came out great.

        Reply
        • Melissa

          July 14, 2022 at 9:00 pm

          How much maple syrup did you use in place of the honey?

          Reply
      • Josie

        April 25, 2021 at 8:45 am

        I used maple syrup but agave might work also.

        Reply
        • Nicole

          September 18, 2022 at 5:06 pm

          I use agave since I’m not a fan of honey, and it works great

          Reply
    6. Becky

      September 04, 2020 at 2:56 pm

      Can these be frozen? If so how long will they keep in the freezer?

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        September 07, 2020 at 1:53 pm

        Yes they could. And they could probably keep well in the freezer for forever 🙂 It's just oats, peanut butter, chocolate, and honey so I would say they would keep well in the freezer for several months.

        Reply
        • Lori

          April 25, 2021 at 9:38 pm

          Can these be made with Gluten Free Oats as I am celiac?

          Reply
          • Together As Family

            April 27, 2021 at 10:46 am

            Yes it can. Enjoy!

            Reply
      • Anne

        August 25, 2022 at 12:50 pm

        I put the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes, then form into balls. Flash freeze for an hour, then they go in a ziploc bag in the freezer. I pull a few out in the morning as my coffee is brewing, and they thaw pretty quickly!

        Reply
    7. Suzanne

      September 05, 2020 at 6:18 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious, very filling, and so easy to make. I store in a Ziploc bag in the freezer and take one out at a time.

      Reply
    8. ida belliveau

      September 06, 2020 at 11:11 am

      I made these with cocoa instead of coconut and they are devine,,Can be rolled in icing sugar too..great for potluck or any ivites Going to try half coconut half cocoa..should be tasty..

      Reply
    9. ida belliveau

      September 06, 2020 at 11:14 am

      Made these with cocoa instead of coconut and rolled in icing sugar. very tasty.. will try half and half next time

      Reply
    10. Carley

      October 21, 2020 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      These are so good and the perfect little snack! I switched the Quick Oats for the Old Fashioned Oats just because I like the texture better.

      Reply
    11. Christy

      October 29, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      Ok, I do not like the idea of protein balls ( they just don't look appetizing) but I am nursing and Momma needs a hearty healthy easy snack. I try not to change recipes but I had to use syrup because I didn't have enough honey. The underwhelming ingredient list is misleading because these are stupid good. Just a good mix of good simple ingredients- my favorite. Thank you so much.

      Reply
    12. Beth

      November 09, 2020 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      Made these for meal prep. They are good. I used Lilly’s dark chocolate baking chips and added a packet of Splenda. I am going to freeze them. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • Dianne

        March 15, 2021 at 3:50 pm

        how many calories and macros per ball?

        Reply
        • Together As Family

          March 18, 2021 at 9:50 pm

          The nutrition information is at the bottom of the recipe. That will tell you all that stuff.

          Reply
    13. Rhonda

      January 19, 2021 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Me & my kids love these! We make them all the time!

      Reply
    14. Katrina

      February 02, 2021 at 11:04 pm

      5 stars
      I've made these multiple times and I love them. I also tried them a couple times with half crunchy peanut butter and they were awesome and added another element to them. They are great if you want something sweet and don't have anything in the house. Lol

      Reply
    15. Melanie

      February 10, 2021 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      These little guys are so yummy! I will make them again and again! Even thinking of different sub iIngredients just to have different options!!

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        February 12, 2021 at 10:22 am

        Yay! yes there are so many add-ins you can sub with which makes them fun to make. Thanks for your comment.

        Reply
    16. Stella

      February 12, 2021 at 5:01 pm

      Could I sub the peanut butter for sunflower butter? My son is allergic .

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        February 19, 2021 at 5:26 pm

        Yes you can. I have had some people email and let me know that it works great in this recipe. I have never used it but others have with success. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    17. Ruby

      February 14, 2021 at 12:33 pm

      Can I use steal cut oats

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        February 19, 2021 at 5:23 pm

        Sure you can. The quick oats are softer which is ideal in this recipe. But if you do choose to use them just make sure they are the quick cook steel cut oats. Steel cut oats have a heartier, thicker texture to them so as long as you don't mind that then go ahead and use those instead of quick oats.

        Reply
    18. Greg Henson

      February 23, 2021 at 4:14 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this 3 times now. Great for a pre workout boost. Usually eat a couple about mid afternoon to give me a boost. I have used the whole oats and crunchy peanut butter also. Easy to prepare.

      Reply
    19. Greg Henson

      March 19, 2021 at 4:30 am

      5 stars
      I make a batch of these every week. Usually have one or two for lunch with a protein shake. That will hold me till supper plus gives me that extra boost of energy that I sometimes need.

      Reply
    20. Tracy Cochran

      March 19, 2021 at 11:20 am

      Is the honey, or sugar substitutes necessary? Has anyone tried with the recipe without additional sweetener?

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        March 21, 2021 at 12:05 pm

        You would need something to hold it together like the same consistency as the honey. I have heard of agave (I have never used it) but I believe it's the same consistency as honey. Or if you're familiar with sugar substitutes, cause I am not, try using one that resembles honey in texture and thickness.

        Reply
    21. Dana

      March 23, 2021 at 7:49 pm

      Can you add chia seeds for additional nutrients? If so about how much? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        March 27, 2021 at 10:56 am

        Yes that would work fine. I would just start with a little bit (like 1 tablespoon or less) and see from there. You just want to make sure that you don't have too many dry ingredients or else the energy balls will be crumbly and not hold together well. But you should be just fine adding a little bit of chia seeds. Enjoy!

        Reply
    22. Greg Henson

      March 27, 2021 at 2:58 pm

      Just to add to earlier comment. I have started using the extra crunchy peanut butter. Gives it a little more crunch and added protein. Still loving them!!

      Reply
    23. Sam

      April 07, 2021 at 12:49 pm

      3 stars
      Just threw this together and I have to say a little disappointed. They are definitely filling and provide some sweetness, but it's a little too much. This ends up tasting of predominately honey, and it's a very sweet recipe. If you're able to I'd try and find some way of lessening the honey, but I'm concerned it may not hold as well. I'll follow up after they sit in the fridge for a few hours or a day, I think that it may help the flavors develop.

      Obviously individual taste will vary but I think this recipe gives a good base. Work with it once and doctor it for different mix-ins and flavors. I think it would have been helped with a little vanilla and salt.

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        April 11, 2021 at 5:07 pm

        You could definitely add a pinch of salt and vanilla extract if that's what you prefer. Personally, when I was testing the recipe I tried adding vanilla extract and I thought it was way too sweet and over powering in the recipe. Sorry they did not turn out for you. Thanks for your comment.

        Reply
        • Sam

          April 12, 2021 at 9:08 am

          I threw these in the freezer and with time the sweetness became much more agreeable, however the flavor of honey is still a little much for me. No one else seems to have this issue so I think it's just a personal preference, but all in all the recipe works well! I'll be using this base again in the future, I think I'll just reduce the amount of honey and I'll play with flavors and mix-ins. Thank you for the recipe and for the reply!

          Reply
    24. Kathy

      August 01, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      I mash the whole thing in a plastic storage container and cut into bars any size. It’s much easier and faster to me. Then I keep it in refrigerator but it’s not necessary to do so. I love these bars!❤️

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        August 16, 2022 at 9:54 pm

        What a great idea! And much easier too 🙂 Thanks for leaving your feedback and comment.

        Reply
    25. Christine

      August 30, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      I have made these numerous times, I love love these little protein balls. They definitely give you a boost in the afternoon. I make the balls and place them in a Tupperware, cover and then freeze. They last a long time and are great to grab 1 or 2 to satisfy that sweet tooth!! I know the recipe by heart now. Kudos to Together as Family!!!! ♥️

      Reply
    26. Barbara

      October 09, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      I love these. I add a little chocolate protein powder and also roll in crushed almonds. Yummy.

      Reply
      • Lucy Pulsipher

        October 10, 2022 at 9:38 pm

        Oh my goodness, that sounds delicious. I need to try that!

        Reply
    27. Elia

      October 17, 2022 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      Love the recipe, I've added 1/2 cup of white chocolate, and 1/2 cup of dry craneberry.,1/4 tsp of cinnamon it tastes awesome. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

      Reply
      • Lucy Pulsipher

        October 17, 2022 at 4:23 pm

        Love the idea of adding white chocolate chips, dried cranberries and cinnamon! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply

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