This recipe has been in my family since my kids were little. So that makes it a 15 year standby. It’s 4 ingredients easy. And while we have always called it “Peanut Butter Balls” it’s far more current to call it “Energy Bites” and add various alternate seeds and dried fruit or use more unique nut butters. But I am sticking with what has worked for years (cause that’s what I have in my pantry). And in all the years I have shared them only one person has ever turned them down.
When I was watching my niece and nephew one afternoon I wanted to make a yummy treat and thus I made Peanut Butter Balls. The kids were playing upstairs making up a play and laughing. I was feeling like the most awesome mom. Playing music I was singing and dancing as I threw everything in the kitchen aid. Just as I was rolling the mix into balls, my niece (oldest of the group) came downstairs.
“will we be eating dinner here?”
“I think your mom will be coming before dinner, but I just made the best snack ever, peanut butter balls.”
Her face got that look like a smart phone screen just cracked and said, “I don’t like peanut butter.”
The music wasn’t as bouncy the kids suddenly started arguing and I was deflated. But you know what my niece is such a good kid she sat down and ate them with the others. Not that she had a choice, because I had no other snacks available (I had forgone grocery shopping to watch the kids). My niece didn’t change her feelings about peanut butter or the peanut butter balls. But the rest of us were happy to eat her share.
I have learned over the years that it is important to use rolled oats and not quick oats. Quick oats tend to leave the mix thin and things lose their shape. You can use creamy or chunky peanut butter. Normally we are a creamy peanut butter family, but I mistakenly bought a jar of chunky (so that’s remained untouched since discovery –which of course wasn’t until after someone opened it and said, “who bought this stuff?”). I also love to take these snacks to the pool or sports games—For other good summer sport snack idea)
What did or do your kids love to eat as their energy bites?
Peanut Butter Balls
Delicious and simple, the basic and original energy bite
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup instant dry milk
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
Instructions
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Dump everything into a stand mixer and mix well. Using a small cookie scoop make individual bit size balls. Store in a sealed container up to a week.
Recipe Notes
Use rolled oats, but quick oats do work
Other nut butters are a great substitute, for almond butter (if you have the thin kind) you'll want a scant 1/2 cup.
