Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip & Oatmeal Energy Balls

If you’ve been looking for a delicious snack made with nutritious ingredients, these peanut butter energy balls with oatmeal and chocolate chips are just what you’ve been looking for! A great snack for on-the-go, to tide you over between meals, or satisfy your sweet tooth.

Whether you call them protein balls, energy balls, energy bites, or power balls, this no bake snack is a great way to have something filling to pack for work, enjoy as an after school snack, or to simply have on hand for when you’re feeling snacky. We also love these small bites because they can be enjoyed as little sweet treats that are reminiscent of peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough but with more protein, fiber, and nutrients!

Like our birthday cake energy balls, we love making a big batch of this easy snack at the beginning of the week to enjoy all week long! We’ll often make a double batch right away because our family loves these so much.

One of my co-workers (and dear friends) was my main taste tester as I perfected this no bake protein balls recipe years ago. As an Ironman finisher and all-around active and fit person, she eats a lot of high-protein, energy boosting kinds of snacks. She gave a big thumbs-up to this energy bite recipe!

These are also toddler approved. My little helper likes to grab one or two as I’m rolling them, and absolutely LOVES when I give her one for dessert. My aunt also gives these oatmeal peanut butter balls to her grandchildren because they request them!

If you love snacks as much as we do, be sure to check out all of our snack recipes!

Ingredients Needed

Peanut Butter: I prefer using my favorite creamy peanut butter for this energy ball recipe. Natural peanut butter works really well in this recipe too.

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: Use your favorite old fashioned oats or rolled oats (NOT quick cook oats) to make energy balls recipe. Old fashioned oats are less processed than quick cook oats, leaving them with a sturdier texture which make them ideal for these peanut butter protein balls.

Vanilla Protein Powder: Use your favorite vanilla protein powder in this energy bites recipe! There are a lot of protein powder options out there, and some are better for you than others. I recommend selecting a protein powder with minimal ingredients. I personally like and use this whey protein powder because I know what every ingredient listed is (and their vanilla has less than 5 ingredients total!). I’ve used this plant-based protein powder in the past and enjoyed it.

Pure Maple Syrup: This natural sweetener gives your energy bites just enough sweetness. Please make sure to use real maple syrup (NOT pancake syrup) for this recipe.

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds pack a huge nutritional punch! They are loaded with fiber, protein, omega-3s, antioxidants, and so much more. They’re a superfood for a reason, and they’re relatively easy to find these days in your local grocery store.

Mini Chocolate Chips: While peanut butter is the predominant flavor in these energy balls, having those little pops of chocolate is really enjoyable!

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Try crunchy peanut instead of creamy. Simply swap out one-for-one.
• Use a different chocolate chip. You can use regular sized chocolate chips if that is what you have on hand (doing a quick rough chop will be helpful!). Using dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips are totally ok in this recipe too!
• Amp up with chocolate by trying chocolate protein powder! If preferred, swap out the vanilla protein with chocolate one-for-one.
• Use a different nut or seed butter. You can also try this recipe with cashew butter or sunflower seed butter if desired! I’ve found that almond butter often results in dry protein bites, but you can give it a try if you’d like.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Pre-soak your chia seeds in a small bowl by mixing together your chia seeds and water. Set aside while you measure and mix your other ingredients. If you remember, give it a little stir part way through the next step.

Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together the oats, protein powder, maple syrup, peanut butter, and chocolate chips until mostly combined. 

Step 3: Mix the pre-soaked chia seeds and stir until a uniform dough is created. 

Step 4: Roll the energy bite dough into balls by rolling a small scoop of dough into a ball between your hands. You may need to gently press the dough together to help it form into a ball as you roll. I like to use a small cookie scoop to get evenly sized protein balls (you could also use a Tablespoon measure or wing it using a regular spoon).

Step 5: Place rolled protein balls onto a lined cookie sheet (parchment paper or wax paper both work), or into a storage container, and place into the refrigerator to finish setting up.

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

This protein ball recipe is vegetarian, gluten free, and vegan as written. However, a few notes:

• For those with celiac disease it is important to verify the rolled oats you are using specifically note gluten free on the packaging. This will ensure that you are making gluten free protein balls.
• You will also want to verify that the protein powder you are using meet your dietary needs. My go-to protein powder is this whey protein which is vegetarian friendly. I’ve also used and enjoy this protein powder which is certified to be both vegan and gluten free.
• Ensure the chocolate chips used meet your dietary requirements. I’ve use this brand of chocolate chips which is certified to be dairy free, gluten free, and vegan.

Storage

Store energy bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months if desired!

Recipe FAQs

Are these peanut butter oatmeal protein balls the same as bliss balls?

No. Bliss balls are typically made with dates or dried fruits for sweetness. The dough for bliss balls are also usually blended in a food processor or blender, giving them a totally different texture than our oatmeal energy bites. 

How do I get my protein balls to all be the same size? 

​There are a couple of ways to do this. My favorite way to get uniformly sized protein bites is to use a small cookie scoop to portion them out. Alternatively, you could use a Tablespoon measure to accomplish the same goal.