Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

Are you looking for a delicious and easy recipe to feed your sweet tooth? Look no further than these no bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls! My whole family loves this combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and oatmeal all packed into these easy bite-sized treats.

My kids love these for an easy after-school snack or simple dessert that hits all the flavor notes while still having a lot of nutrients. They are even vegan if you use dairy-free chocolate chips.

For a great no-bake dessert, try this Mud Pie Recipe or my Monster Cookie Dough.

Before You Get Started

• Choose your PB wisely - Use a peanut butter you enjoy the flavor of, since it is one of the main flavors in the recipe. Natural peanut butter works, but if it is very oily, you may need a little extra oats or powdered sugar.
• Chill the dough - Chilling the mixture before rolling makes the oatmeal balls much easier to shape and less sticky.
• Use a cookie scoop - A small cookie scoop helps keep all the balls the same size and makes this recipe much faster.
• Adjust for the perfect texture - If the mixture feels too dry, add another spoonful of peanut butter. If it feels too sticky, add a little extra cocoa powder or oats.
• Feel free to customize - These are easy to customize with different mix-ins like mini chocolate chips, dried fruit, protein powder, or chopped nuts.

Ingredients

• Rolled Oats - Old-fashioned oats have a nice chewy texture that works well in no-bake recipes. Quick oats can be used for a softer texture.
• Shredded Coconut - I use unsweetened coconut most often because it has a nice flavor and texture without a lot of added sugar.
• Powdered Sugar - Confectioner's sugar, aka powdered sugar, works well in this recipe because it is so finely ground. It won't leave a gritty feeling in your mouth.
• Peanut Butter - You can use almost any type of peanut butter. Smooth peanut butter, chunky peanut butter, or natural peanut butter all work well.
• Cocoa Powder - Most of the chocolate flavor comes from cocoa powder, so choose one that has a nice flavor. Some can be bitter, so I recommend trying different brands until you find one you enjoy.
• Coconut Oil - I use refined coconut oil, so the coconut flavor doesn't overpower the other flavors.
• Semisweet Chocolate Chips - Regular chocolate chips or mini ones both work in this recipe.
• Vanilla & Sea Salt - Optional, but these boost the flavor.

See quantities in the recipe card.

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

1️⃣ Combine & Chill

Stir together all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Chill the dough for at least an hour.

2️⃣ Form & Serve

Scoop the mixture into 24 small balls. Using a small cookie scoop makes this much easier. Store in an airtight container.

Variations

• Nut Butter - Swap out the peanut butter for almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter. You can even use Nutella, but you might want to reduce the sugar since it is already sweetened.
• Chocolate Chips - Semisweet chocolate chips are our top choice, but we also like mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips in these. Or boost the peanut butter flavor and use peanut butter chips.
• Sweetener - Without the powdered sugar, they are mildly sweet. You could try just omitting it or swapping in a sugar-free sweetener, maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar. They can be classified as peanut butter energy balls or peanut butter energy bites with a more natural sweetener.
• Gluten-free - Just use certified gluten-free oats.
• Protein - Boost the protein with some protein powder, hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax seeds, or ground flaxseed to make these into peanut butter protein balls.
• Dried fruit - Raisins, cranberries, or chopped dried apricots are great choices.
• Without Chocolate - Try these 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls.

Common Questions

Why are my peanut butter balls so sticky?

Your peanut butter balls are sticky because they contain peanut butter, which is a naturally sticky substance. We try to balance the dry ingredients with the peanut butter, which makes them stick together. If they are really too sticky to form, you can add a bit more powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

Are oatmeal balls healthy for you?

These oatmeal balls are somewhere between a healthy snack and a dessert because while they provide your body with energy and important nutrients, they also have sugar. If you swap out the powdered sugar for a sugar-free sweetener and use unsweetened coconut flakes, they could definitely be considered healthy.

Do peanut butter oatmeal balls have to be refrigerated?

No, peanut butter oatmeal balls don't have to be refrigerated if you are going to eat them within a day or two. However, we do prefer them chilled. It's okay to leave them on the counter or in your cupboard in an air-tight container. They will last longer if they are kept cool and out of direct sunlight, though. For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or in the freezer for 2-3 months.

📖 Recipe

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Originally Published January 1, 2023. Revised and Republished May 19, 2026.