Peanut Butter Oat Balls

These no-bake peanut butter oat balls are an easy snack to whip up! With just 4 ingredients, they’re a simple way to tame your sweet tooth.

I know I’m not the only one who gets that pang in the middle of the afternoon. You know, the one that says, I NEED A TREAT!

Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my favorite combinations, but instead of turning to PB cups all the time, I have been reaching for these peanut butter oat balls instead. They have just the right level of sweet and salty flavor, and they’re so easy to make!

You can easily customize this recipe too, so each batch can be a little different. Change them up to suit your cravings — they’re always delicious!

Ingredients for peanut butter oat balls

You only need 4 ingredients to make this recipe, and I bet you even already have them in the pantry!

You’ll need:

• Peanut butter – Any peanut butter variety will do. If you are using a natural peanut butter, make sure to stir it well before measuring.
• Maple syrup – Use pure maple syrup, not imitation!
• Rolled oats – These are also labeled as old-fashioned oats. You want the flat flakes, not the chopped up quick oats.
• Mini chocolate chips – I prefer to use the mini chips because they disperse better in the balls, but you can use regular chocolate chips!

How to make this recipe

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter and maple syrup.

Stir in the rolled oats. It will seem dry at first, but keep mixing until all of the oats are incorporated. You can add a bit more peanut butter or maple syrup if the mixture seems really dry.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Using clean hands, portion the mixture into balls about the size of a ping-pong ball. Firmly roll the ball between your hands, packing it so it holds its shape (like a snowball).

Set on a tray and repeat until all the balls are formed.

Place the tray in the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours. This will help the oats soak up some of the liquid and firm up the oat balls.

Store in an airtight container and enjoy straight from the fridge or freezer!

Recipe suggestions

If you find that your peanut butter is very thick and doesn’t mix well with the maple syrup, you can warm it briefly in the microwave to melt and thin out.

If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, you can use honey. I have not tried this recipe with other liquid sweeteners, so if you use an alternative, keep in mind you might need to adjust the other ingredients, depending on how thick your sweetener is.

You can easily leave out the chocolate chips, or swap them with another flavored chip, like peanut butter or butterscotch.

Dried fruit such as cranberries, raisins, or blueberries are great add-in options! I like to chop any dried fruit before adding it in to ensure you get it mixed throughout the balls.

Ground flaxseed, chia seeds, or hemp hearts can be added. You’ll only need a tablespoon or two in each batch.

Need a peanut butter substitute? Use your favorite almond butter or other nut butter, or sunflower seed butter.

Storage tips

I recommend keeping these peanut butter balls chilled so they stay firm. Store them in an airtight container.

They will keep in the refrigerator for about 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

These peanut butter oat balls are my go-to quick bite. Happy snacking!