These chocolate covered peanut butter oatmeal balls are a super easy and yummy snack that are loaded with protein. Perfect for a post workout snack or delicious when paired with a cup of coffee for a mid afternoon pick me up.
No bake and gluten-free, these energy bites are made with just 5 simple ingredients.
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If you are looking for a healthier snack but still want that sweet chocolate fix, then these chocolate peanut butter oatmeal balls are here to save the day! Super simple and easy to make, the chocolate covered protein bites are a tasty way to combat that mid-afternoon slump.
Loaded with protein these energy balls are gluten-free, easy to make vegan and made with no refined sugar. If you like these, be sure to check out my Peanut Butter Crunch Bites.
If you are after more sweet treats, be sure to check out my Blackberry and Cherry Crumble and Layered Eton Mess.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls - The Ingredients
You just need 5 simple ingredients to make a batch of these yummy protein bites, most of which you will already have in your cupboard.
- Oats: I like to use quick oats as they cut into smaller pieces so are easier to eat. Old fashioned oats will also work well but it's best to avoid steel cut oats which can be tougher in texture.
- Peanut Butter: You can use smooth or chunky peanut butter. I prefer to use crunchy so you get those bits of peanut, but smooth will work just as well.
- Honey: Honey helps to bind everything together. If you can, use a raw honey which contains more antioxidants.
- Almond Extract: A little almond extract flavors these bites wonderfully, they taste a little like marzipan. If you prefer, you can also use vanilla extract.
- Chocolate: The bitterness of dark chocolate helps to balance out the sweetness of the honey and works so well with the peanut butter. If you like, you can use milk or white chocolate instead.
Dietary variations
- Gluten-free: If you have a sensitivity to gluten, be sure that the oats you buy are GF certified.
- Vegan: Swap out the honey for maple syrup.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
These protein bites come together so quickly and easily!
- Mix all of the ingredients (apart from the chocolate) in a large bowl and chill in the fridge.
- Roll the mixture into balls.
- Dip in melted chocolate.
- Chill until the chocolate is solid.
Frequently Asked Questions
These oatmeal balls have a pretty long shelf life, so it's perfect to make a double batch for easy and healthier snacking. Once chilled and the chocolate is solid, place them in an airtight container with the layers separated by parchment and keep them in the fridge. They will keep up to 2 weeks, and even a little longer.
Yes! If you don't think you are going to be able to munch through these peanut butter balls straight away, they will freeze well for up to 2 months. Freeze them on a baking sheet, and once solid transfer then to a freezer bag or safe container. Thaw them in the fridge in a covered container.
Absolutley! Oats are perfectly safe to eat raw and I love the chewy texture that they add. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for at least half and hour before rolling the balls. This will make them easier to roll as well as allowing the oats to soften a little.
I used a measuring spoon to scoop the mixture into 1 ½ tablespoons before rolling into balls. They are pretty chunky and filling at this size. If you prefer smaller bites, use 1 tablespoon scoops instead.
Recipe Variations
These protein bites are pretty delicious as they are, but they are also easily adaptable to your tastes. Get creative by adding in different ingredients to the oatmeal mixture or adding on different toppings:
- Add in seeds like pumpkin, sunflower or chia to the mixture.
- Try adding in some chopped dried fruit.
- Add in some chopped nuts.
- Add chocolate chips into the mixture and you can either dip it in chocolate for an extra hit or leave this out.
- Sprinkle toppings over the chocolate before chilling it. Crushed peanuts or shredded coconut would work great!
Melting The Chocolate
There are a few easy ways to melt the chocolate to cover these peanut butter oatmeal balls:
- Double boiler: Place some water into a pot and place on a high heat on the stovetop. Place a heatproof bowl on top of the pot and make sure the water isn't touching the bottom. Place the chocolate into the bowl and let it melt, stirring occasionally. This is my favorite method as the chocolate won't burn and you don't need to keep your eye on it.
- Microwave: Place the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second increments. Stir after each cook. Take care not to over cook the chocolate, don't microwave it once it is fully melted.
- Stovetop in a pot: My least favorite method as the chocolate is most likely to burn. Place a pot on a low heat and add in the chocolate. Keep stirring until it melts and don't be tempted to turn the heat to high!
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Make sure that the oatmeal mixture is really well mixed together. Make sure there aren't any dry oats remaining.
- Let the mixture chill for at least 30 minutes before forming the balls.
- Use a measuring spoon on cookie scoop to get evenly sized bites.
- Place the chocolate covered balls on parchment to chill so that they are easy to remove.
More Easy Chocolate Recipes
- Chocolate Pots with a Pretzel Topping
- Easy Layered Chocolate Bark
- Flapjacks with Dark Chocolate & Cherries
- Chocolate Orange Shots
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Equipment
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick oats
- ¾ cup crunchy peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 9 ounces dark chocolate chips (250g)
Instructions
- Mix the oats, peanut butter, honey and almond extract together in a large bowl until fully combined.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll the mixture into balls, scooping it with a measuring spoon or cookie scoop. These balls are 1 ½ tablespoons of mixture but you can make them smaller if you prefer.
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave in 30 second increments.
- Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and place on parchment.
- Chill until the chocolate is solid.
Notes
- Make sure that the oatmeal mixture is really well mixed together. Make sure there aren't any dry oats remaining.
- Let the mixture chill for at least 30 minutes before forming the balls.
- Use a measuring spoon on cookie scoop to get evenly sized bites.
- Place the chocolate covered balls on parchment to chill so that they are easy to remove.
- Nutrition is based on one 1 ½ tablespoon sized ball, covered in dark chocolate.
- Store in the fridge for up to two weeks in an air safe container.
Jane Saunders says
So easy to make, however... also so hard to resist. I think the chocolate is a genius addition to these oatmeal balls. Thanks for another fab recipe Betty - I haven't tried any of your extra additions yet, but I like the idea of coconut.