Made with only 3 ingredients, these peanut butter oatmeal balls are the perfect start to your morning. These energy bites are packed with nutrients and can be whipped up in 5 minutes!
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If you are looking for a quick & easy on-the-go breakfast, look no further than these 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls. They are so easy to make it should be illegal.
These no-bake peanut butter energy bites are packed with healthy carbs, fats, and protein, making them a well-rounded snack and perfect for a grab-and-go situation. I love making these and keeping them on hand for when I get a little hungry!
If you love recipes using oats, you should definitely give my Protein Overnight Oats a try, as well as my Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal.
Recipe Ingredients
- Oatmeal- For this recipe, you're going to want to use old-fashioned or rolled oats. They are sturdy and give the best texture for these oat balls. You could also use quick oats, just know that the texture might be a little different. I would avoid using steel-cut oats.
- Peanut butter- I used regular creamy peanut butter for this recipe (think like Jif or Skippy). I didn't test with natural peanut butter, but if you want to use natural I would make sure to use one without a lot of oil and make sure the oil is fully mixed in before using. Natural peanut butter typically has a dryer texture than creamy, so this might affect the texture of your oatmeal peanut butter balls.
- Honey- Honey is used as our sweetener and binding agent for this recipe, but we don't need a lot!
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1:
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the peanut butter for about 30 seconds, or until it reaches a runny consistency. This is to make it easier to mix.
Step 2:
In a large bowl, mix the oats, peanut butter, and honey until fully combined.
Step 3:
Use a tbsp-sized measuring spoon to scoop the oatmeal mixture and roll it into a ball in the palm of your hand. Place on a parchment paper-lined plate and place in the fridge until they firm up.
Frequently Asked Questions
No! This recipe is no-bake, so there is no baking involved. I do like to chill the balls in the fridge after rolling them.
Yes! The combination of peanut butter and honey will soften the oats just enough so that it doesn't feel like you're eating just raw oatmeal. Plus the oats give a little texture to these peanut butter energy bites.
Absolutely! If you want to make these protein peanut butter oatmeal bites, I would remove ¼ cup of oatmeal and add in ¼ of vanilla, peanut butter, or even chocolate protein powder.
Substitutions/Add ins
Here are some fun ideas to change up these peanut butter oatmeal balls:
- Use almond butter, cashew butter, or another nut butter you love. If you are nut-free use sunflower butter!
- Use gluten-free oats to make this recipe gluten-free. You can also swap the honey for maple syrup to make this vegan.
- Add chia seeds for an extra boost in nutrients and fiber.
- Add mini chocolate chips, cinnamon, or shredded coconut for a little extra flavor.
Storing & Freezing
These energy bites are stored best in the fridge in an airtight container. They stay fresh for up to a week in the fridge or a month in the freezer.
Want to try more oatmeal recipes?
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📖 Recipe
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the peanut butter for about 30 seconds, or until it reaches a runny consistency. This is to make it easier to mix.
- In a large bowl, mix the oats, peanut butter, and honey until fully combined.
- Use a tbsp-sized measuring spoon to scoop the oatmeal mixture and roll it into a ball in the palm of your hand. Place on a parchment paper-lined plate and place in the fridge/freezer until they firm up.
Notes
- You can use any nut butter you would like for this recipe.
- Add in ideas: chia seeds, mini chocolate chips, cinnamon, or shredded coconut.
- Storing: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.
Nutrition
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Megan says
So easy & tasty treat to have for a quick burst of energy or if your craving something sweet!
I added protein powder into my recipes like Kelly suggested and it was perfect. Will make again!!
Kelly Hamilton says
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, Megan. So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Mike DeMarco says
I make this recipe with powdered peanut butter which has 70 cal. per 2 Tbls. compared with 190 cals. for regular creamy and a bit more protein. I add mini chocolate chips, unsalted sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, crushed in my hand before adding and flax seeds. using powdered peanut allows you to adjust texture for better rolling into balls.
Kelly Hamilton says
Thanks for trying, Mike! Glad to hear they worked with powdered peanut butter as well!
Meredith says
Made these for my kids this week and they were obsessed. Going to have to make another batch soon!
Kelly Hamilton says
Thanks for trying this recipe, Meredith! So happy to hear the kids enjoyed it!
Lisa says
Was looking for an easy but lighter treat and I have been lazy after the holidays so this was perfect! Now if only I could stop eating them - they’re so good!
Kelly Hamilton says
So happy to hear you loved these, Lisa!