These no bake energy balls combine pitted dates, old fashioned oats, peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, and chia seeds pulsed together in a food processor, rolled into bites, and chilled for 15 minutes. No oven, no cooking, just a fast and satisfying grab-and-go snack ready in about 25 minutes total.
You want to eat healthy, but when hunger strikes, you need something fast. You want a snack that gives you a solid boost of protein and fiber, is actually good for you, and is guaranteed to give you that much needed boost of energy to get through the day.
So, plan ahead! Make some delicious no bake chocolate peanut butter energy balls that you can just grab and go whenever you need a tasty snack.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love These No Bake Energy Bites
- It is the ultimate convenience food: You get to skip the overly processed packaged snacks. Having a batch of these bites waiting for you in the fridge means you are always prepared when a craving hits.
- No baking required: Just a quick pulse in the food processor, a quick roll, and a quick chill. That is it!
- Naturally sweetened: We are letting real and wholesome ingredients do the heavy lifting. Pitted dates act as our natural sweetener, and they perfectly bind everything together without needing any extra refined sugars.
If you love a quick, no-fuss homemade treat like this, you are also going to want to try my Small-Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies, another fast, satisfying option for when a craving hits.
What You Will Need
Special Equipment
- Food processor (or a heavy duty kitchen blender)
- Spatula
The Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates (about 10 to 12 Medjool dates)
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (rolled oats)
- 1/2 cup real creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate morsels
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Let us Get Cooking!
1. What You Will Need to Get Started
To make these energy balls, I highly recommend using a food processor, but a heavy duty kitchen blender will work in a pinch. You only need a handful of pantry staples! Pitted dates act as your sweetener for the entire energy ball and hold everything together. We also need old fashioned oats, dark chocolate morsels because you cannot have a chocolate peanut butter treat without the chocolate, chia seeds for a great fiber boost, real peanut butter as the ultimate binder and healthy fat, and just a dash of ground cinnamon for that warm and cozy flavor.
2. Prep Those Dates (Seriously, Check for Pits!)
First break up the dates to ensure an even texture. Toss your dates into the food processor and process until they break down into small pieces. If they form a giant sticky ball in the food processor, that is just as good!
Pro tip! Double check that they are actually pitted before you put them into the food processor. It is no fun trying to fish out hard date pits, or worse, cleaning them out of your food processor blades. Trust me!
3. Toss in the Rest of the Good Stuff
Next, add your old fashioned oats, dark chocolate morsels, chia seeds, real peanut butter, and ground cinnamon directly into the food processor with the dates. Pulse the mixture until just combined.
Make sure to use rolled oats or old fashioned oats for this recipe, rather than quick oats. You want them to really hold up and not break apart too much when you process everything. Check the mixture to see if you have a consistency of small and visible pieces remaining in there. You definitely do not want it to be overly processed into a complete mush. Do not over process!
4. Roll Them Up!
Carefully grab a small handful of the dough mixture, which is about 1 tablespoon. Use the warmth of your hands to mold and roll it into a 1 inch ball. Repeat until you have 12 to 15 balls. You should be able to make a good 12 to 15 energy balls from this batch.
Rolling these up is such a satisfying little kitchen task. If you enjoy this kind of make-ahead, portioned snack, my Homemade Strawberry Probiotic Gummies are another fun, healthy snack the whole family will love.
5. Chill and Enjoy
Place the energy balls on a plate or in a container. Pop them in the fridge or the freezer for about 15 minutes to let them set up and firm, and you are good to go!
Now you have delicious and healthy energy balls ready to grab anytime you are hungry.
How to Store No Bake Energy Balls
- Refrigerator: When stored in an airtight container, they will stay fresh for a good 7 to 10 days.
- Freezer: For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. To keep them from sticking together, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for about an hour first, then transfer to a zip top freezer bag or airtight container.
- Eating from frozen: You can eat them straight from the freezer for a nice chewy texture, or let them sit on the counter for 5 minutes to soften up.
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FAQs
How long do no bake energy balls last?
When stored in an airtight container, they will stay fresh in the refrigerator for a good 7 to 10 days! If you want them to last even longer, you can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Why are my energy balls falling apart?
This usually happens if your dates were a little too dry, causing the mixture to lack moisture. The fix is super easy! If the mixture is too crumbly to hold its shape, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of warm water, milk, or a little extra peanut butter to act as a binder. Also, remember to use the warmth of your hands to really press and mold the dough together before rolling it into a ball.
Are peanut butter energy balls actually good for you?
Yes, absolutely! They give you a solid boost of dietary fiber from the old fashioned oats and chia seeds, plus healthy plant based fats and protein from the real peanut butter. Because we use dates, there are no refined sugars added. They are nutrient dense, meaning they are incredibly satisfying. Eating 1 or 2 is a great portion for a quick snack or pre-workout bite.
Can you freeze no bake energy balls?
They freeze beautifully! To keep them from sticking together, I recommend placing them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freezing for about an hour. Once they are firm, you can transfer them to a zip top freezer bag or an airtight container. You can eat them straight from the freezer, where they will be nice and chewy, or let them sit on the counter for 5 minutes to soften up.
Are these energy balls vegan?
They are naturally very close to vegan as written! The dates, oats, peanut butter, chia seeds, and cinnamon are all plant based. The only thing to double-check is your dark chocolate morsels, since some brands use milk fat or are processed on shared equipment with dairy. Look for a chocolate chip labeled dairy-free or vegan if that matters to you.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, with one important note! Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they are very commonly cross-contaminated with wheat during growing and processing. If you need this recipe to be genuinely gluten-free, look for oats that are specifically labeled certified gluten-free rather than assuming any bag of oats will work.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Course: Snacks, BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy15
balls10
minutes115
kcal15
minutes25
minutesA fast, wholesome, grab-and-go snack naturally sweetened with dates. These no bake energy bites taste like a peanut butter cup and take just minutes to make, no oven required.
Ingredients
- Equipment Needed:
Food processor or heavy-duty blender
Spatula
- Ingredients:
170g (1 cup) pitted dates, about 10 to 12 Medjool dates
90g (1 cup) old-fashioned rolled oats
125g (1/2 cup) real peanut butter
60g (1/3 cup) dark chocolate morsels
20g (2 tbsp) chia seeds
1g (1/2 tsp) ground cinnamon
Directions
- Check that dates are pitted, then add them to a food processor. Process until they break down into small pieces or form a sticky dough ball.
- Add the old-fashioned oats, real peanut butter, dark chocolate morsels, chia seeds, and cinnamon to the food processor.
- Pulse the mixture until combined. Look for a consistency with small, textured pieces. Avoid over-processing the dough into a paste.
- Scoop out small handfuls, about 1 tablespoon in size, and use the warmth of your hands to mold and roll them into 1-inch balls. Makes 12 to 15 balls.
- Place the rolled balls in the fridge or freezer for 15 minutes to set.
Notes
- Storage: Keep fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 7 to 10 days.
- Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months. Freeze in a single layer first, then transfer to a bag once firm.
- Troubleshooting Crumbly Dough: If your dates are dry and the balls will not hold together, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of warm water or extra peanut butter and pulse again.
- Oat Swap: Use old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats, for the best chewy texture.
- Vegan Check: Naturally close to vegan, just double-check your chocolate morsel brand for dairy content.
- Gluten-Free Check: Oats are naturally gluten-free but frequently cross-contaminated. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- Allergen Note: Contains peanuts and tree nut cross-contamination risk depending on chocolate brand. Not suitable for those with peanut allergies as written; sunflower seed butter is a common peanut-free substitute, though untested in this exact recipe.
- Nutrition: Calories are estimated and will vary based on ball size and specific ingredient brands.
