3 ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

You really can't get any easier than these 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls for quick on the go breakfast and healthy snack.  Made using a food processor, these energy bites take less than 10 minutes to make.  They're chewy, full of fibre, naturally sweetened and will keep you feeling fuller for longer. 

Recipe Highlights

• Perfect for peanut butter lovers as are these healthy Peanut Butter Blondies
• Perfect if you want a quick grab and go breakfast you can make ahead
• Perfect if you're looking for a healthy and nutritious breakfast or snack that's free from refined sugars
• Great for kids lunchboxes and 3pm munchies
• Easy to freeze if you make a double batch
• Easy to customise with other simple addins to get several variations out of one batch like these No Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Balls
• Makes 9 generous sized energy balls that are filling and satisfying, or make 18 smaller bite sized balls, or a combination of both
• They are chewy and full of peanut butter flavour, with a hint of caramel undertone from the medjool dates.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

1. Oats:  I prefer to use the big oats, however instant oats work just as well
2. Peanut Butter:  try to use a natural peanut butter with nothing else added.  There are usually lots of different brands of natural peanut butter available in the aisle with the spreads.  I love using crunchy peanut butter as it adds another element of texture, but a natural peanut putter also works.
3. Medjool Dates:  these dates are perfect for adding sweetness and moistness as they are plump and juicy with a caramel like flavour.  They also have soft skins and mix in very well with the rest of the ingredients.

How To Make

1. Soften Peanut Butter:  Microwave peanut butter for 30 seconds on high so its soft and smooth

2. Soften Dates:  Put dates into a heatproof bowl and microwave on high for 60 seconds.  Make sure seeds are removed first.
3. Blitz in Food Processor:  Add oats, peanut butter and dates to food processor and blitz until a moist crumb is formed.  Try pressing a clump of crumbs in your hand and if they stick together, the mixture is ready.  If its too dry, add a tablespoon of water, or melted peanut butter and blitz again.

4. Roll the mixture into balls:  A large dessert spoon or small ice crem scoop work well to get evenly sized balls.

Recipe Tips

• Oats:  if you want a smoother texture inside the ball, blitz the oats in the food processor first before adding the dates and peanut butter
• Peanut Butter:  make sure to only soften it, without melting it.  Its easier to roll into balls when it's a little firmer
• Dates:  If you live in a warm climate and the medjool dates are already very soft and pull apart easily, you may not need to microwave them or soften them. 
• Texture of Mixture:  if for some reason the ball mixture is too wet, add some more oats and blitz, or you could try putting it into the fridge for an hour to firm up and then roll into balls
• Storage:  Store balls in an air tight container at room temperature for upto 1 week
• Freezing:  These energy balls freeze well.  Pop them into an air tight container, or ziplock bag and freeze for upto 1 month.  To defrost, let them come to room temperature.  This seems to work better than microwaving them.

Perfectly soft and chewy, the peanut butter balls won't go hard in the fridge, and they won't dry out. They'll stay perfectly moist, chewy and full of peanut butter flavour for a full week.

How To Soften Dates

• Microwaving Medjool Dates:  Make sure seeds and the pip at the top of the date is removed before microwaving for around 30 seconds.  You should not need to put them in water to microwave, just a bowl.
• Alternative Method For Softening Medjool Dates:  Submerge dates is a bowl of hot tap water for 5 minutes, then squeeze all water out either using your hands, or by putting softened dates into  a strainer and pressing them down to release the water.

You can check out all my energy ball recipes here. These chocolate date protein balls are one of my most popular gab and go breakfast recipes.

Customisations

Chocolate: add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and blitz along with the other ingredients for peanut butter chocolate oatmeal balls

Spice: a hint of ground cinnamon, or ground ginger adds a warmth and earthiness

Nuts: adding in a few walnuts, pecans, macadamias or hazelnuts add additional flavour

Flavours: a little vanilla essence, chocolate or almond essence could pump up the flavour, or for a more citrus flavour, add a little grated orange zest

Fruits: swap some of the medjool dates for dried apricots. Or in addition to the medjool dates, add in a tablespoon or two of dried blueberries. (peanut butter and blueberries totally work!)

Coatings: cocoa powder, crushed nuts, powdered oats, or more rustic cut oats, desicated coconut, or even chia seeds

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