Peanut Butter Energy Balls
These classic peanut butter energy balls will help you roll through your week. Filled with oats, nuts, and seeds, and naturally sweetened with honey and dates. It's a quick and easy-to-make recipe that kids will love, too!
If you love the irresistible combination of peanut butter and chocolate, also try our peanut butter banana bread, peanut butter banana ice cream, or flourless chickpea peanut butter cookies.

There's nothing fancy about these classic energy balls, just some real food ingredients that pack a big nutritional punch. Made with oats, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, and chocolate chips, they're the right amount of sweet to satisfy a mid-afternoon craving or to keep you fuelled for your adventures.
There's no baking involved and they're super quick and easy to make. They last for months in the freezer and pack well for an on-the-go healthy treat any time of day.
While we're at it, we like to make a big batch because they never seem to last long enough. Road trips, races, hikes, busy workday? These little balls are for you!
Here's why you'll love them
We know that once you try these, they'll become a household favorite because:
- They're easy to make
- They're naturally sweetened
- They're a healthier whole food treat that kids love, too
- They contain chia seeds, a superfood, and complete protein
- They travel well for a healthy snack on-the-go
- They taste like oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough!
We also love serving this healthier crowd-pleasing snack at gatherings and on special occasions. Make a big platter or add them to your snack board for movie night, book club, wedding or baby showers, birthday parties, or as a healthier post-dinner treat.

Here's what you'll need
Here's everything you'll need to make these tasty peanut butter energy balls:
- Rolled oats – we use regular rolled oats for this recipe but you could use quick-cooking oats as well.
- Peanut butter – a creamy all-natural peanut butter will help hold everything together.
- Chopped nuts and sunflower seeds – for protein and a toothsome texture.
- Shredded coconut – a little nutty and slightly sweet.
- Chocolate chips – for a little chocolate decadence.
- Honey – to make them sweet and make things stick.
- Chia seeds – a natural superfood that will keep you feeling fuller longer.
- Dates – for added sweetness and stickiness.
The good news about these little energy balls is that they're really versatile. No chia seeds? Use hemp or flax instead. No peanut butter? Sub any natural nut or seed butter you have on hand like almond or cashew butter, tahini, or pumpkin seed butter.
How to make peanut butter energy balls
These peanut butter energy balls take just minutes to make! Here's how they come together in a couple of easy steps:
- Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Now stir everything together until well combined, and pop it in the fridge to firm up for easy rolling.
- Scoop and roll them into evenly-sized balls.
Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Tip: chop the dates into fine little pieces to make sure they mix well into the dough. We sometimes like to pulse them a few times in a blender or food processor to break them up really well.
Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

Peanut Butter Energy Balls: FAQS
Absolutely, any creamy nut or seed butter will work well.
Yep! You could use pumpkin seeds instead.
You bet! Pure maple syrup works well in place of honey. It's not quite as sticky so using maple syrup makes the balls a little trickier to roll, but it with a little patience you can do it!
We like using peanuts but cashews, almonds, or walnuts all work really well.
These are the perfect make-ahead snack. Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to a month. You can eat them straight out of the fridge but allow them to soften a bit at room temperature if they're coming from the freezer.

Popular energy ball recipes

Peanut Butter Energy Balls
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup natural peanut butter
- ⅓ cup chopped nuts, we like peanuts
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds, toasted
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 3 pitted dates, finely chopped
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.¾ cup natural peanut butter, 3 pitted dates, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 cup rolled oats, ⅓ cup chopped nuts, ¼ cup sunflower seeds, ¼ cup unsweetened coconut, ¼ cup mini chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Use a wooden spoon to stir until everything is mixed together well. Put the bowl into the fridge for 15 minutes – this helps make the balls easier to roll.
- Use a medium-sized cookie scoop or heaping tablespoon to portion the balls and then roll them into 20 energy balls. Enjoy!
I can’t wait to make some of these! Are the chia seeds necessary? I don’t love them and they make me feel bloated so I haven’t had them in my pantry for a while. Can I just increase the other seeds or sub a different kind of nut? Thanks! 😀
No you can omit them. 🙂
Do you have a suggestion for making these without a food processor?
Hi Ashley,
You could finely chop the nuts and dates by hand and then mix in the rest of the ingredients. You’ll probably need to use your hands, rather than a spoon, to mix them together well. Hope that helps!
I love all the deliciousness you packed in these balls! Peanut butter energy bites are one of my favourites, I love that you added pecans and sunflower seeds!
Thanks, Evi! They’re one of my favs too. 🙂
Made them for my hubby. Needs energy for an “energetic” (read on his feet all day) job. I had the dregs of some chocolate almond butter in the fridge, so I used that instead and didn’t put the chic chips in because of that. He said “You can make those again!” Seal of approval. 🙂
Ha ha I love it! It’s the best when you get your man’s seal of approval, right?!! 🙂
hi there! this looks delish! could i use almond butter instead of peanut butter? do you think it would still taste the same?
Hi Josie! Absolutely you could use almond butter. It will taste a tiny bit different, but it will be just as delicious. 🙂
these look amazig!! can’t wait to try it at home 🙂
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Thanks, Anna! They really are delicious little treats!!
Hello, Kristen!
I must admit I’ve been really needing to have something like this to hand over the past week or two. I have huge energy dips mid afternoon and feel so tempted to reach for the sweeet stuff.
Love the tips … they’re really useful!
It’s so tough sometimes when the afternoon sleepiness hits. Sometimes I wish I lived in Mexico so I could siesta the afternoons away!
Hahaha Kristen, that first paragraph still has me rolling! Too funny. Guess I haven’t grown out of my adolescent humor yet lol. But I almost ALWAYS feel exhausted with a capitol E (maybe I should get that checked out), but in the meantime I’ll be relying on these balls! ENERGY balls that is 🙂
Ha ha love it! So happy to hear I have I have someone to laugh like a kid with!!
Hah, you can count on me for that anytime ;)!
I love all the goodies you packed into these energy balls! They sound like the perfect snack to keep me energized throughout the day!
Thanks, Kelly! They really are my fav. 🙂
Did someone say peanut butter? And chocolate? Umm…..I’ll take more than what I need for an energy boost. I eat these like popcorn!
Heck ya I did! PEANUT BUTTER! CHOCOLATE! They are pretty hard to resist, aren’t they? 🙂
Great balls of energy! These look wonderful. And I love peanut butter — can never seem to get enough of the stuff. Super recipe — thanks so much.
I’m with you 100% on peanut butter! I eat a largely paleo diet most of the time but could never give up peanut butter. Or campari. Those two are staples lol.
I love all the good stuff that go into making these healthy treats!! I think I need one of these sweet and yummy energy balls right now. 🙂
Isn’t it the best when things that taste like dessert are actually healthy for you? It’s always my fav!
Oh yessss! I swear these little balls have the same effect on me! Packed with energy and nourishing stuff… love the addition of sea salt! A perfect balance of creamy, crunchy and chocolate. These will make my 3:00 stomach growls go away! Thank you Kristen!
I love salt … I add it to everything!!
Happy to know I’m not the only one who gets effected by the magical energy giving powers of these!!
These energy balls are seriously calling my name!
Ha ha they scream, “eat me, eat me, eat me!” at me all day long too. 😉
I need these in my life. Mid afternoon hits and makes my stomach growl. These would be the perfect pick me up!
It’s seriously crazy how perfect of a snack they are! 🙂
I make energy bites very similar to this and they’re absolute heaven on EARTH! Only mine don’t have peanut butter in them and I am SO trying that next time! These look like the perfect little POP of energy!
I love love love peanut butter and could seriously eat it in just about everything. What do you put in yours?
I love energy bites. These look fantastic! I’ve never made mine with dates. Can’t wait to try!
They’re so good, right?! The dates give them a little extra sweetness, which I love. 🙂