Looking for a quick snack that’s homemade, hearty, easy-to-transport, and keeps well for weeks at a time? You need no-bake snack balls! Naturally gluten-free, they are filled with fiber and will give you the energy you need between meals. Oh, and they taste great too!
Despite my lack of enthusiasm for packing school lunches, I thoroughly enjoy coming up with fun snacks for my family, and whoever else might be around during our designated snack time (usually 10 am and 3 pm… in case you’re wondering!)
I enjoy making and baking yummy treats, putting snack plates together for groups of kids, planning fun after-school snacks, and assembling creative summer snack trays to enjoy by the pool.
I also love eating snacks, and rarely go a day without 2 solid snacks between my 3 main meals.
I keep a wide variety of go-to snacks readily available in our pantry. I also always have bags of cookie dough balls in the freezer so we can enjoy freshly baked cookies with only 15 minutes’ notice.
However, no-bake snacks have a special place in my heart because they are so stinkin’ easy, they are often much more nutritious than store-bought snacks, and they require significantly less cleanup than most other homemade snacks.
Oh, and everyone loves them!
We love no-bake snack balls (I think you will too!)
Made with nutritious ingredients like oats, coconut, flaxseed, peanut butter, and honey, snack balls satisfy your sweet tooth while offering extra fiber and protein to keep you (and your kiddos) fuller longer.
They also come together quickly with minimal prep and frugal ingredients you likely already have on hand. Plus, they last for a long time in the fridge and for many months in the freezer, and only leave you with one bowl to wash!
Snack balls are sturdy and very transportable — making them the perfect school snack or on-the-go treat.
If you need a new snack to add to your rotation, try our no-bake snack balls — you won’t regret it!
Ingredients for No-Bake Snack Balls
- 2 c. oats (I prefer quick oats)
- 2 c. shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- 1/4 c. ground flaxseed (optional)
- 1 c. mini chocolate chips
- 1 c. creamy peanut butter (or substitute butter of your choice)
- 1/2 c. honey
Optionals add-in ingredients:
- chia seeds or sesame seeds
- protein powder
- craisins or raisins (you might want to chop them up a bit first)
- finely chopped nuts
How to Make No-Bake Snack Balls
1. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients (oats, coconut, flaxseed, and chocolate chips).
2. Add peanut butter and honey, stirring well until everything is “wet” and combined.
3. Use a 1″ cookie scoop to scoop equal-size portions of the oat mixture onto parchment-lined cookie sheets.
NOTE: You can use a smaller scoop to make smaller snack bites.
4. Use your hands to roll each scoop into tight balls. This is a great step for kids to help with. 😉
5. Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate balls on the cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes to firm up a bit.
6. Store snack balls in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator, or freeze for later.
Note: I really like these food storage containers with snap-on lids.
Enjoy!
No-Bake Snack Balls
These no-bake snack balls are naturally gluten-free, filled with fiber, and will give you the energy you need between meals. Oh, and they taste great too!
Ingredients
- 2 c. oats (I prefer quick oats)
- 2 c. shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
- 1/4 c. ground flaxseed (optional)
- 1 c. mini chocolate chips
- 1 c. creamy peanut butter (or substitute butters)
- 1/2 c. honey
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients (oats, coconut, flaxseed, and chocolate chips).
- Add peanut butter and honey, stirring well until everything is “wet” and combined.
- Use a 1″ cookie scoop to scoop oat mixture onto parchment-lined cookie sheets.
- Use your hands to roll each scoop into tight balls.
- Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate balls on the cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes to firm up a bit.
- Store snack balls in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator, or freeze for later.
Notes
You may add optional protein powder, chopped nuts, or chopped dried fruit to these balls if you desire.
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Nutrition Information
Yield
36Serving Size
1 ballAmount Per Serving Calories 59Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 1gSodium 18mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 2g
Nutritional information is approximate and does not account for additional ingredients or added toppings.
More Easy Snack Recipes
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Asha says
Hi, how many weeks can I these in the fridge before it spoils?
Andrea says
They should easily last for a couple of weeks… but if you don’t think you’ll eat them soon, I’d just store them in the freezer and pull out a few slightly before snack time 🙂
Nicole Church says
I made these this weekend as a healthy snack and shared a dozen+ of them with my mother-in-law as part of her Mother’s Day gift. I’m going to need to make another batch for our family soon!
Thanks for sharing health-conscious/better-for-you recipes!
Nicole
Andrea says
yay! My kids were just asking about these again — might be time to make another batch for our family too!
Nicole Church says
Awesome! Love it when kids ask for their favorite recipes, especially when it’s easy with healthy conscious ingredients.
Question re: your new make-up (Simple Beauty Minerals). Do you use the bronzer on your cheeks or do you have a favorite ‘cheek color’ that you use from them? I bought some samples and the bronzer looks to orangish for my skin tone.
Last question, what are the new online classes that you are taking? Just curious–excited for your new journey and glad your hubby is willing to help wrap up the homeschool year.
Cheers!
Andrea says
Hey Nicole,
for the make-up, I’ve been using the bronzer almost daily since I was pregnant with Simon. It DOES look orangy (and dark) in the container, but it seems to work well on my face! I use it over my entire face and then a little extra on the cheeks. I know that Lisa is very “hands on” so I have a feeling she will respond ASAP if you email her questions about the orangy bronzer. She might have a suggestion for you.
As for the classes, they are 2 business classes — one focuses on building a solid online “brand” and the other is geared towards membership sites (something I’m interested in pursuing in the future)
Sarah says
Love these! We had friends over right after I made them and they were gobbled up. Thanks for sharing.
Bridget says
We’ve made these a few times but yesterday tried something new….we tripled the recipe and pressed into a 9×13 and cut into small squares, bars, etc. I found it easier than rolling into balls. It’s a great recipe!
Andrea says
oh yum — great idea!
Erin M says
I’ve been meaning to make something like this but was initially overwhelmed by the different recipes available online. Your post was the push I needed and I made them- they’re yummy!
Andrea says
well this recipe is super simple — give it a try!
Pat says
I’ve made these several times but instead of chocolate chips I’ve made them with mini m&ms. I always put flax seed in also
Diana says
I do a version of this for myself on many afternoons! It’s a perfect nursing-mom snack because between the protein, fat, and sugar you feel full and stay full. I do a single serving in a bowl, and usually add cocoa for more chocolate flavor. Sometimes I add a little almond flour, for extra protein and it makes everything a bit fudgier. I agree that quick oats work the best–I actually think they’re easier to digest than rolled (when using them “raw” like this) because of how they’ve been processed. (Now if you’re cooking the oats for oatmeal, it’s rolled all the way!) The coconut is a great addition–I’ll have to try that too!
ShellyL says
Great recipe! I’m definitely trying this one. Slightly off-topic, but I like the way you use screen time in moderation. My kids are a bit older, well two of them are, and it seems they are on some type of screens all the time. I like that TV is just a “sometimes” event and you don’t do a lot of other technology. I miss the interaction with them and their interaction with each other. It gets lost when everyone is on their own devices and doing their own thing.
Andrea says
oh, don’t be too fooled — our kids definitely love watching TV 🙂
However, I will say that they never use the computer or our phones, and Nora is the only one who uses the iPad because she needs to do reading assignments on them for Kindergarten.
I’m sure they will be more “addicted” to screens as they get older though!
Nancy says
I’m going to make these! We’ve been on the lookout for healthier options that will satisfy an emergency sweet tooth.
Andrea says
these are great — definitely sweet enough but not too sweet!
Michelle says
Yes, I love these too!! I don’t always keep coconut in the house but I’ve substituted Rice Krispies and it adds such a fun crunch too!
Andrea says
good idea — my kids would probably like them even more with rice krispies!
Debbie says
The link to print the recipe takes me to the Yummy Cereal Bars recipe (which are very good too!!)
Andrea says
it takes you to the correct recipe, I just had the wrong title on the recipe!! I changed it now!!
Katie says
These look like what I make – I just haven’t incorporated the chocolate chips and I always use the ground flax seed. Easy to make, and easy to pop a couple in the lunch box too!
Andrea says
ooo… definitely try the chocolate chips!!
Amy says
Oh…I like that you said lunchbox….I am ALWAYS on the lookout for lunch ideas! Thanks!
Andrea says
yes, great lunch additions and easy snacks!