No-bake energy balls give you just the right amount of energy, and are loaded with healthy ingredients. These delicious bite-sized treats are quick and easy (you can have a batch made in under 30 minutes), and make great lunchbox fillers or healthy pre-workout snack.
No bake energy ball ingredients
All you need are easy pantry staples such as rolled oats, nuts, seeds, fresh or dried fruit, honey, and vanilla extract. Here’s what you’ll need.
- Nut butter: Use your favourite nut butter for this recipe (almond, peanut and cashew all work well), just make sure you use a smooth, well-stirred nut butter. If you don’t eat nuts, use a smooth light tahini instead.
- Honey: This helps bind the dough and adds sweetness.
- Rolled oats: Look for gluten-free rolled oats if you’re following a gluten-free diet. Although oats don’t naturally contain gluten, they’re easily contaminated.
- Flaxseeds: For a hit of healthy omega-3 fats and fibre.
- Desiccated Coconut: For it’s delicately sweet flavour. If you’re not a fan, ground almonds would also work.
- Cacao nibs: I prefer to use cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips as they’re sugar-free, but chocolate chips would also work. If you prefer to use chocolate chips, look for a high percentage of cacao (general rule is whatever percentage cacao, the rest is mostly sugar! So you want to be using dark chocolate chips ideally 90% cacao or more).
- Collagen powder: This is optional – add for a nutritional boost, see my reasons below. My favourite is Ancient + Brave True Collagen.
- Vanilla extract: Look for pure vanilla extract, not vanilla flavouring.
- Salt: A pinch of sea salt will balance out the sweetness.
How to make no-bake energy balls
These no-bake energy balls take under 30 minutes to make. First, line a baking tray with plastic-free baking parchment. Then follow these 3 easy steps:
- Mix. Place the oats, honey, coconut, nut butter, flaxseeds, cacao nibs and vanilla extract in a large bowl and mix to combine.
- Roll. Roll tablespoons of the mixture into evenly-sized balls and place on the prepared tray. If the mixture is too sticky, refrigerate for 5 minutes.
- Chill. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up before serving.
Top tip
If the energy balls are breaking apart while rolling, add a little more nut butter to the dough. If they’re too soft or sticky, place the dough in the fridge for 5 minutes before rolling.
Nutritional boost
Boost the nutrition of your energy balls by adding 1 tablespoon of collagen powder to the mixture. Collagen is an excellent source of glycine, a protein that is important to get from your diet when you’re trying to conceive or pregnant. Glycine is a structural amino acid, it will help your body grow and adapt to pregnancy. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and is required for skin, cartilage, blood, bones and ligaments, so you can see why it’s important for fertility and pregnancy!
Ancient + Brave True Collagen is my favourite high-quality collagen powder. It’s tasteless and odourless, making it a perfect addition to these no-bake energy balls. Shop via this link for 20% off your entire order with the discount code THEFERTILITYKITCHEN.
Storing energy balls
These energy balls will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or the freezer for up to three months. Separate the energy balls with plastic-free baking parchment before freezing to prevent them from sticking together.
No-bake recipes to try
More lunchbox fillers to try
Other sweet recipes to try
I hope you enjoy these no bake energy balls. If you make them, let me know how they turned out. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below, or post in The Fertility Kitchen Community.
No-bake energy balls
Ingredients
- 125 g nut butter of your choice
- 80 g honey
- 80 g rolled oats
- 80 g ground flaxseed
- 55 g desiccated coconut
- 50 g cacao nibs
- 1 tbsp collagen powder (optional)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with plastic-free baking parchment. Place the oats, honey, coconut, nut butter, flaxseeds, cacao nibs, collagen powder (if using), vanilla extract and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine.
- Roll tablespoons of the mixture into evenly-sized balls and place on the prepared tray. If the mixture is too sticky, refrigerate for 5 minutes.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up before serving.
Do these freeze okay?