My kids are obsessed with these energy balls that are no bake, dairy free, and gluten free. Perfect for school lunches, snacks, or a sweet treat after dinner.  

Energy Balls Are Perfect For Any Age

Adults and children of all ages love these energy balls. Even better, you can throw any ingredient that your family enjoys into them and make up all sorts of combinations. I hope you enjoy this recipe and comment below with your favorite type of energy ball.

What’s Are Energy Balls Anyway?

When I was first introduced to the idea of these no bake energy balls I was a little hesitant to try just because I thought they would take awhile to make.

Plus at the time I had a picky eater on my hands and was worried I’d make one more thing that I would be the only one eating.

Boy was I wrong! It literally takes about five minutes and that’s it! Even better, my kids are obsessed with them. There are so many ingredients you can choose from to add to these lil energy balls.

Basically, an energy ball is made up of a base such as oats then you pick what kind of nut butter (or sunbutter if you have a nut allergy).

Next add in some pure maple syrup or honey, chia/flax/hemp seeds, maybe some DF chocolate chips or dried fruit. Then roll up and place in fridge. It’s that easy.

Perfect For All Ages

As a parent of a picky eater, it is easy for you to think  “not sure if my kid will try these” and then you find yourself not making something.

Or maybe you have a toddler and you’re in that stage where one day they eat a lot then the next day they eat hardly anything.

Let me tell you, these easy and simple energy balls are the bomb! Any kid, no matter what age or type of eater they are, will likely try and love these.

You will get all the feels when you make these as they are packed with a plant powered punch! They don’t leave you feeling blah like if you ate a big fat brownie loaded with the not so good stuff.

How Kids Can Help Make These Energy Balls

Toddlers: 

  • get bowls out
  • get ingredients out of the pantry or fridge
  • pour
  • stir
  • roll into balls
  • make thumbprints in the energy balls

Older Kids: 

  • measuring ingredients
  • pouring
  • stirring
  • blending (if you use a blender)
  • get bowls, utensils, ingredients out for you
  • clean up (fill sink with soap/water)
  • wash bowls, utensils
  • roll energy balls
  • help decide what ingredients to use by giving them choices
  • experiment with fun choices/flavors, etc

Cookie Dough Energy Ball Ingredients

This is a great recipe to have your child help you make and the best part? You can eat as you go! We call it cookie dough when we add in a scoop of our vanilla or chocolate plant based protein and superfood powder.

  1. 1 cup oats (old fashioned- I buy organic and make sure it says gluten free just to be sure)
  2. Handful or ¼ cup mini chocolate chips (I use dairy free Enjoy life brand)
  3. ½ cup ground flax
  4. ½ cup crunchy or creamy peanut butter (without hydrogenated oils or added sugar)
  5. 1/3 cup honey or pure maple syrup (ingredients should say pure maple syrup only)
  6. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract.
  7. 1 tbsp hemp seeds

Energy Ball Directions:

Mix above ingredients in a bowl and roll into small balls. Freeze or place in refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy. My kids love these in their lunch boxes, with their snack after school, or as a dessert.

You can find flax/chia/hemp seeds at any grocery store, but they are the cheapest at Aldi, Trader Joes, Costco, Thrive Market, and Home Goods. I love flax, chia, and hemp seeds for great plant protein, fiber, and omegas. I love to put these in muffins, waffles and pancakes too. Even good in yogurt parfaits and salads.

If you like these then you would like these cashew cookie bars with chocolate chips found HERE.