Description
These no-bake Chia Oatmeal Energy Balls are made with rolled oats, chia seeds, ground flax, coconut, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips. They’re naturally sweetened, full of fiber and healthy fats, and perfect for meal prep, lunchboxes, or an energizing snack any time of day.
Ingredients
For the Energy Balls:
- 1 cup rolled oats (the old-fashioned kind works perfectly)
- 1 cup desiccated coconut, unsweetened (shredded works too if that’s what you have)
- ½ cup ground flax seed (look for flaxseed meal in the baking aisle)
- 4 tablespoons chia seeds
- 100 g dark chocolate, chopped (roughly ⅔ cup — any chocolate bar you love)
- 100 g white chocolate, chopped (about ⅔ cup)
- ¼ cup peanut butter (smooth blends best, though chunky adds nice texture)
- ¼ cup honey (maple syrup works beautifully for a plant-based option)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, but it adds such warmth)
Optional Coating:
- Extra desiccated coconut for rolling the finished balls
Instructions
Grab your large bowl and add the rolled oats, desiccated coconut, ground flax seed, chia seeds, both chocolates (chopped), peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla if you’re using it.
Now comes the fun part—use a sturdy spoon or even your hands to mix everything until it’s completely combined. You want it to look like a thick, chunky dough with chocolate pieces distributed throughout.
Don’t worry if it seems a bit loose right now. That’s exactly what it should look like before chilling.
Cover your bowl with plastic wrap or pop a lid on top, then place it in the refrigerator for 30 to 40 minutes.
This chilling time is really important. It gives the chia seeds time to absorb moisture and swell up. The peanut butter firms up, and everything starts sticking together properly.
Without this step, you’ll have a sticky mess that won’t hold its shape. So be patient—it’s worth the wait.
Take your chilled mixture out of the fridge. It should feel much firmer now and hold together when you press it.
Scoop out about a tablespoon of mixture at a time. Press it firmly in your palm first to compact it, then roll it between your hands into a ball about 1 inch across—roughly the size of a walnut.
If your hands start getting sticky, dampen them slightly with water or rub a tiny bit of oil on your palms. Place each finished ball on your baking sheet or plate.
Transfer all your beautiful energy balls to an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Use a small cookie scoop for perfectly even balls every time—the 1-tablespoon size is ideal.
- Chop chocolate into small pieces — chunks bigger than chocolate chips make rolling difficult and can poke through.
- Keep your hands slightly damp between rolling if the mixture sticks to your palms.
- The seeds aren’t optional — chia and flax actually help bind everything naturally without adding butter or extra oil.
- Make a double batch — these freeze beautifully, so you might as well make extra while you’re already measuring everything out!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: Chill Time: 30–40 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American