As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls are the perfect quick and easy healthy snacks. Made with 4 ingredients in a bowl, this recipe comes in very handy for busy days. They’re naturally gluten-free, vegan and can also be made high protein.
Oats are a real superfood. Besides in oatmeal, they are great for preparing healthy treats such as banana oatmeal cookies, oatmeal protein cookies, and snacks like these no baked pb oatmeal balls. Oats are packed with fibers and nutrients, plus they’re an excellent source of complex carbs.
Recipe highlights
- Quick and easy. You only need 10 minutes of your day and 4 simple ingredients to whip up a batch of these delicious pb oat balls. No baking, no cooking.
- Healthy and nutritious. Made with old fashioned rolled oats and natural peanut butter, this recipe is packed with fibers, healthy fats, and nutrients. Additionally, it is refined sugar-free.
- Diet friendly. This recipe is naturally vegan and can easily be made gluten-free, if you use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- Satisfying and delicious. These peanut butter oatmeal balls will satisfy your sweet tooth without guilt. They’re perfect as a filling snack or as a nutritious dessert.
Ingredients and substitutes
This no bake peanut butter oatmeal ball recipe requires just 4 ingredients, all of which are common pantry staples you probably already have at home. Read further for all details along with substitutes; precise quantities can be found in the recipe card at the end.
- Rolled oats. You’ll need old fashioned rolled oats, gluten-free if necessary. As they would give a soft and mushy texture, quick oats cannot be used.
- Peanut butter. I recommend natural peanut butter without added sugar and oil, little bit of salt is fine. This recipe uses creamy peanut butter, but also crunchy is great.
- Maple syrup. This is the main source of sweetness, a healthy and vegan alternative to refined sugar. Great replacements are honey, date syrup, agave or any liquid sweetener of your choice.
- Sea salt. A pinch of salt is just enough to enhance all the nutty flavors and balance sweetness. Omit if using salted peanut butter.
How to make peanut butter oatmeal balls
Step 1 – Mix. Add to a large mixing bowl rolled oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, salt and optional mix-ins if desired. With a fork or spatula, stir well until the dough gets soft.
Step 2 – Refrigerate. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This allows the dough to set and become firmer, as the oats will soak.
Step 3 – Shape. With the help of your hands or a cookie scoop, shape some balls. Place them in an airtight food container or in a sealable bowl and store in the fridge for a maximum of four days.
Recipe variations
- High protein. Replace ½ cup (50 grams) of the oats with protein powder. Keep in mind that, based on the protein powder choice, you may need to adjust your dough with more nut butter (vegan protein and casein) or more rolled oats (whey protein powder).
- Sugar-free. This recipe is already refined sugar-free and low sugar, but you can also make peanut butter oatmeal balls with no sugar or similar. Just replace maple syrup with a low carb keto syrup of your choice.
- Gluten-free. When selecting the ingredients, check that the oats you are using are certified gluten-free.
- Mix-ins. This simple recipe leaves plenty of room for customizations. Feel free to mix in some chopped nuts, seeds, raisins and chocolate chips, or add a pinch of cinnamon and vanilla extract for added flavor.
Meal prepping and storage
To store. Place in an airtight food container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. I do not recommend keeping them in the cupboard at room temperature, they may lose texture.
To freeze. Store PB oatmeal balls in a freezer-safe airtight container or zipper bags. They can be frozen for up to 4 months. When you’re ready to eat, simply take out the desired amount and let thaw overnight in the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! Raw oats are safe to eat and provide a great source of fiber and nutrients. For better digestion, it’s recommended to soak them in liquid or mix them with other ingredients like peanut butter.
If your peanut butter oat bites are runny and sticky, add more oats to thicken the mixture. Also ensure that you allow the dough to soak in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before shaping, it will firm up.
It depends on your diet and nutritional goals. These balls are a healthy snack, but the nut butter makes them quite high in calories. Portion control is key, so enjoy them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
More healthy snacks with oats
- Oatmeal breakfast bars
- Oatmeal chocolate chip bars
- Banana oatmeal cookies
- Banana oat bars
- Oatmeal protein cookies
- Protein granola bars
- Banana baked oatmeal cups
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup (150 g) rolled oats
- ½ cup (120 g) peanut butter, creamy
- 3 to 5 tbsp maple syrup, or honey, to taste
- a pinch of sea salt
Optional Mix-ins
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup raisins
- 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Add to a large mixing bowl rolled oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, salt and optional mix-ins if desired. With a fork or spatula, stir well until the dough gets soft.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- With the help of your hands or a cookie scoop, shape some peanut butter oatmeal balls. Place them in an airtight food container or in a sealable bowl and store in the fridge for a maximum of four days.
Notes
- To make high protein peanut butter oatmeal balls, replace ½ cup (50 grams) of the oats with protein powder. Keep in mind that, based on the protein powder choice, you may need to adjust your dough with more nut butter (vegan protein and casein) or more rolled oats (whey protein powder).
- Nutritional values are estimates only, and they do not include optional mix-ins such as raisins, seeds and walnuts.
