Energy Balls {11 Ways!}
Here’s my favorite base energy balls recipe + 11 different flavors of energy balls you can make with it!
Who’s in the mood for tasty energy that’s easy to make and easy to customize? Me, me, me! Let’s make energy balls!
You’ll love the simple and healthy ingredients used to make this energy balls recipe base. From chewy and heart-healthy oats to rich and filling peanut butter, feel free to customize these energy balls to your liking.
Just make sure to start with the recipes I’m sharing today, then you can get sassy!
Energy Balls Ingredients
- Nut Butter – I love using peanut butter in most of my energy balls recipes, however it’s not everyone’s favorite and some folks are allergic. You can swap the pb out with almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter and more.
- Maple Syrup – you can swap maple syrup out with honey or brown rice syrup. However, you *might* need to increase or decrease the dry ingredients to get the just-right thickness and texture.
- Oats – I use only old-fashioned oats for the hearty chewiness. Old-fashioned oats are also referred to as rolled oats. Skip the 1-minute or quick oats, as they’re too thin.
- Coconut – some of my energy bites recipes call for coconut as the base and sometimes as the add-ins. Don’t worry, not all of today’s energy balls recipes call for coconut. 😉
- Add-ins: from chocolate chips and dried cherries to walnuts and more, feel free to mix in your favorite add-ins.
How to Make Energy Balls
The best part about a master energy balls recipe? You can make them exactly to your liking. A fan of almond joy, but want to leave the almonds out of your joy? No biggie! Love cherry chocolate, but would rather have dark chocolate chunks instead of white chocolate chips? You do you, babe!
Read along to find out some of my favorite energy ball recipe variations. Try any of these variations below, then it’s time to get sassy! Feel free to mix and match any of the nut butter and add-in combos to suit your taste.
The other best part? All you need to do is throw all of the ingredients in a bowl, stir until well combined, then scoop and drop onto a prepared sheet. Then, optionally roll and enjoy the best energy balls—exactly to your liking. 😉
11 Energy Balls Recipes
Energy Balls Base Recipe
The classic energy balls recipe base is made with your choice of nut butter, oats, flaxseed, and your favorite add-ins. Further down, you’ll find my favorite flavor variations, from Almond Joy to Cherry Chocolate!
Wet
- ¾ cup nut butter (I prefer unsalted, natural creamy peanut butter)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
Dry
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
Add-Ins
- 1 cup add-ins of choice (shredded coconut, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc)
Energy Bites Flavor Variations
Here are a few of my favorite flavor variations of energy bites! You can click on the links below for exact measurements, or play around with your own customizations.
- Nut butter swaps: use peanut butter to make these Peanut Butter Coconut Energy Balls or almond butter to make these Almond Butter Coconut Energy Balls.
- Blueberry Almond Chia No Bake Bites: use almonds and dried blueberries to create this muffin-like energy balls recipe.
- Cherry Chocolate Chip Chia Bites: dried cherries and chocolate chips add the perfect sweetness and tartness to your snack.
- Almond Joy Bites: for fans of the classic candy Almond Joy, you’ll use a flavor combination of almonds, chocolate, and coconut.
- Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut: use cocoa powder as part of the dry ingredients, and add two kinds of chocolate chips to go with PB!
- Trail Mix Bites: use a combo of coconut, chopped raisins or cranberries, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and your faves.
- Chocolate Energy Balls
- Peanut Butter Coconut Chocolate Chip: for fans the amazing PB + choc chip + coconut combo!
- Cranberry Bites: tart ‘n sweet, one of my fave variations. Feel free to use any dried fruit–just make sure to chop it before adding in to your mix.
- Oatmeal Raisin: Like your favorite oatmeal raisin cookie, in no bake bite form. Highlight the rolled oats in your bites with cinnamon, juicy raisins, and walnuts if you so please.
Tools You Need
More Easy Recipes
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Cookies
- Breakfast Bars
- Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
- Chocolate Almond Bark – 3 Ingredients!
- Cereal Bars
Energy Balls – 11 Ways!
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 20–30 balls 1x
Description
Here’s my favorite base energy balls recipe + 10 different flavors of energy balls you can make with it!
Ingredients
BASE RECIPE
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup nut butter (I use unsalted, natural creamy peanut butter)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
Dry Ingredients
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
Add-Ins
- 1 cup add-ins of choice (shredded coconut, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc)
Optional Toppings
- 2 tablespoons add-ins
For flavor variations, check out the post above. 🙂
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl: nut butter, maple syrup, oats, ground flaxseed, and add-ins.
- Using a sturdy rubber spatula, stir and fold until well mixed. Make sure the dry ingredients are completely coated in the wet ingredients.
- Using a small or medium cookie scoop, scoop and drop balls of mixture onto a plate or a lined baking sheet.
- Roll balls of mixture in your hands to create a sphere. Use your fingers to press together any loose bits.
- Optionally, press Toppings into the energy balls. Enjoy!
- For flavor variations (including Almond Joy), be sure to check out the post above.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark environment for 1-2 weeks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No Cook, No Bake
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I’ve used your recipe for energy balls and it’s excellent! I have a question: I would like to incorporate protein powder. How much and how will it affect the ratio of the other ingredients?
Aw thanks, Alissa! I’m so happy you’re enjoying them. Hm, adding protein powder can be a bit tricky because it’s designed to dissolve, and from my experience that can cause no bake bites to lose a bit of their consistency. Plus, every protein powder works a bit differently. I would recommend starting by adding in a small amount and testing how your specific protein powder reacts with the other ingredients, and if it keeps a consistency and firmness you like, add in a little more next time. Remember that the bites might become softer over time as the protein powder starts to dissolve, so think of it as a bit of fun kitchen experimentation. I hope this helps!
These look delicious. Can I use sun butter to make them.
Thank you,
Maria
Thanks, Maria! Yep, you absolutely can use sun butter. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
I love how simple and easy it is to make these energy balls! I added shredded coconut – so delicious!
Glad to hear you found them easy! And yay for more coconut deliciousness!
These energy balls are so delicious and easy to make! My favorite is with walnuts and raisins!
Yum! Such a seriously good combo!
These energy balls were so simple to make and made the best afternoon snack. I added chocolate chips and coconut, they were delicious.
Such a good combo! I’m really glad to hear you’re enjoying them. 😄
Each had its own unique flavor and texture, and I loved how easy they were to make. Definitely keeping these in my snack rotation.
Woohoo! I know, variety is so important when it comes to homemade snacks.
Oh my, these all look SO good! I’m going to start with the Almond Joy ones though because it’s one my favorite candy bars! 🙂
Thanks, Kimberly! Great choice with the almond joy—-it’s one of my faves, too!