These Sugar-Free and Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls are a delicious healthy sweet treat that will be ready in 15 minutes. They are a perfect mix of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy. And do not need to be refrigerated!
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Why we love this recipe
These Peanut Butter Oat Balls make great Healthy Energy Balls for Kids
and Toddlers that can easily be packed in the lunchbox. Or you know... in your adult bags!
Made with No Refined Sugar, Gluten-Free, Vegan just like my Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies and my No Bake Peanut Butter Balls, these peanut butter balls make perfect workout snacks or healthy treats to have on the go.
And bonus point: they don't need to be refrigerated, are made without a food processor and are energy balls without dates (aka no soaking time!).
Ingredients
One of the thing I like the most about these energy snacks: they are Bliss Balls made with No Dates - so they do not need a long soaking time or require the use of a food processor!
They are simply made with pantry essential ingredients most of us often already have in their kitchen.
To make these Peanut Butter Bliss Balls, I used (scroll to recipe card for all quantities):
- Peanut Butter: preferably an all-natural one with no added sugar or salt.
- Maple Syrup: you can also use Agave Syrup or Honey (if you don't need these to be vegan)
- Rolled Oats: use certified Gluten-Free Oats if required
- Shredded Coconut: optional, but oh so delicious!
- Chia Seeds: I used Black Chia Seeds but you can use White Chia as well.
- Cacao Powder: Unsweetened, preferably non processed.
- Salt: simple table salt.
You can use Smooth or Crunchy Peanut Butter - it is up to you. I personally love the crunch bits of peanuts bring to peanut butter so I used Crunchy one, but the recipe will work perfectly with smooth peanut butter too.
If you like these Peanut Butter Balls, you will love
my Gluten-Free, Vegan and Sugar-Free No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies!
Ingredient Addition Ideas
There are many other ingredients you can add to these Sugar-Free Energy Balls to make them your own. Nuts, Dried Fruits or even chocolate, the possibilities are infinite!
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Here are a few ideas:
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- Cacao Nibs
- Dried Apricots
- Raisins / Sultanas
- Dried Figs
- Dried Cranberries
- Goji Berries
- Acai Powder
- Thinly Chopped Nuts
- Spices like Cinnamon Powder, Ginger Powder or Nutmeg
More Healthy Energy Balls Recipes:
- Nut Free Choc Mint Bliss Balls - by The Cooking Collective
- Chocolate Orange Almond Bliss Balls - by Goodie Goodie Lunchbox
- Healthy Berry Bites - from Eight Forest Lane
- Keto Lemon Bliss Balls - from Mad Creations Hub
How to make No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
Many bliss balls recipes are made with dates that are soaked in water then need to be blended. If you have made these ones before, you may wonder "Can I make Energy Balls without Food Processor"?. The answer is simply YES!
It is probably one of my favourite thing about these gluten free energy balls: they are made in one bowl only - and not the one from your food processor. Quicker cleaning time is always a win in my books!
No Food Processor, No Soaking Time and ready in 15 minutes. So good!
- Pour the Peanut Butter in a Large Bowl. If the peanut butter seems a bit hard, place it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften.
- Stir in the Maple Syrup to obtain a thick paste.
- With a Wooden Spoon (or stiff spatula), incorporate your Oats, Coconut, Chia Seeds, Cacao Powder and Salt. Stir until combined.
- Pick up small chunks of dough and roll them between your palms to create balls. Press them gently between your hands to make sure they stick together well.
- Transfer them into an air-tight container and keep at room temperature for up to a week.
Recipe FAQ
These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls do not require to be refrigerated - another great bonus! They should be kept in an air-tight container in a cool spot like your pantry and will last for up to a week. If you find them to be a bit sticky, place some Baking Paper to separate the balls.
If it is really hot in your kitchen, you can store these balls in the fridge, although they are unlikely to melt. In the fridge, they will tend to harden and get drier so only store them in the fridge if really needed.
I do not recommend freezer these Energy Balls. They are rather delicate and will fall apart when you try to thaw them. Because they will last for a long time, they can easily be made ahead and will last for a week. No need to freeze them!
More Healthy Treat Recipes
- Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
- Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins
- Avocado Chocolate Mousse
- Oven Baked Banana Chips
- Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins
- Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Made this recipe?
Let us know if you liked it by leaving a comment below, and tag us on Instagram @a.baking.journey with a photo of your creation!
Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (125gr) Peanut Butter, Smooth or Chuncky
- 1/4 cup (60ml) Maple Syrup, or more if needed
- 1 cup (100gr) Rolled Oats, Gluten-Free Certified if required
- 2 tbsp Chia Seeds
- 1/4 cup (20gr) Desiccated Coconut
- 1 1/2 tbsp (10gr) Unsweetened Cacao Powder
- 1 pinch Salt
Instructions
- Pour the Peanut Butter in a Large Bowl and stir it to loosen it (see note 1). Stir in the Maple Syrup to obtain a thick paste.
- Add the Dry Ingredients: Rolled Oats, Desiccated Coconut, Chia Seeds, Cacao Powder and Salt. Using a wooden spoon, stiff spatula or a simple spoon, stir in all the ingredients until combined.
- Pick up small chunks of dough and roll them between your palms to form balls, gently pressing the dough together to compress it. (see note 2).
- Place in an air-tight container (see note 3) and store at room temperature for up to a week.
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Notes
- If the Peanut Butter seems hard and stiff, you can place it in the microwave for a few seconds to loosen it. It will make the stirring process much easier if the peanut butter if liquid.
- The dough will seem to not want to stick together at the start but will come together as you press it between your hands. If they seem to fall apart anyway, add a little bit more of the liquid ingredients (Peanut Butter and/or Maple Syrup) and stir again.
- The balls should not stick together but you can always use baking paper to separate them if needed.
Suzzee says
Thank you for your kind words Sylvie, I hope you and yours do not succumb to it.
Thanks for the quantities it will make it easier for me, I thought remembering how to do a pineapple tart was bad!
Suzzee says
Do you have any recommendations on the quantities of your optional additions, I’ve never been any good at judging how much to add to recipes
Sylvie says
Hi Suzzee, any ingredient in particular you are looking to add?
Suzzee says
Sorry I’ve been battling a cold or the flu for 10 days.
I’ve been thinking on the lines of choc chips or a dried fruit or a spice on it’s own, or maybe a fruit paired up with a spice or a fruit.
Recently a friend told be she’d used a yoghurt. Something that just occurred to me this morning I must be warped in my thinking was a rum. Then a rum with a spice. Don’t know where this came from, it’s not Christmas and rum would have to be optional.
Sylvie says
Hi Suzzee, I hope you feel better! I have not tried any of these addition personally so you might have to play around with it all to find the right ratios for flavours and textures, but here are some ideas to start with:
- Chocolate chips: about 30 to 50 grams, added after the mixture has been blended. I would personally use small chocolate chunks rather than chips as it might be easier to roll the balls with the tiny chunks.
- Dried fruits: 20, 30 grams, depending on the fruit.
- Spices: about 1 teaspoon
- Rum: start with 1 teaspoon and adjust if needed
I wouldn't add yogurt to this recipe
Angela Mammon says
Going to make these for my girls for an upcoming trip.... we usually use only natural peanut butter will it work with it or do I need to get other peanut butter?
Sylvie says
It's fine 🙂
Cat says
I make these regularly now, SO quick and easy! They hold together really well and are a perfect sweet fix. Thanks!
A Baking Journey says
Great to hear!
Andrea says
These salty balls of goodness look like the perfect work snack! I’m always reaching for the chocolate in the afternoon- I think these will be my healthy alternative. Yum!
A Baking Journey says
Oh I so know what you mean with always reaching for the chocolate... they are a great alternative - and just as delicious!
Chloe Edges says
I'll take peanut butter in any form! I've actually never tried chia seeds tho so I'll have to pop them on my shopping list!
A Baking Journey says
Me too! I love chia seeds, and they bring such a nice crunch when they are not soaked like here - I highly recommend trying them!
jk bloom says
This looks delicious. Anything with PB is the best!
A Baking Journey says
Thank you! I so agree 😉
Choclette says
Snap, I've just posted energy balls too. Yours sound delicious. I've only made mine with dates before, so I now feel it's time to branch out.
Happy New Year
A Baking Journey says
Happy New Year Choclette! Energy Balls are always so delicious, aren't they!?
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
what a great start for new year these would sure ease the transition from all the naughty treats of the festive season. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare and Happy New Year.
A Baking Journey says
Thanks Jacqui, Happy New Year to you too!
Alaine Handa says
Looks similar to the Swedish chokladbollar I make. I also created a peanut butter and chocolate version that tastes like a healthy Reese’s pieces peanut butter cups!
A Baking Journey says
I didnt know of Swedish chokladbollar, how interesting!