INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups dry, uncooked oatmeal
- 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter or other nut or sun butter
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 cup quality honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a medium bowl,a add 1 and 1/2 cups oats, peanut butter, pumpkin, chia seeds, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir to combine well. You want the mixture to be soft but not too sticky. If you pick up a generous spoonful, you should be able to roll it into a ball and only make a minimal mess (it should stick together when rolled but still feel tacky on your hands). Depending on the type of oats you used (old-fashioned or quick oats), you made need to add up to a half cup more oats and stir until you reach the desired consistency. Again, it’s ok if it’s a little sticky because the oats will absorb some of the moisture after a little time passes, but unworkable sticky isn’t the goal.
- When the mixture is workable, add the chocolate chips and stir to combine. Scoop a large spoonful into your hand and roll into balls. Repeat with remaining dough. Keep these in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.
NOTES
- Chances are, you have everything on hand to make these. Always a win. Don’t have chia seeds on hand? Leave them out or sub them for something else like hemp seed hearts, chopped nuts, or some coconut flakes (and you can go up to a 1/2 cup of those things if you like).
- You can use old-fashioned or quick oats or a combo of the two, depending on the texture you are going for. Quick oats will yield a softer energy bite and the old-fashioned oats will make them chewier. I used half and half and was really pleased with how they turned out.
- They are no-bake and store super well. They have been great in lunch boxes, for after-school snacks, as a pre-workout snack at 5 am before weight lifting, and at bedtime when I’m ready for the kids to be in bed but they are suddenly starving. I love having little healthy snacks on hand. These are the perfect boxes to keep these in the fridge, just FYI.
- If you find your oat balls aren’t sticking together well when rolled, let them chill in the fridge for 20 minutes and try again. If they are too sticky, try adding a few more tablespoons of oats.
- Looking for other variations of the oatmeal energy bite? I have a huge post with 8 (yes 8!) different combos right here for you.