No-Bake Energy Balls: 10 Mind-Blowing Recipes That Crush Cravings

Omg you guys, I’ve been on this crazy health kick since my doctor gave me THE LOOK at my last check-up. You know the one. That “your cholesterol is fine but let’s talk about those other numbers” look that makes you want to crawl under the exam table. Anywaaaay, James has been nagging (I mean lovingly encouraging) me to find snacks that aren’t just handfuls of Emma’s forgotten chocolate chips that she left behind when she moved to her apartment.

The Energy Ball Obsession That’s Taking Over My Kitchen

So I’ve been making these no-bake energy balls like a woman possessed. My kitchen currently looks like a bomb went off in the bulk section of Whole Foods. Charlie (our golden retriever who NEVER stops shedding no matter what fancy $72 shampoo the vet recommends) keeps trying to steal them whenever I turn my back. Can’t blame him tho – they’re sooooo much better than the sad protein bars I used to buy that tasted like cardboard wrapped in chocolate-adjacent coating.

Remember when I tried that keto diet back in 2021 and James found me at 3am eating cheese slices in the dark? Well this is waaaaay more sustainable! These little balls of yumminess have saved me from my 3pm crash when I’m trying to finish client work and my brain just goes ✨totally blank✨.

Why I’m Obsessed (and why you might be too)

• Quick & Easy – Just mix, roll, and refrigerate. No baking required.
• Healthy & Nutritious – Packed with fiber, protein, and natural sweeteners.
• Customizable – Choose from 10 delicious flavors or create your own.
• Perfect for Meal Prep – Make a batch and store for the entire week.

They’re ridiculously easy to make – even I can’t mess them up, and I once set my oven mitts on fire making toast. Don’t ask.

No actual baking required (praise be) which means I don’t have to heat up the kitchen when it’s 92 degrees and our AC unit that Ryan “fixed” last summer makes that concerning grinding noise.

You can customize them a bazillion different ways depending on what random ingredients you have hanging around from abandoned health kicks of the past

Better than those $4.50 protein bars that Emma informed me are “basically candy bars with extra steps”

I can make them while half-watching my true crime shows (currently obsessed with that one about the lady who maybe poisoned 17 people at her church potluck, have you seen it???)

The Basic Recipe Formula That Even I Can’t Screw Up

No-Bake Energy Balls: 10 Essential Recipes For Busy Moms

Omg you guys, I’ve been on this crazy health kick since my doctor gave me THE LOOK at my last check-up. You know the one. That “your cholesterol is fine but let’s talk about those other numbers” look that makes you want to crawl under the exam table. Anywaaaay, James has been nagging (I mean lovingly encouraging) me to find snacks that aren’t just handfuls of Emma’s forgotten chocolate chips that she left behind when she moved to her apartment.

The Energy Ball Obsession That’s Taking Over My Kitchen

So I’ve been making these no-bake energy balls like a woman possessed. My kitchen currently looks like a bomb went off in the bulk section of Whole Foods. Charlie (our golden retriever who NEVER stops shedding no matter what fancy $72 shampoo the vet recommends) keeps trying to steal them whenever I turn my back. Can’t blame him tho – they’re sooooo much better than the sad protein bars I used to buy that tasted like cardboard wrapped in chocolate-adjacent coating.

Remember when I tried that keto diet back in 2021 and James found me at 3am eating cheese slices in the dark? Well this is waaaaay more sustainable! These little balls of yumminess have saved me from my 3pm crash when I’m trying to finish client work and my brain just goes ✨totally blank✨.

Why I’m Obsessed (and why you might be too)

They’re ridiculously easy to make – even I can’t mess them up, and I once set my oven mitts on fire making toast. Don’t ask.

No actual baking required (praise be) which means I don’t have to heat up the kitchen when it’s 92 degrees and our AC unit that Ryan “fixed” last summer makes that concerning grinding noise.

You can customize them a bazillion different ways depending on what random ingredients you have hanging around from abandoned health kicks of the past

Better than those $4.50 protein bars that Emma informed me are “basically candy bars with extra steps”

I can make them while half-watching my true crime shows (currently obsessed with that one about the lady who maybe poisoned 17 people at her church potluck, have you seen it???)

The Basic Recipe Formula That Even I Can’t Screw Up

K so here’s the deal. Energy balls follow a super simple formula that even I – the woman who somehow managed to burn WATER last Thanksgiving – can handle:

1. Something to give it structure (usually oats, sometimes nuts)
2. Something sticky to hold it together (nut butters are my jam, except they’re not jam, they’re nut butters… you know what I mean)
3. Something sweet but not TOO sweet (honey, maple syrup, dates if you’re feeling fancy)
4. Flavor boosters to make them not boring (spices, extracts, etc)
5. Mix-ins to pretend they’re actually cookies (chocolate chips, dried fruit, coconut)

My kinda recipe – no exact measurements required! I eyeball EVERYTHING and they still turn out fine. James watched me make them once and nearly had a stroke when I just dumped things in without measuring. Engineers, amirite???

Let’s Break It Down (Like My Knees Do When I Try To Exercise)

1. The Structure Stuff

• Rolled oats – the kind in the cardboard tube that James always cuts himself opening
• Almond flour – crazy expensive but worth it when you need to bring something to Karen’s gluten-free dinner party
• Coconut flakes – but NOT the sweetened kind that Ryan picks out of my trail mix and leaves the raisins behind like a monster
• Protein powder – I have 4 half-used tubs from different “fitness journeys” over the years

2. The Sticky Stuff

These help the ingredients stick together:

• Peanut butter – the natural kind where the oil separates and splashes all over my white shirt EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
• Almond butter – for when I’m feeling fancy or when Emma comes home and judges my peanut butter choices
• Sunflower seed butter – for when Claire’s kid with the nut allergy comes over
• Mashed banana – which I always have because I buy bananas with the intention of eating them and then forget about them until they’re basically black

3. The Sweet Stuff

• Honey – the fancy kind I bought at the farmers market that cost me $15 and James STILL brings up
• Maple syrup – REAL maple syrup, not the pancake syrup that Ryan still prefers even though I’ve explained the difference 74 times
• Dates – which I discovered are actually delicious and not just those weird things in holiday fruitcakes
• Monk fruit sweetener – because my friend Deb swears it fixed her hot flashes (it didn’t fix mine tho)

4. The Flavor Boosters

• Vanilla extract – the real kind not the imitation stuff my mom used to use
• Cinnamon – which I put in literally everything from October through February
• Cocoa powder – the fancy dark kind that stains EVERYTHING it touches
• Lemon zest – when I’m feeling like a proper food blogger and not just a middle-aged woman in stretchy pants

5. The Fun Mix-Ins

• Dark chocolate chips – which I have to hide from myself or they mysteriously disappear before making it into the recipe
• Chopped nuts – pre-chopped because I value my fingertips
• Chia seeds – that get stuck in my teeth but are supposedly worth it for the omega whatevers
• Dried cranberries – the only dried fruit James will eat without complaining

My Top 10 No-Bake Energy Ball Recipes That Won’t Make You Sad

1. The Classic Peanut Butter Energy Balls

The backstory on these is that I created them during that week when I was trying to be “healthy” but also wanted something that actually tasted good. I’ve been making these the longest and they’re basically foolproof – even that time I was on the phone with my sister debating whether to confront our mother about the holiday plans AND trying to stop Charlie from eating a sock.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats (the regular kind, not the quick ones)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (I used chunky because that’s what we had but smooth works too)
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (I go back and forth depending on my mood)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (the good stuff)
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional, but I add them when I’m feeling extra virtuous)

Instructions

Dump everything in a bowl.
Mix it up until your arm hurts.
If it seems too dry add more peanut butter. Too wet, add more oats.
Roll into balls while watching Netflix.
Put in fridge.

Try not to eat them all in one sitting while scrolling Instagram at midnight.

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Energy Balls

Guys, these taste SO MUCH like cookie dough it’s ridiculous. I brought them to book club and Diane (who judges EVERYTHING) asked for the recipe which basically means they’re amazing because Diane once told me my banana bread was “interestingly textured” which we all know is suburban mom code for “this is terrible.”

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour (yes it’s expensive, yes it’s worth it)
• 1/2 cup cashew butter (or almond butter if that’s what ya got)
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (the tiny ones make it seem like there’s more chocolate)
• Pinch of salt (again, don’t skip)

Instructions

1. Mix everything except chocolate chips until it looks like cookie dough.
2. Fold in the chips.
3. Roll into balls. Try not to eat all the dough before it makes it to ball-form.
4. Refrigerate.
5. Hide from family.

3. Almond Joy Energy Balls

K so I have a confession. I still buy those little Almond Joy bars at Halloween even though we haven’t had trick-or-treaters in 3 years because our porch light has been broken since Ryan tried to replace the bulb and did… something… to the wiring. These energy balls satisfy the same craving without the weird waxy chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 cup almonds, blended up but not into butter (I use the food processor James got me for Christmas that I originally side-eyed but now use constantly)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened unless you want them super sweet)
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
• 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract if you’re feeling fancy

Instructions

1. Blitz the almonds first but don’t turn them into almond butter – you want some texture!
2. Mix everything together. If it seems too dry add a tiny splash of water or extra honey.
3. Roll into balls.
4. Roll the balls in extra coconut if you want them to look pretty for the ‘gram.
5. Refrigerate.

4. Protein-Packed Chocolate Energy Balls

I made these after my friend Tina came back from her spin class looking all glowy while I was sweating just from taking Charlie for his morning constitutional. Charlie pulled me into a bush chasing a squirrel, which technically counts as resistance training right??

Ingredients

• 1 scoop protein powder (I use chocolate but vanilla works too)
• 1/2 cup nut butter of choice
• 1 cup oats
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• Tiny splash of milk or water if needed

Instructions

1. Mix everything in a bowl. If it’s too dry to stick together, add a tiny bit of milk or water.
2. Roll into balls while thinking about how this totally makes up for skipping yoga.
3. Again. Refrigerate.

5. Coconut Matcha Energy Balls

I bought matcha powder during that phase where I convinced myself I would become a morning person who drinks matcha instead of my usual 3 cups of coffee that I need just to form coherent sentences. That didn’t happen but at least the matcha didn’t go to waste.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon matcha powder (the good kind not the cheap kind that tastes like lawn clippings)
• 1 cup cashew butter (or almond if that’s what you have)
• 1 cup shredded coconut (plus extra for rolling)
• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Mix everything together until it’s a lovely green color.
2. If it’s too sticky, add some more coconut.
3. Roll into balls, then roll in extra coconut to make them pretty.
4. Refrigerate and then eat while feeling superior about your sophisticated palate.

6. Choco-Banana Oat Energy Balls

This is what happens when you buy bananas every week thinking “THIS is the week I’ll eat a banana every day” and then find them turning black on your counter. Again. But now instead of making another loaf of banana bread that no one needs, I make these!

Ingredients

• 1 very ripe banana, mashed up
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional if your banana is super ripe)
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Mash the banana really well.
2. Mix in everything else.
3. If it’s too wet to roll (bananas can be unpredictable), add more oats.
4. Roll into balls while contemplating why you keep buying bananas when this happens EVERY TIME.
5. Refrigerate.

7. Pumpkin Spice Energy Balls

Look, I know pumpkin spice has become this whole THING that people love to hate on, but I don’t care. I love it, I wait for it all year, and I will not apologize for it. I make these as soon as the temperature drops below 75 degrees because in Portland that basically means it’s fall.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or more if you’re me)
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Mix everything together.
2. The pumpkin makes these wetter than other energy balls so you might need extra oats.
3. Refrigerate for at least an hour before rolling or they’ll be too sticky.
4. Try not to make “that’s what she said” jokes while rolling sticky balls.

8. Lemon Coconut Energy Balls

I made these during that heat wave last summer when our AC was making that noise that James said was “fine” but sounded like a blender full of pennies. They’re unexpectedly refreshing and don’t make you feel heavy when it’s hot enough to fry an egg on our deck (which Ryan actually tried to do, ruining my favorite small frying pan in the process).

Ingredients

• Zest of 1 lemon (organic if possible since you’re eating the skin)
• 1 cup cashew butter (or any light colored nut butter)
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Tiny pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Zest the lemon but try not to get the white bitter part.
2. Mix everything together.
3. Roll into balls.
4. Roll in extra coconut if you’re feeling fancy.
5. Refrigerate and then eat while fanning yourself dramatically.

9. Mocha Coffee Energy Balls

I created these during my 2pm slump when I wanted coffee but it was 90 degrees and the thought of hot liquid made me want to cry. They give you a little caffeine boost without the sweats.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon instant coffee (or espresso powder if you’re fancy)
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 cup oats
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Mix everything together.
2. If it’s too dry, add a tiny splash of water or extra nut butter.
3. Roll into balls while dreaming of fall when you can drink hot coffee again without melting.
4. Refrigerate.

10. Low-Carb Keto Energy Balls

My friend Kathy does a different diet every 3 months, I swear. Currently she’s back on keto and keeps sending me pictures of cheese and bacon. I made these so she could have something sweet that fit her macros (whatever those are) when she came over for Bachelor night.

Ingredients

• 1 cup ground walnuts or almonds
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup sugar-free chocolate chips (Lily’s brand is good)
• 1 tablespoon monk fruit sweetener
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Mix everything together.
2. Roll into balls.
3. Refrigerate.

How To Store These Little Balls of Joy

So you’ve made a bunch of these energy balls and somehow managed not to eat them all immediately (teach me your ways). Here’s how to store them:

In the Fridge:

Put them in a container with a lid. They’ll last about a week unless your teenage son finds them, in which case they’ll last approximately 7 minutes. Ryan came home from college unexpectedly last month and ate an ENTIRE BATCH while binge-watching something on Netflix at 2am.

In the Freezer:

These freeze great! Just put them in a freezer bag or container and they’ll last for 3 months. Let them thaw for a few minutes before eating, or don’t and pretend they’re some kind of fancy dessert. I may or may not eat them frozen straight from the freezer while standing with the freezer door open, contemplating my life choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Healthy Snack Recipes You’ll Love

If you love energy balls, you’ll want to check out these other healthy snack recipes from Speedy Tasty. These recipes are quick, nutritious, and perfect for meal prep, just like the energy balls you’ve just learned to make.

1. Healthy Spinach Egg Muffins

Try these protein-packed spinach egg muffins for a low-carb, high-protein breakfast or snack. Easy to prep and store for the week.

2. 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

These simple banana pancakes are made with just bananas, oats, and eggs—a perfect gluten-free and healthy option.

3. Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal

This peanut butter baked oatmeal is warm, comforting, and naturally sweetened, making it an ideal snack or breakfast.

4. High-Protein Egg White Bites

These egg white bites are a great grab-and-go snack that’s high in protein and low in carbs.

5. Peanut Butter Smoothie Without Banana

If you love peanut butter but want a smoothie without banana, this creamy and protein-rich recipe is perfect for you.

These healthy snacks will keep you energized and satisfied throughout the day. Try them out and find your new favorite!

In Conclusion (sort of)

That was a lot of energy ball talk! My hands are actually tired from typing this out, or maybe that’s just the beginnings of carpal tunnel that my doctor warned me about but I ignored because who has time for wrist exercises??

Anyway, these no-bake energy balls have seriously been a game-changer for my snack situation. They’re easy, customizable, and make me feel like I have my life together even when I’m wearing the same yoga pants for the third day in a row.

If you make any of these recipes, let me know how they turn out! Unless they turn out badly, then maybe keep that to yourself because my self-esteem is hanging by a thread after Emma pointed out my “mom jeans” last weekend.

xoxo,
Lisa