These healthy peanut butter balls are a homemade chocolatey peanut butter dessert that is easy to make and fun for the whole family! I’m all about making delicious treats, but I want them to be delicious and good for you. This Peanut butter energy balls always reminds me of the holidays, so I wanted to take the classic candy ball and make it into an amazing healthier version.
These healthy no bake oatmeal cookies are an easy and delicious alternative to the usual sugar loaded baked cookie. Since they’re free of refined sugar, flour, grains and legumes, these cookies are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, vegan and healthy too. Below are the health benefits of peanut butter.
Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
These healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost. They’re no-bake and easy to make with ingredients you probably have on hand, like oats and nut butter. Feel free to experiment with different mix-ins–for example, dried fruit or chopped nuts–in place of the chocolate chips and coconut.
Recipe Summary
Active: 20 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 17
Ingredients
Ingredient Checklist
- 2 cups rolled oats (see Tip)
- 1 cup natural peanut butter or other nut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Directions
Instructions Checklist
- Step 1 .In a medium bowl, combine the oats, honey, chocolate chips, peanut butter (or other nut butter), and coconut. Stir well. Roll the mixture into 1-tablespoon-sized balls. For up to 5 days in the refrigerator or three months in the freezer, store in an airtight container.
Tips
Tip:
Individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should use oats that are labeled “gluten-free,” as oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat and barley.
Making ahead: For up to 5 days in the refrigerator or three months in the freezer, keep in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 2 balls
Per Serving:
174 calories; protein 4.4g; carbohydrates 18.2g; dietary fiber 2.1g; sugars 9.7g; fat 9.2g; saturated fat 2.3g; vitamin c 0.1mg; folate 4.9mcg; calcium 6.1mg; iron 0.6mg; magnesium 12.8mg; potassium 53mg; sodium 47.7mg; added sugar 9g.
Exchanges: 2 fat, 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1/2 starch
HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
These HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER BALLS are sweetened with honey instead of powdered sugar, and are quick & easy to make with just 5 ingredients!
PREP TIME: 15 mins
COOL TIME: 30 mins
TOTAL TIME 45 mins
SERVINGS: –+
INGREDIENTS
PEANUT BUTTER BALLS:
- 3/4 cup natural peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
- 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup for vegans)
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- pinch of sea salt
CHOCOLATE COATING:
- 4 ounces dark chocolate (about 1 heaping cup of dark chocolate chips)
- coarse sea salt , for topping (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine the peanut butter, honey, coconut flour, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until a manageable dough forms, then roll into balls. If you find that the batter is too thick for rolling, add another tablespoon of coconut flour.
- To form balls, scoop out tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll them in your palms. The balls should be placed on a pan covered with parchment paper and placed in the freezer for 20 minutes or until they are solid.
- Melt the chocolate and add it to the peanut butter balls once they are firm to the touch. (I do this on my stove using a double boiler; if you’d like, you could do it in the microwave in 30-second intervals.)
- After removing the peanut butter balls from the freezer, fully coat each one by dipping it into the melted chocolate mixture. If preferred, sprinkling coarse sea salt on top of the chocolate. (Proceed quickly; the chocolate will soon solidify.) Back on the parchment paper, place the chocolate-coated balls. The chocolate should begin to harden immediately away, but if you want them to be entirely set, you can put them in the refrigerator or freezer.
- To keep the chocolate firm, serve chilled straight from the fridge. For up to two weeks in the fridge or three months in the freezer, these should store nicely in an airtight container.
NUTRITION
Calories: 112kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 49mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 0.9mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate, dessert, healthy, peanut butter
PER SERVING: CALORIES: 112, FAT: 7G, CARBOHYDRATES: 9G, FIBER: 1G, PROTEIN: 3G
RECIPE NOTES:
- If you choose, you can substitute almond butter or sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter in this recipe.
- If you don’t want to use coconut flour in the recipes, I’ve successfully used 3/4 cup blanched almond flour in its place.
- Replace the honey with maple syrup to make a dessert that is vegan.
Healthy Peanut Butter Ball Ingredients
- medjool dates
- old fashioned oats
- natural roasted and salted peanut butter
- chocolate chips – I used Enjoy Life chocolate chunks.
- coconut oil
How to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
Process – Start by adding the dates to your food processor and pulse until the dates are finely chopped and form a sticky ball. Add in the oats and pulse a few more times until combined. Add in the peanut butter and process until combined.
Form balls – Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into balls. Place balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the peanut butter balls in the freezer until firm – this takes several hours so I usually just let them sit overnight!
Coat with chocolate – After your peanut butter balls are firm, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-second increments until the chocolate is melted. Dip the chilled balls into the melted chocolate and roll until covered. Place back on the parchment paper and then back in the freezer until chocolate is set.
How to Store Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Store the chocolate covered peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy! They should last about a week in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.
Healthy Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls
These no-bake peanut butter balls taste like chocolate chip cookie dough! They’re so easy to make (no equipment needed) and filled with nutritious ingredients. Perfect for a make-ahead snack!
Looking for a new healthy snack recipe to try? These bite-sized pieces of peanut butter cookie dough have absolutely taken over my life. I am really in love with them since they have a different texture from the other energy balls on my shop.
Simple, healthy ingredients like creamy peanut butter, almond flour, and dark chocolate chips are used to make these peanut butter balls.
They’ll keep you full and invigorated in between meals because they’re a source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This is what I specifically look for in a snack as a nutritionist.
What’s best? You can keep them in the refrigerator or freezer for anytime a hunger strikes, and they are Incredibly simple to make. Enjoy!
Ingredients You Need
All you need to make these peanut butter energy balls are 6 simple, healthy ingredients:
- creamy unsweetened peanut butter
- almond flour
- honey
- vanilla extract
- chocolate chips
- sea salt
Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
Recipe Modifications & Ingredient Swaps
- You can substitute creamy, unsweetened almond butter for peanut butter. Although the flavor profile will alter, it will still be wonderful.
- Although I enjoy the flavor of honey with these, you may try substituting maple syrup for the honey if you prefer (or if you’re vegan!) Try adding a little more almond flour if you find that they aren’t adhering together nearly as nicely.
How To Store Peanut Butter Balls
These peanut butter balls can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days if you anticipate eating them within that time frame and have an airtight container handy.
These energy balls can be kept in the freezer in a freezer-safe container if you want to preserve them for longer than a week. Before you eat the balls, simply let them thaw for a few minutes (otherwise, they would be too hard to bite into)!
Peanut Butter Nutrition Benefits
Peanut butter is an awesome source of:
- heart-healthy, monounsaturated fats
- plant-based protein (8g per 2 Tbsp serving)
- dietary fiber (2g per 2 Tbsp serving)
- micronutrients like:
- magnesium
- vitamin B6
- iron
- phosphorus
- niacin
Almond Flour Nutrition Benefits
Almond flour is made from ground almonds and is a nutritious source of:
- healthy, monounsaturated fats
- plant-based protein (6 grams per 1 ounce or 28 grams)
- dietary fiber (3 grams per 1 ounce or 28 grams)
- micronutrients like:
- vitamin E
- manganese
- magnesium
- copper
- phosphorus
Almond flour is also lower in refined carbohydrates, compared to regular flour.
These no-bake peanut butter balls taste like chocolate chip cookie dough! They’re so easy to make (no equipment needed) and filled with nutritious ingredients. Perfect for a make-ahead snack!
prep time: 20 MINUTES
cook time: 0 MINUTES
freeze: 2 HOURS
total time: 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES
servings: 12 BALLS
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter, unsweetened
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp almond flour
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Put parchment paper on a little baking sheet.
- Combine peanut butter, honey, and vanilla essence in a sizable mixing basin. Stir thoroughly to mix.
- Combine almond flour, chocolate chips, and sea salt in a separate, big basin. Ensure that the almond flour is free of any clumps.
- When the mixture resembles cookie dough, add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and well whisk to blend.
- Around 1-2 Tbsp of the mixture should be scooped into your hands and formed into balls. Repeat the process with the remaining mixture and place on a prepared baking sheet. This recipe as described will yield roughly 12 energy balls, depending on the size of your balls.
- To harden, place in the freezer for at least two hours. Prior to eating, make sure the balls have had time to thaw. For further storage hints, see the notes!
Notes
*TYPE OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS: You can use unsweetened chocolate chips if you want to lower the sugar content and don’t mind the taste of very dark chocolate. Otherwise, use semi-sweet ones. The amount of honey per ball isn’t too much so they shouldn’t be too sweet!
*TEXTURE: The texture of these balls is meant to be a bit softer (like cookie dough)!
- If you find the texture of these balls is too soft that they don’t hold together, you can add a touch more almond flour.
- If it’s too crumbly, add a touch more peanut butter or honey. It should work as written, but sometimes it’s hard to get totally accurate measurements when we use measuring cups!
*STORAGE:
- These peanut butter balls can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days if you anticipate eating them within that time frame and have an airtight container handy.
- These energy balls can be kept in the freezer in a freezer-safe container if you want to preserve them for longer than a week. Before you eat the balls, simply let them thaw for a few minutes (otherwise, they would be too hard to bite into)!
*RECIPE MODIFICATIONS:
- You can substitute creamy, unsweetened almond butter for peanut butter. Although the flavor profile will alter, it will still be wonderful.
- Although I enjoy the flavor of honey with these, you may try substituting maple syrup for the honey if you prefer (or if you’re vegan!) Try adding a little more almond flour if you find that they aren’t adhering together nearly as nicely.
Health Benefits of Peanut Butter
Apart from its great taste, peanut butter may have vital nutrients that are essential for the body. The health benefits of this tasty butter include the following:
1. Can be a Rich Source of Protein
100 grams of peanut butter could have a lot of protein (25 – 30 grams). Our bodies convert the proteins we eat into amino acids, which are then used by every cell to repair and grow tissue.
2. May Lower Cholesterol Levels
According to a 2016 study that appeared in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phytosterols—compounds that fully limit the absorption of cholesterol from the diet—can be found in abundance in peanuts. Most likely, the amount of fat in peanut butter is nearly identical to the amount in olive oil. Both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are present. These fats are healthy to eat and pose no risk to the heart because they are unsaturated. Low-density lipoprotein, or “bad cholesterol,” can be reduced by peanut butter’s unsaturated fats, which may also increase the flow of “good cholesterol” (high-density lipoprotein).
3. May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Eating peanut butter may help lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition to protein, peanuts also provide unsaturated lipids. It may be true that unsaturated fats increase insulin sensitivity. According to studies on peanut butter consumption and type 2 diabetes, eating more peanut butter and other nuts can reduce the risk of developing the disease.
4. Can be a Good Source of Vitamins
Many vitamins found in peanut butter can help our bodies function effectively. It contains vitamins A, which is good for eyesight, and C, which may aid to strengthen the immune system and speed up the healing of minor ulcers. On the other hand, the vitamin E in peanut butter may be a crucial micronutrient that our bodies require in order to break down intricate fatty acid complexes and artery-clogging fat deposits.
5. Potentially Antioxidant Properties
Peanut butter may contain antioxidant properties due to the presence of folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamin. One of the antioxidants found in it is resveratrol. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic antioxidant that may help in controlling chronic diseases.
6. May Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
(170 mg/100 grams) Peanut butter is a significant source of magnesium. This amounts to 42% of the magnesium daily recommended intake. Magnesium is crucial for the body’s immune system, bone, and muscle development. Magnesium can assist in controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels. More than 300 metabolic activities in our body that are crucial for our existence may benefit from its presence.
7. Possibly High in Potassium
Potassium (70 mg/100g) in peanut butter may function as an electrolyte and as a fluid-balancing substance in the body. In contrast to sodium, which causes hypertension, which directly presses on the cardiovascular system, potassium does not exert any pressure on the blood or the heart. In fact, peanut butter contains potentially high levels of potassium, a heart-healthy mineral.