Oatmeal peanut butter balls are a simple and delicious gluten-free snack. With just 5 ingredients – oats, peanut butter, honey, and a couple of pantry staples – kids can whip up a batch on their own. The resulting snack is so tasty that they won’t last long!
Cooking with kids has a multitude of benefits, such as introducing them to new foods, teaching them how food is prepared, bonding over quality time, and instilling a solid foundation for healthy eating habits in the future.
For more kid-cooking recipes that are as simple as these peanut butter oatmeal balls, check out Oreo Dip, How To Make Tuna Sushi Rolls and Fruit Dip with Cool Whip.
Engaging children in kitchen activities increases the likelihood of them sampling and enjoying the food you prepare collaboratively. This proves particularly effective for selective eaters. The process of combining ingredients, shaping energy bites, and trying them out as a snack becomes an enjoyable adventure for kids.
Cooking with a child is always a memorable experience. For kids aged 2 to 5, lending a hand with measuring ingredients, stirring, and molding is recommended. Children aged 6 and above typically possess the capability to independently manage the majority of the recipe.
Keep the fun going by adding any of the following recipes to the snack time routine Yogurt Parfait Cups, Pink Drink with Strawberry Puree, Chicken Pinwheels, Blueberry Spinach Muffins and Homemade Microwave Popcorn.
Flavor Variations
You of course can stick to the recipe as written or try any of these variations to make a multitude of energy bites!
- Lemon – add the zest of 1 lemon to the dough.
- Almond Joy – swap the vanilla extract with almond extract, peanut butter with almond butter and mix in 1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Carrot Cake – add 1/4 cup of grated carrots and 1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut to the mix.
- Oatmeal Raisin – mix in 1/4 cup of raisins, dried cranberries or dried cherries.
- Cookie Monster – replace the mini chocolate chips with mini M&Ms.
- Apple Pie – mix in finely chopped peeled apple bits with a dash of cinnamon.
- Cranberry Almond – replace the vanilla extract with almond extract and the chocolate chips with dried cranberries.
- PB & J – swap the chocolate chips with dried fruit (apricots, cherries, or cranberries)
- Trail Mix – add in 1/4 cup of mixed chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds) and seeds (hemp, chia, flax or pumpkin)
Equipment
- medium-sized bowl
- wooden stir spoon
- measuring cups and measuring spoons
- cookie scoop
Ingredients
- 2 cups certified gluten-free quick-cook oats
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips ✅
- 1 teaspoon vanilla ✅
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make
To create these peanut butter protein balls, begin by assembling the necessary ingredients.
You’ll need 2 cups of certified gluten-free quick-cook oats, 1/2 cup of honey, 1/2 cup of peanut butter, 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Combine these ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, starting with the oats and proceeding to add the honey, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.
Thoroughly mix the ingredients until they are well-blended, resulting in a uniform mixture. With the mixture ready, use either a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to portion out the blend and roll it into bite-sized balls.
Once you have formed all the balls, place them in a ziplock bag or a container with a secure lid for storage. This simple recipe yields energy balls that are both convenient and delicious, making them an ideal choice for a quick snack, an energy pick-me-up, or a post-workout refuel.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Level the oats in a measuring cup before pouring into the mixing bowl.
- Spray your measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray before measuring the honey and peanut butter. These ingredients will come out much easier!
- Use mini chocolate chips to make it easier to roll these oat peanut butter balls.
Tips and Tricks
- Use any nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew or a mixed nut butter).
- Turn nut-free by using sun butter or tahini.
- Turn vegan by swapping the honey with agave or maple syrup.
- If you omit oats from your diet, substitute cooked quinoa to easily keep these peanut butter snacks gluten-free.
- Chill the dough or flash freeze for 20 minutes before rolling if struggling to keep the bites together.
- Microwave the peanut butter and honey for 15-20 seconds if stirring these ingredients is challenging for your young chef.
- Wet your hands before rolling to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers.
Frequently Asked Questions
These oatmeal peanut butter bites can be served as a standalone snack or accompanied with Fruit Salad With Watermelon, Fruit Salad for Kids, Summer Fruit Salsa or your kiddo’s favorite piece of fruit.
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoons to measure out about 2 tablespoons worth of dough. Roll in between your hands to form balls. If the dough is crumbly or not sticking together, it could be a result of the nut butter that was used. Finding a creamy nut butter is key. To troubleshoot, add in 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture sticks together or try freezing for 20 minutes then rolling.
Absolutely! Instead of rolling into bites, you can press into a parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish. It can be helpful to freeze the dough for around an hour before slicing it into bars. Store in the fridge or freezer.
Quick oats are going to be the best option for texture. You could also use Old-Fashioned Oats if that is what you have on hand but be mindful it will alter the texture and flavor of this recipe.
Storing Instructions
In the fridge: Store the peanut butter balls in a Ziplock bag or a large container with a lid. They keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
In the freezer: Store in a container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Enjoy straight from the freezer or thaw in the fridge overnight.
More Easy Recipes for Kids
- Stacked Blueberry Smoothie
- Quesadillas
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
- Mug Pizza
- Energy Balls
- Fruit Parfait
- Millet Porridge
- Homemade Soda
- No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
More Gluten and Dairy Free Recipes
- Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie
- Dairy Free Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Dairy Free Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Dairy Free Waffles
- Dairy Free Deviled Eggs
- Dairy Free Rice Pudding
- BLT Crostini Recipe
- Dairy Free Chicken Buffalo Dip
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Peanut Butter Oat Balls
Equipment
- medium-sized bowl
- wooden stir spoon
- measuring cups and measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 2 cups certified gluten-free quick-cook oats
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips ✅
- 1 teaspoon vanilla ✅
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients. Add the oats, honey, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and vanilla to a medium-sized bowl. Stir until blended.2 cups certified gluten-free quick-cook oats, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Roll into balls. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to roll the mixture into bite-sized balls. Place into a ziplock bag or container with a lid.
Notes
- Use any nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew or a mixed nut butter).
- Turn nut-free by using sunbutter or tahini.
- Turn vegan by swapping the honey with agave or maple syrup.
- If you omit oats from your diet, substitute cooked quinoa to easily keep these peanut butter snacks gluten-free.
- Chill the dough or flash freeze for 20 minutes before rolling if struggling to keep the bites together.
- Microwave the peanut butter and honey for 15-20 seconds if stirring these ingredients is challenging for your young chef.
- Wet your hands before rolling to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers.
Nutrition
If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below!
Then follow us on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. We love seeing what you come up with!
Leslie says
This is a great recipe thank you for sharing it. I was inspired to try to make these treats without the 1/2 cup of honey as a sweetener. I substituted 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 2Tbs Maple syrup and 1Tbs coconut oil. These added coconut flavor,a little bit of sweetness and helped it all stick together in the balls without using the 1/2 cup honey.
Create Kids Club says
I love your substitutions, Leslie! I am going to have to give that a try! My kids don’t care for coconut, but I’m thinking with all the other flavors they may not even notice… Thanks for sharing!
Tara says
My kids love this simple recipe! Perfect to whip up for quick snacks!
Crystal says
Would they need to be refrigerated or could you premake and send them as a treat for school lunches? Thanks
Create Kids Club says
Hi Crystal! These can totally be premade and send as a treat in school lunches! My kids love finding these in their lunchbox! 🙂
Donna E. says
Great recipe for a go to snack. Gave it 4 stars because the mixture sticks to your hands as you roll the balls. Spraying them with a cooking spray helps . Added coconut for just a different twist !
Create Kids Club says
Thanks Donna! I agree, that while these are a favorite at my house, they do stick to your hands while rolling them out – my first ones are always prettier than the end ones! Did the coconut help cut back on the stickiness? I’d love to hear! Thanks for the review, I appreciate it!
Jen says
These were great! I only have old fashioned oats left in my house and am getting requests to make more. Do you think i could substitute for the quick oats?
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Jen – so glad to hear you enjoyed them! I’ve never tried them that way so I’m not sure. Try mixing a spoon full with a bit of peanut butter and seeing if the texture is ok. If so, I’d say go for it!