With all the protein-optimized snacks my boyfriend keeps in the house, I’ve been craving carbs. And nothing is more satiating to a carb loving, ex-California resident than these no-bake energy balls. You’d be surprised…four of these tiny things can keep you full longer than a Larabar. In fact, eat a few of these before dinner, and you may just be too full to eat dinner at all! (For the record, I love dinner and do not recommend spoiling it!)
If you’re wondering how these energy balls taste, it’s pretty simple: sweeter than an energy bar but not as sweet as a cookie. They’re more peanut buttery than granola and smoother in texture. They’re hearty, a little gooey, and definitely could get you through a long hike.
Most of all, this recipe is endlessly tailorable. You can add pretty much everything but the kitchen sink!
Ingredients for energy balls
What I love most about this energy ball recipe is the versatility. You can make these bars with as little as three ingredients:
- 1 cup nut butter
- 3 cups quick oats
- ½ cup maple syrup
Or, like me, you can play with the ratios and add other dense, fiber-filled ingredients to keep you satiated. Here’s what I decided to include:
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup quick oats
- ⅓ cup toasted macadamia nuts
- ⅓ cup toasted slivered almonds
- ⅓ cup toasted walnuts
- ½ cup hemp seeds
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ½ cup maple syrup
There’s so much wiggle room here…You could choose almond butter instead of peanut butter. You could substitute oats or coconut flakes for some of the nuts, hemp seeds, or wheat germ. You could even add in chocolate chips or raisins!
Creative toppings
My favorite element of this recipe, however, was the addition of the toppings. After making each ball, I’d roll it around in something yummy to coat the outside–I chose coconut flakes, dragonfruit powder, and cacao nibs for a little crunch.
Enjoy, and please leave a comment with your own version!
Print
Energy Balls
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 32 balls 1x
- Category: snacks
- Method: no-bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A no-bake recipe for BIG energy: these energy balls combine whole ingredients into sweet treats for satiating hunger when you’re on the go.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup walnuts*
- ⅓ cup macadamia nuts*
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds*
- 1 cup oats*
- ½ cup hemp seeds*
- ½ cup wheat germ*
- ½ cup maple syrup**
- 1 cup peanut butter***
- pinch salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla (optional)
- Toppings: dragonfruit powder, coconut flakes, cacao nibs (or mini chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Toast the nuts in a medium skillet over medium low until they emit a nutty aroma.
- Remove the nuts and chop into fine pieces.
- Add the nuts and all the rest of the ingredients to a medium bowl.
- Mix well.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon out at a time and roll it into a little ball.
- Roll this ball in one of the toppings.
- Eat immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Notes
*These are the dry ingredients. You might want to experiment with the ratios to see what you like or modify the recipe depending on what you have on hand. Flax seed, flaked coconut, protein powder, and millet would all be good additions!
**Honey, sucanat, brown rice syrup, agave, or any other liquid sweetener could work here.
***Any nut butter works! If you use an oily butter, however, like some almond butters, you might need to add more oats.
Keywords: vegan, vegetarian, energy balls, snacks, no-bake, hiking food, healthy, healthy-ish, energy bites, blender cookies
