Salted Caramel No Bake Energy Balls for Kids

No Bake Energy Balls are the healthy snack or quick breakfast you have been waiting for. These tasty energy bites are loaded with salty-sweet flavors and are naturally gluten free. Made with real food ingredients like oatmeal, cashew butter (or almond butter), and chia seeds. This is snacking done right!

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Spring is in the Air

Spring is finally here in the Midwest! We’ve just finished spring break and summer vacation is dangling like a prize just around the corner.

It’s the time of year when my kids get sick of the “up early for school” routine and fight to stay in their beds as late as possible. I have one kiddo who has MASTERED the art of sleeping until the last possible second and then dashing down the stairs just in time to catch a  ride to school.

The one little snag in this plan? Breakfast. (And maybe my sanity.)

Breakfasts for Busy Mornings

I love breakfasts that can be made ahead of time to make our (crazy) mornings run a bit more smoothly.  Some of our favorite grab and go breakfasts are:

• Healthy Oatmeal Muffins
• Ham, Egg and Cheese Biscuit Muffins
• Healthy Banana Bread

and (of course)

• No Bake Energy Balls!

What are Energy Balls?

Energy balls are little two bite treats loaded with healthy ingredients to keep your body fueled for the day. You many have heard them called energy bites or protein balls.

My favorite energy balls recipes include:

• Chocolate Chip Crispy Energy Balls

• Strawberry No Bake Energy Balls 

• Chocolate No Bake Energy Balls

How to Make Energy Balls

Making oatmeal energy balls is a lot like making homemade granola bars. You start with a few healthy dry ingredients (oats, shredded coconut and chia seeds) and coat them in a sweet, gooey mixture made from nut butter, maple syrup or honey, and coconut oil.

Refrigerate the mix for a bit and the whole concoction sticks together so you can shape it into balls or press it into a pan to form bars.

Salted Caramel Energy Balls

I’ve been making energy balls out of whole food ingredients for several years. (I do not use protein powder or refined sugar so I feel good about feeding them to my kids.)

The basic ingredients are the same in most recipes (nut butter, oatmeal, coconut oil), cause it’s the add ins that make the magic happen…

• Cashews can produce great caramel flavor when mixed with the right ingredients (check out my Healthy Butterbeer Smoothies.)
• This recipe makes a yummy caramel sauce from maple syrup, cashew butter, and coconut oil. Add in a bit of vanilla and salt then BAM…  it taste like SALTED CARAMEL! (Seriously, take a little taste before you mix in the dry ingredients.)

It's salty sweet ooey gooey salted caramel heaven.

Energy Ball FAQ

I get asked a lot of questions about making energy balls. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers:

How long do energy balls last?

Energy balls can be stored in the fridge for 2 weeks or frozen for several months. (At my house they seem last about two seconds because the whole family LOVES them.).

Can you add protein powder to the energy balls?

Yes, you can add protein powder to the mix but it will change the flavor. I do not use protein powder since I usually make these energy balls for kids. Plus the nut butter, oatmeal, and chia seeds provide protein.

Can you make energy balls without chia seeds?

Yes, you can omit the chia seeds. I love making energy balls with chia seeds because they give the mixture a chewy but crunchy texture AND they are naturally high in protein and fiber.

Can you make energy balls without flax seed?

Yes, you can omit the flax seed. I like to sneak flax seed into these treats because it adds extra fiber and healthy fats to the snack. Flax seed is also a good source of magnesium.

Can you make energy balls without coconut?

Yes, you can omit the coconut, but you must increase the oatmeal by ½ cup. The coconut adds great texture and flavor to the energy balls and doesn’t really taste very coconut-y.

Can you replace the cashew butter with almond butter (peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, tahini, etc.)

Yes, you can substitute any nut butter for the cashew butter in this recipe. Warning: changing the nut butter will change the flavor. I have only made the recipe with almond butter and cashew butter, both taste great.

I can’t get my mixture to form balls, help!

Make sure to refrigerate the mix for at least 30 minutes before shaping them into balls. (If it is a hot day or your kitchen is warm it make take longer than 30 minutes.) Scoop out 2 tbsp of mix and quickly press it into a tight ball, the mix is too coarse to roll.

Can you make energy balls without a food processor?

Yes! You make energy balls in a mixing bowl with a spoon, no food processor needed. (If you like a smoother texture you can use a food processor to lightly pulse the oats to break them up into smaller pieces.) Make sure the “wet” ingredients are well combined before mixing them into the dry ingredients.

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Salted Caramel No Bake Energy Balls

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Cooling Time

30 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

No Bake Energy Balls are a healthy snack or quick breakfast. These tasty energy bites are loaded with salty-sweet flavors and naturally gluten free. This is snacking done right!

Course: Snacks

Cuisine: American

Servings: 26 energy balls

Calories: 278 kcal

Author: Bren

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 cup flax seed (ground, optional)

Caramel Sauce

• 2/3 cup cashew butter or almond butter (natural, unsalted)
• 1/3 cup maple syrup (pure)
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (pure)

Instructions

1. Measure oats, coconut, chia seeds, and flax seed (if using) into a large bowl.

2. Add nut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil to a small saucepan. Stir together over low heat until all ingredients are melted (approximately 2 minutes).

3. Stir in salt and vanilla. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

   
   

4. Pour nut butter mixture over oat mixture and stir to combine.

   
   

5. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes then shape into balls by pressing the mix together. Do not roll.

   
   

6. Store energy balls in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

Tips: Use a 2 Tbsp cookie dough scoop to make shaping easier.

Make bars by pressing the mixture into an 8.5 x 11 pan lined in parchment paper, chill for at least an hour the cut into bars.

Nutrition Facts

Salted Caramel No Bake Energy Balls

Amount Per Serving (1 energy ball)

Calories 278 Calories from Fat 202

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 22.4g 34%

Saturated Fat 13.2g 66%

Cholesterol 18.8mg 6%

Sodium 27.5mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 16.7g 6%

Dietary Fiber 2.2g 9%

Sugars 7.5g

Protein 3.3g 7%

Vitamin A 4%

Calcium 4%

Iron 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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