A quick, easy, healthy snack made from peanut butter, oats, honey, and flax seeds. These fun little peanut butter balls taste like the center of a peanut butter cup and are naturally gluten-free!
Prepare yourself for plenty of sentences with the word balls in them.
When given the option of a snack filled with peanut butter or one without, I’m always reaching for the peanut butter.
My dad told me the other day that a love for peanut butter runs in the family. He’s been reminiscing a lot lately about the time when he was on a homemade peanut butter kick, or those years when he made homemade mustard all the time. He always starts the stories with “You remember that time…” but let’s face it, that time was over 20 years ago and no, I don’t remember it because I was practically a baby.
Still, the thought of my dad being on a homemade peanut butter kick cracks me up, so I sent him a 5lb bag of peanuts in the mail for his birthday last week. He called to say that he got the 100-pounds of peanuts and he couldn’t wait to start making peanut butter again. This was about the time I learned that I inherited my peanut butter loving gene.
And maybe my sarcasm and over-exaggerating genes too.
Flash forward to today, when I’m craving a snack that’s slightly classier than dipping a spoon into a jar of peanut butter…not that I’m against that or anything.
Enter peanut butter balls.
I’ve been making these for years, and they’re a life saver.
Rushing out the door to work? Grab a couple balls to snack on when the hunger monster strikes.
Going on a long car ride? Pack a batch of balls to satisfy your road trip munchies and keep you out of the convenience store.
Heading to the gym? Throw a few balls into your bag for a pre or post-workout snack.
Trying to avoid sugar laden snacks while still eating delicious, satisfying food?
Balls for days.
Okay, I’m done.
Go make these!
They take 5 minutes, and are made with simple, nutritious ingredients you likely already have in your pantry like peanut butter, honey, oats, and flaxseeds.
If you love peanut butter as much as I do, these will become your new favorite snack. Leave me a comment below if you make them, or snap a picture on Instagram and tag it #bakedgreens so I can check out all of your beautiful balls. <– too much?
Peanut Butter Oat Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter*
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseeds
- 1/4 cup honey**
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- a pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup of chocolate chopped finely (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl, and stir well to combine.
- 2. Scoop balls out with a small ice cream scoop, or use a spoon and roll into balls.
- 3. Balls will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
**Can substitute equal amounts of maple syrup or agave nectar.