Almond Butter Energy Balls

If you’re a busy parent like me, you know that finding healthy and convenient snacks for your kids and yourself can be a challenge. These almond butter energy balls are the perfect solution! These little bites of heaven have become a staple in our household, especially for those in-between practice or school snack times. 

Packed with wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, flaxseed, and almonds, these almond butter balls are delicious and a great source of energy to keep my kids going throughout the day. 

And let’s not forget about the sweet tooth cravings that always seem to strike mid-morning. These almond energy balls are the perfect cure! They hit the spot every time with a touch of pure maple syrup and dark chocolate chips. Plus, if we’re running late in the morning, these energy balls make a quick, easy grab-and-go breakfast.

For more delicious energy balls, check out my banana energy balls, chocolate peanut butter protein balls, cranberry energy bites, banana coconut energy balls, pumpkin energy bites, and blueberry banana energy bites. Or check out my energy balls tutorial and make your own creation.

Reasons you will love this recipe

• Delicious: These energy bites are flavorful thanks to almond butter, maple syrup, and dark chocolate chips.
• Nutritious: With wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, and almonds, these energy bites are a great source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. It’s a great vegan snack option.
• Easy to make: The recipe is simple and requires no baking, making it a quick and easy snack.
• Customizable: You can easily swap out ingredients or adjust the amount of sweetness to suit your preferences.
• Convenient: These energy bites can be stored in the fridge or freezer, making a great on-the-go snack for busy days.

Ingredients

Here are all of the healthy pantry ingredients you need to make these delicious almond butter energy balls!

• Rolled oats: Are the base of the recipe and provide a great source of fiber and slow-burning carbs to keep you feeling full and energized. Do not use steel-cut or instant oats, rolled outs work best in an energy ball recipe.
• Ground flaxseed: Flaxseed is a nutritional powerhouse packed with healthy fats and fiber. It’s also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Chia seeds: Another superfood, chia seeds are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also help to thicken the mixture and give the energy balls a nice texture.
• Sea salt: Just a touch of sea salt helps to balance out the sweetness of the maple syrup and dark chocolate chips. 
• Chopped almonds: Almonds are a great source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber, and they also add a nice crunch to the energy balls.
• Dark chocolate chips: Who doesn’t love a little bit of chocolate? Dark chocolate chips add a sweet touch to the energy balls and are also a great source of antioxidants.
• Creamy Almond butter: The star of the show, almond butter is delicious and a great source of healthy fats and protein. It’s the perfect binder for the energy balls, giving them a rich and nutty flavor.
• Pure maple syrup: This natural sweetener provides a touch of sweetness without refined sugar. 
• Melted coconut oil: Coconut oil provides healthy fats that can help improve cholesterol levels and support heart health. It also helps to bind the ingredients together.
• Pure vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla extract adds a warm and comforting flavor to the energy balls, making them the perfect treat any time of day.

How to make almond butter energy balls

• In a medium-sized bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients. Make sure everything is well combined, and there are no clumps.
• Next, add the almond butter, pure maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and pure vanilla extract.
• Mix everything until a thick and sticky dough forms. Give it a taste and add a little more maple syrup if you want extra sweetness, but don’t add too much because you don’t want the dough to wet.

• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. This helps the dough firm up and makes it easier to roll balls.
• It’s time to get your hands dirty! Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls using a small cookie scoop or your hands. Pro-tip: keep a cup of water nearby to wet your hands as you roll; this will help prevent sticking.
• Once you’ve rolled all the dough into balls, pop them in an airtight container and let them chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This will help them firm up and make them easier to eat.

Supplies

• Mixing bowls
• Medium cookie scoop
• Glass storage containers

Cooking tips

• Don’t skip the chilling step! Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before rolling it into balls. This helps the dough firm up and makes it easier to handle.
• Keep a cup of water nearby when rolling the dough into balls. Wetting your hands as you roll will help prevent the dough from sticking and make the process smoother.
• Don’t be afraid to get creative with your add-ins! While the recipe calls for chopped almonds and dark chocolate chips, you can mix things up and add other nuts, dried fruits, or coconut flakes.
• Use a cookie scoop to ensure that your energy balls are all the same size. 
• Store your energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. This makes them a perfect snack to grab on the go whenever hunger strikes.

Substitutions & Variations

• Rolled oats: If you have a gluten intolerance or allergy, use certified gluten-free oats.
• Ground flax seed: If you don’t have flax seed, use ground hemp seeds or hemp hearts instead. These seeds are all high in fiber and healthy fats. You can also leave them out and use extra rolled oats.
• Chopped almonds: Feel free to use any other chopped nuts or seeds you like, such as walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds. You can also use sliced almonds; really, any nut will work.
• Dark chocolate chips: If you don’t have chocolate chips, use cocoa nibs or chopped dark chocolate instead. You can use milk or white chocolate chips for a sweeter version. You can also use mini chocolate chips.
• Almond butter: If you don’t have almond butter, you can use any other nut or seed butter you like, such as peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
• Maple syrup: If you don’t have maple syrup, use honey, agave nectar, or brown rice syrup instead. For a sugar-free version, you can use stevia or monk fruit sweetener. 
• Spices: You can add cinnamon, nutmeg, or any of your favorite spices for flavor.
• Coconut oil: If you don’t have coconut oil, you can use any other mild-tasting oil, such as canola oil, vegetable oil, or grapeseed oil. Or you can leave the coconut oil out and use additional nut butter to combine the ingredients.

Storage 

For the week: You can store the energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to over a week. This is an excellent option to make a batch of energy balls for the week and have them ready to grab as a quick snack. Check out my favorite glass meal prep containers.

For the freezer: If you want to store the energy balls for longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. To freeze, place the energy balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until firm. Then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag and label them with the date.

You can also place them into a freezer bag and lay them flat in the freezer; after they have frozen, place the bag wherever you want in the freezer.

To thaw, remove the energy balls from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before enjoying them.

Check out all of my best freezer snack recipes.

Other healthy snack recipes

• Almond butter granola
• Almond Butter Banana Wraps
• Pumpkin Granola
• Yogurt Bowls
• Apple Sandwiches
• Blueberry Greek Yogurt Muffins

See all of my healthy snack recipes.

Did you make this recipe?

Have you tried this Almond Butter Energy Balls recipe? If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture in the OYS Facebook Group. I can’t wait to see it!