Name: No Bake Chocolate Energy Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 22 energy balls
Ingredients: 3 cups rolled oats ((old fashioned oats)); ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut; ¼ cup ground flaxseed ((flaxmeal)); ¼ cup coconut oil; ½ cup peanut butter ((natural)); ¼ cup honey; 2 tbsp cocoa powder

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Looking for a chocolate treat that is sweet and tasty yet naturally gluten and refined sugar free? These no bake chocolate energy balls are the perfect snack or lunch box treat… no guilt needed!

As we head into the back to school season I appreciate healthy snack ideas that are simple to make and don’t disappoint on taste.

Remember After School Snacks?

When I was a kid my mom would whip up a batch of her famous chocolate no-bake cookies that were packed with peanut butter and cocoa as we sat around the kitchen table working on school assignments.

They were my favorite!

But alas, a cruel trick was being played on those of us raised in the 80s. Health experts thought fats were evil and sugar was just fine and dandy. Aurgh!

Avoiding Sugary Treats

Now that I’m a parent (and we’re all smarter about nutrition) I am concerned about excessive sugar consumption and prefer to skip refined sugar in my kids’ snacks as much as possible.

This is especially true as we enter the season of colder weather when kids sit in classroom for most of the day and have homework to fit in at night. (There's not a lot of time left for burning up extra calories!)

Healthy Snacks for Kids

Since the original chocolate no-bake cookies recipe was packed with the white stuff I said goodbye to my childhood favorite…

Until I decided to try giving our favorite energy ball recipe a chocolate twist.

I replace the butter with coconut oil.
I use a bit of honey in place of the 2 cups of refined sugar in the original recipe.
I added unsweetened shredded coconut and flaxseed for extra protein and fiber.

The results were phenomenal! No bake chocolate energy balls have the chocolate peanut flavor I loved as a kid but no refined sugar, more fiber, and more protein than the original cookies. SCORE!

No Bake Chocolate Energy Balls that Kids Love

I hope you try no bake chocolate energy balls. You don't have to sacrifice taste in the name of healthy eating.

No Bake Chocolate Energy Balls

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

40 mins

Looking for a chocolate treat that is sweet and tasty yet naturally gluten and refined sugar free? These no bake chocolate energy balls are the perfect snack or lunch box treat… no guilt needed!

Course: Snacks

Servings: 22 energy balls

Calories: 127 kcal

Author: Bren

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats (old fashioned oats)
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ cup ground flaxseed (flaxmeal)
¼ cup coconut oil
½ cup peanut butter (natural)
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp cocoa powder

Instructions

Make the dry mixture

Pulse the oats in a food processor to get a more smooth texture (about 10-15 quick pulses). The texture should be somewhere between whole and completely ground. Pour oats into a large bowl and add the shredded coconut and flax seed.

Make the chocolate mixture

In a small bowl stir together the peanut butter, coconut oil, honey until smooth. (You may heat the mixture for 15 seconds in the microwave to make it easier to combine). Add cocoa powder and stir again until smooth.

Make the energy balls

Pour peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir until well combined. Chill for at least 20 minutes. Shape the mixture into balls 2 tablespoons at a time. Try gently pressing together the chilled mix; do not try to roll into balls.

Enjoy!