Crispy energy balls are a kid pleasing snack that is low in sugar and calories but high in iron, fiber, and protein. Try making some for your family today!
Ah, summer… when I think about summer vacation I dream about relaxing carefree days without a schedule and lots of sleeping in.
And then reality sets in. Our summers are full of 8 a.m. swim team practice, camps, and evening barbecues. I love the activity, but hate getting my little people up and at ‘em in time for practice.
Lately we have been sleeping in until the last possible second, tossing on our suits, and heading out the door without a moment to spare.
Fast & Healthy Breakfast Option
Breakfast is the one flaw in this near perfect plan. I usually sip coffee during practice and the kids have been resorting to baggies of dry cereal, a piece of toast, or a cold pancake while we drive.
We needed a quick and healthy breakfast option.
I was going to whip up a batch of No Sugar, No Flour, No Oil Healthy Oatmeal Muffins but didn’t want to heat up the house. Instead I tried making a batch of Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Bites from Pinch of Yum and man, they were delicious! The kids gobbled them up and came looking for more.
Superfood Snacks
My version of Energy Balls has a bit of chocolate and a little crunch. They closely resemble store-bought peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars with a few major differences:
- No Refined Sugar
- Whole Grains
- 6% of Iron (daily value)
- 8% of Fiber (daily value)
- 6% Protein (daily value)
- Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids
- Super Foods (Chia, Flax Seed, Coconut Oil)
These tasty little snacks are full of real food ingredients including whole oats, flax-seed, coconut, and chia seeds. They get their marvelous crunch from crispy rice cereal and are naturally gluten-free.
Kid Friendly Recipe
I love cooking with my kids. It helps them develop their housekeeping skills and makes them more interested in the results. Yep, it’s true, kids are more willing to try new foods when they help prepare them.
This recipe is an easy introduction to cooking: stir, shape, and gobble up the delicious results.
Print
Crispy No Bake Energy Balls for Kids
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 32 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Description
Crispy energy balls are a kid pleasing snack that is low in sugar and calories but high in iron, fiber and protein. Try this easy, no bake recipe today.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups whole rolled oats (chopped lightly in food processor)
- 1½ cups crispy rice cereal
- ½ cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup flax seed (ground)
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup virgin coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Stir together peanut butter, coconut oil and honey in a small mixing bowl until smooth
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour peanut butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix until evenly combined.
- Chill mixture for 20 -40 minutes. Press 2 tablespoons of mixture together into small balls and store in a covered glass container. (Do not roll, the balls will crumble.)
- Tip: You can also press the mix into a greased 9″ X 13″ pan, chill, and cut into 4 rows of 8 squares.
- Chill energy balls for 30 minutes then enjoy.
- Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Serving Size – 1 energy ball
Nutrition information uses unsweetened coconut and natural peanut butter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 78
- Sugar: 3.8
- Sodium: 3.1
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 5.6
- Fiber: 1.3
- Protein: 1.6
Try Something New
I hope you try this healthy, kid friendly snack. It comes in a cute, crispy package that is appealing to kids (and adults). You’ll notice them disappearing from your fridge quickly!
Luckily, you can send the kids to make more!
Strawberry Crispy Energy Balls
You’ll love the strawberry version of this recipe too!
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annie
Easy to make and everyone loved them! I used almond butter instead of peanut butter. Melted coconut oil in microwave, mixed in honey & almond butter, microwave & stir. Omitted chocolate chips & chia seeds. Substituted flax meal for flax seeds. They held together nicely. Press, don’t roll.
Nina
Sorry for the two stars Bren, it’s tasty but doesn’t work – I wish I’d taken the time to read the other similar comments here before making! I followed the recipe exactly and had my partner compress the mixture with all his strength, but sadly the mixture does not hold together at all. Not after overnight in the fridge. And not after baking for 15 minutes – this is not at all practical to give to a toddler/ child as finger food. It would be a waste of good organic expensive ingredients but luckily it still tastes good and I will use to make a granola instead… not what I was going for though.
Penelope
My favorite. I used cheerios and made bars. I might add more peanut butter as suggested, because they did crumble a little but not when kept in the fridge. They are so delicious.
Anna
What can I use instead of coconut oil?
Bren
You can add more peanut butter.
Alison Youmans
Too crumbly too form into balls
Bren
Try adding a bit more peanut butter or coconut oil.
Jennifer
These sound delicious! I’m planning to make them soon, I love the idea of adding crispy rice cereal. Question: do you notice the cereal getting soggy after a day or 2?
Bren
No, I have never had the cereal get soggy. Hope you enjoy!
Alexandra
Made a test batch today because I wanted to make these for my son’s preschool class. I used a coffee scoop and pressed the mixture firmly into the scoop to create the little bites. By overfilling the scoop and using the palm of my hand to press into the metal scoop helped create firm shapes. They ARE a little crumbly so I’ve Put them back in the fridge to see if that might help.
Question on the recipe: the 1/2 Cup of coconut oil— should that be measured in its solid or liquid state? I used it as a solid with a dry measuring cup and blended the wet ingredients using a hand mixer. I thought the solid might mean using too much. And the wet ingredients definitely didn’t “pour” after mixing.
Bren
I measure the coconut oil when it is solid. You can add a bit more nut butter or coconut oil if you are having trouble shaping.
Mil
They are so awesome i am a kid and i made them myself they are SOOOO good
Brinley
Could not roll these into balls at all. They kept falling apart. I tried keeping them in fridge longer but that didn’t help. Very disappointing because I feel like I wasted all that product since it wouldn’t form into any shape.
Bren
Sorry you’re haivng problems, Brinley. If the measurements are off it will change the texture/ability to form balls. Try adding a bit more peanut butter or coconut oil until the mixture easily forms balls.
Kaitlyn
I accidentally bought refined coconut oil instead of virgin, will it still work for the recipe?
Bren
Is it solid at room temperature? It should work if it is.
Wanda
I used cookie butter from Trader Joe’s instead of peanut butter as I have a child who is allergic/doesn’t like peanut butter and it worked great as a substitute.
Bren
Yum! Sounds delicious!
Martha
These look delicious. Can you think of anything we could use instead of chia seeds? My digestive tract does not handle chia seeds well. 😳
Bren
You can leave them out or replace with wheat germ or another nut/seed.
Meredith
The flavor was great, and the kids loved the process of making the mixture. However, there was no way to form them into balls if you follow the recipe to a T. We had to add a significant amount of extra honey and peanut butter, and it was still hard to get more than 50% of the mix to stick together. I love the idea of these, but since you are the first thing that popped up from a “kid friendly energy bite” google search, I’d suggest adjusting your recipe
Bren
Sorry you had problems, Meredith. Did you refrigerate the mix as directed and then “squeeze” into balls? I’ve update the recipe to be more specific.
Kristin
These turned out great. I used ‘wow’ butter as opposed to peanut butter as my child’s school is nut free. Also added some raisins. Rolled them into tiny bite size balls and everyone loved them 🙂 Added this recipe to our favourites!
Bren
Thanks for sharing, Kristin! I’m so glad the energy bites we a success.
Sharon
These energy bites are delicious!! My kids and husband devour them. 🙂 I did struggle, however, to form them into balls even after refrigerating the mixture for over an hour. Any suggestions on how to make that process easier? I haven’t tried making them into bars yet and that may be what I do next time to avoid the frustration with rolling them. Thanks!
Bren
You need to press them into balls then roll once they are tightly packed. You can add a bit less oatmeal to make them “goopier” and a bit easier to shape. Good luck!
Carlie
Why do they need to be stored in glass?
Bren
You can store them however you desire. I prefer to store food in glass containers.
Vanessa
How long can these keep for? I’d guess refrigerated, but maybe frozen? Thanks
Bren
They last for at least a week in the refrigerator. I have never frozen them, I am afraid it might make them loose their crispy texture.
Julianna
Love this recipe! Full of healthy ingredients and delicious. I pressed them into different shaped silicon moulds and they turned out really great!
Bren
What a fun idea, Julianna! Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca B
My six year old loves these in his lunch box! I scooped the mix into a mini muffin tin, smooshed it down a little with the back of a spoon, then refrigerated for half an hour — they were nice and solid when I popped them out, and I made a lot less mess than when I tried to roll them in my hands :). I also used vanilla and nutmeg infused honey, because I had it, and why not? So yummy!
Bren
Get idea, Rebecca! I am so glad you (and your son) enjoyed the recipe.
melissa
can I substitute the coconut oil
Bren
I’ve never made when without coconut oil, let me know if you try!
Julie Sears
So I made them with liquid coconut oil and am wondering if that’s why they aren’t staying together. The recipe didn’t specify so I wasn’t sure. I moved them to the freezer. The flavor is fantastic, better than any granola bar I’ve eaten!
Bren
Sorry for the confusion, Julie. You need to use virgin coconut oil… the solid at room temperature coconut oil. I am glad you found a solution to keep them together!
Michelle
I just made these. They are delicious!
Bren
Thanks, Michelle! I am so glad you enjoyed them!
Tanya
Hi do you think these would be nice with coco pops instead of rice crispies
Bren
Yes, I think coco pops would work. Let me know if you like the substitution.
Tanya
Thank you, also could I use ground flaxseed meal instead of ground flaxseed. Is this the same thing? Thanks
Bren
Yes, flaxseed meal and ground flaxseed are the same thing! Make sure to store it in the fridge or freezer, it goes bad quickly after it is ground.
Cathy Truesdale
What kind of crispy rice cereal do you mean? My husband bought some for me at a health food store and I’m not sure it will work. It’s Erewhon’s Crispy Brown Rice Cereal. It says they “puff the rice to its crispy best for a cereal that’s not too sweet”.
Bren
Cathy, I use Rice Krispies or a similar cereal. It sounds like your cereal would work. 🙂 Good luck!
Kate
I have a type 1 diabetic and count carbs…any per serving nutrition information?
Bren
Kate, I added the information to the bottom of the post. If you make the recipe using unsweetened coconut and natural peanut better with no sugar added and make 32 balls, each energy ball will be: Calories 92, Total Fat 6g, Cholesterol 0.3mg, Sodium 3mg, Total Carbohydrate 8.7g, Sugars 3.8g, Protein 2.1g.
Eileen
What is the fiber per serving?
Bren
There are 1.3 grams of fiber per energy ball.
Amanda
They are delicious! But I can’t get them to stay together in balls. Any suggestions?
Bren
Try refrigerating the mixture for an hour then shaping. You can also add a bit more peanut butter or honey.
Katie
Hi I’m just wondering when you say cup what measure is this. Thank you
Bren
Katie, a cup is a US measurement that is equal to approximately 90 gram or 3.17 oz of oats. You can see more dry and liquid measurement equivalents here.
.
Tiffany
What can you substitute for the shredded coconut?
Carol Shaughnessy
I used almond powder as a substitute and they still turned out great!
Bren
Sounds great, Carol. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Chelsey
Is the coconut oil in liquid or solid form? Thats what always gets me when I do recipes that use coconut oil.
Bren
My recipes use virgin coconut oil, it is minimally processed and solid at room temperature. Liquid coconut oil (also called fractionated coconut oil) is sometimes used in skin care recipes, but I do not see it used in cooking very often. Please note that virgin coconut oil will melt and appear liquid at 77 degrees F. Mine looks liquid when the house is hot.
Virginia
Looks great! What type of “crispy rice cereal” do you use? Thanks!
Bren
Thanks Virginia! I use Rice Krispies or a generic version.
Alex
These were amazing! Though I have to admit, a few of them didn’t make it into ball form. We tried them straight from the bowl. Yum!
Bren
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Alex! We love them too.