Powerball Cookies
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These no bake energy bites have been a long-time favorite in my home. Look no further for a healthy, satiating, freezer-friendly snack.
Much to Love About These Energy Bites
Confession time: I make this no bake energy bites recipe every single afternoon. Just a few of these cookies help me POWER through the 2 p.m. doldrums. They are SO tasty with a cup of coffee, too.
Not only do they stave off the afternoon munchies, but the balance of macronutrients (fat, protein, and carbs) make these a high-quality snack or breakfast for athletes, too.
Lastly, these are so simple to make that even kids can do this! Have these help you make a big batch to keep in the freezer.
Ingredients Needed
With a few simple pantry ingredients, you can whip these up in no time! The beauty of this recipe is the ingredients are somewhat fluid. Add or subtract based on what you like or what you have on hand.
Here is what you’ll need:
- Peanut butter (sub: almond butter or sunbutter)
- Honey
- Old-fashioned or quick oats
- Flaxseed (Why eat flaxseed?)
- Dark chocolate chips (or 3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips)
- 1 cup of any combination of add-ins: chopped nuts (i.e. chopped pecans, sliced almonds, etc.), unsweetened shredded coconut, chia seeds, soft dried fruits (i.e. raisins, dried cranberries, etc)
Step-by-Step: How to Make Powerball Cookies
Like I mentioned, this recipe is so simple that the kids can help you!
- Round up all of the ingredients you want to use and add them all into a big ‘ol mixing bowl. Stir like crazy to make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
- Then, wet your hands slightly, and roll into 1 to 1 1/2 inch sized balls. Place in a storage container or freezer bag in a single layer. Divide layers with parchment paper.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for 3-6 months.
Pro Tip
I’ve found that if I warm the peanut butter and honey just a tad initially, it makes it easier to stir all of the ingredients together.
How Do I Store No Bake Energy Bites?
Here’s the fun part. Using wet hands and/or a small ice cream scoop, form small balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
You’ll freeze them this way so that they hold their form. Once they are frozen, transfer them to an airtight freezer container, squeeze out all the air, and store them in the freezer for 3-6 months.
Be sure to train the kids to know where they are at. They’ll be asking! (Or, if you’re like me, be sure to hide them for yourself. 😉
Make sure to make a double batch too. Not only do these make a great afternoon snack, they can also be a great breakfast!
More Healthy Snack Ideas
Looking for more satisfying but healthier snacks? Try a few of these…
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Powerball Cookies
Powerball Cookies are a healthy, real-food snack. Careful, it’s hard to stop at just one!
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-natural peanut butter or almond butter (crunchy peanut butter is really yummy!)
- 1 cup honey (I often cut this back to 3/4 cup and make up the 1/4 cup with more nut butter)
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats (quick-cooking works fine)
- 1/2 cup ground flax seed (Why eat flaxseed?)
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips (or 3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips)
- 1 cup any combination of these add-ins: chopped nuts (i.e. chopped pecans, sliced almonds, etc), unsweetened shredded coconut, chia seeds, soft dried fruits (i.e. raisins, dried cranberries, etc)
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Instructions
Make It Now:
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter and honey until smooth. (Tip: You may want to warm them in the microwave first to make this step easier.)
- Stir in oats and flaxseed. Add the chocolate chips and your 1 cup of preferred add-ins. Stir until well combined.
- Using wet hands or a wet cookie scoop, shape the mixture into 30-35 balls. Use a heaping tablespoon of mixture per cookie. Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer using the directions below.
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1-3. Place the rolled cookies on a sheet pan (line with parchment paper for easier clean up). Place in the freezer for an hour or so, until hardened. Place them into a freezer bag or airtight freezer container for up to 3 months.
Prepare From Frozen: Either set cookies out on the counter to thaw slightly or warm in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
Esther says
Have you ever tried making these with pure maple syrup instead of honey- wondering if they might still turn out well?
Rachel Tiemeyer says
I have in a pinch. It works, but maple syrup is sweeter than honey and runnier. So try the recipe “as is” with a little less maple syrup than honey.
Kathy says
Loved the Powerball Cookies. I only made a half recipe to try them. Next time, I’m making a full batch and freezing. I’ll bet they are great frozen. Thanks for all your amazing recipes.
Rachel Tiemeyer says
Thanks, Kathy. Appreciate you sharing about your experience and taking the time to leave a review! 🙂
Karen says
I wish I had an endless supply of these.
lois says
made these just yesterday with dried cranberries, the reduced amount of mini chocolate chips and the increased amount of peanut butter. no coconut or nuts here…. so good!! Now I can pop 3 or 4 a day into the fridge from the freezer (where they’re stored) for something small and healthy-ish to satisfy my mid-afternoon sweet tooth.
Erin Z says
These are so good! I always make a double batch because we go through them so fast.
Polly Conner says
Ditto! Good use of your time for sure.
Laura says
Yummy! Made these today and they were great. The flax seed will take some getting use to but the rest was great. Did dried cherries and pistachios.
Rachel says
Sounds delicious!
Alicia says
These are so good, I feel like I’d never have to make chocolate chip cookies again. I agree that you could cut back the honey and replace it with peanut butter (I’ll do that next time). We don’t love dried fruit in this house so I just used all pecans for the nut/fruit portion. So good.
Rachel says
Really glad to hear you liked them, Alicia. Thanks for the comment and review!
Whitney says
In the instructions it says to “flash freeze”, how do you do this? I am excited to make these!
Rachel says
Good question! Flash freeze just means to place the cookies on a rimmed baking sheet or in a shallow dish in the freezer. Make sure they aren’t touching. Once they are frozen, you can throw them in a freezer bag and pull out however many you want at a time. Hope that helps!
Shauna says
Incredible recipe! I’ve recommended to several friends. I always freeze them but they never last very long in our house anyway.
Rachel says
Thanks, Shauna. I have to throw these in the freezer so they are out of sight, because they never last long around here either. 🙂
Sara says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I surprised my family with them tonight and they are a big hit! These are also going to be great little energy bites as I move into my third trimester. Thank you! Happy New Year!
Rachel says
Sweet! So glad these will be helpful to your growing family. Congrats!