Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls

Name: Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Old Fashioned oats; 1 - 1⅓ cups creamy peanut butter; ¼ cup agave nectar; 2 tbsp ground flax seeds; 1 tbsp chia seeds; ¼ cup raspberry jam

PB & J Energy Bites are nutritious, easy-to-make, healthy snacks. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber, they taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the form of a 2-bite ball!

Jump to Recipe

Whip up these no-bake, gluten-free, and vegan Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls with just 6 nutrient-dense ingredients! These on-the-go snacks taste like a scrumptious PB&J sandwich and are even perfect for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or pre-workout.

No-Bake PB & J Energy Bites

Indulge in these no-bake PB & J Energy Bites, the perfect nostalgic and nutritious snack with a balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates for lasting energy.

Easily prepared in just 15 minutes with a single bowl and spoon, these energy-packed bites are excellent for post-workout or on-the-go snacking.

Made with peanut butter, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and oats for a health boost, and sweetened naturally with agave, these delectable bites offer a soft, chewy texture reminiscent of a peanut butter sandwich, complete with a delightful hidden jam center.

Why We Love This PB & J Energy Bites Recipe

Quick and easy to prepare in only 15 minutes.
Made with 6 wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients.
Refined-sugar free, gluten-free (make sure to use gluten-free certified oats), and vegan.
Tastes like a delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the form of a energy ball.
Packed with all your macros: complex carbs, plant-based protein, and healthy fats.
Great meal-prep option for a portable breakfast and freezer-friendly too.
Perfect on-the-go snack, healthy dessert, or pre/post-workout pick-me-up.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls Ingredients

Old fashioned oats: I haven’t tried instant oats in this recipe, but I recommend using old fashioned oats.
Creamy peanut butter: You can also use crunchy peanut butter. I would not advise using natural peanut butter because it separates and doesn’t work as well in this recipe.
Agave nectar
Ground flax seeds: I recommend using ground flax seed, but you can also use natural flax seed if you prefer.
Chia seeds: You can also add other types of seeds or protein powder according to your preferences.
Raspberry jam

Substitutions and Additions

Fruit Flavors: You can use a different flavor of jam such as apricot, peach, strawberry and triple berry jam. Choose your favorite!
Jam Isn’t Your Jam?: If you don’t like jam, feel free to replace it with dried or freeze-dried fruit. I love dried strawberries, cherries, cranberries and blueberries, but almost any dried fruit will work!
Add-Ins: You can add dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts, peanut butter chips, coconut, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, or raisins to your oat mixture.
Nut Butter: If you have a nut allergy, you can easily make these energy bites with Almond Butter, Cashew Butter (for a paleo-friendly option), or Sunflower Butter (for a nut-free version).
Switch The Sweetener: Feel free to use honey or maple syrup instead of agave nectar, or use any combination of the three depending on taste preference. Note that if you follow a vegan diet, honey is not vegan-friendly.

Recommended Tools

Baking sheet or cutting board
Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Large mixing bowl

How to Make the Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls

Add oats, peanut butter, agave nectar, flax seed, and chia seeds to a large bowl and mix with a spoon or your hands.
Pro Tip: It will be messy but will come together as you mix it. If it is too dry, you can add a little more peanut butter or agave until it sticks together. If it’s too sticky, add in a little more oats.
Scoop out mixture and roll into a ball. Flatten the ball.
Pro Tip: It should be about 2 ½ Tablespoons or the size of a golf ball.
Add a small spoonful of jam into the center of rolled mixture, fold the edges over, and re-roll it into a ball.
Place energy bite on baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Chill the bites in the refrigerator for 20 minutes and serve. Enjoy!

Tips For Making Energy Balls

If you are tight on time and don’t want to fill each energy ball with your jam, you can simply add the jam into your mixture along with an additional ¼-½ cup of oats. Simply roll the balls up like you normally would once everything is mixed together.
If you would like to toast your oats before using them, use a skillet on the stovetop at medium high heat. Toss the oats with some butter until they are golden brown. Or, use a baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Try dipping your energy bites in melted chocolate for an extra yummy layer.

how to Storae Energy Balls

To Store: To store your energy bites, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to one week.
To Freeze: You can store your energy bites in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these energy bites supposed to be sticky?

The energy bits are meant to be slightly tacky, but you can either decrease the stickiness by adding more oats or ground flaxseed, or increase it by adding more peanut butter or agave nectar. You can even add some honey if you are having a hard time getting the ball to stay together. Ultimately you want a mixture that will stick together well and will hold its shape.

Are energy bites healthy?

These PB & J energy bites are healthy and nutrient-dense. They have a satiating combination of protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and are high in fiber. And because they are portable, they are the perfect healthy on-the-go snack before or after your workout!

Is it safe to eat raw rolled oats?

Yes, rolled oats are perfectly safe to eat raw, especially when combined with other ingredients, as they are in this recipe.

peanut butter jelly ball stacked on a white bowl

Other Easy Healthy Snack Recipes

5 from 1 vote

Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls

Author — Jennifer Fishkind

Serves —

PB & J Energy Bites are nutritious, easy-to-make, healthy snacks. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber, they taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the form of a 2-bite ball!

Print Rate PinSave

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 0

Chill Time 20

Total Time 35

Ingredients

Instructions

Prepare a baking sheet or cutting board with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Combine the oats, creamy peanut butter, agave nectar, flax seed, and chia seeds in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly either with a large mixing spoon or with your hands. It will be messy but will come together as you mix it. If it is too dry, you can add a little more peanut butter or agave until it sticks together. If it’s too sticky, add in a little more oats.
Scoop out about 2 ½ Tablespoons of the mixture and roll into a ball (it should be about the size of a golf ball). Use your palm to flatten the ball.
Add a small spoonful of the raspberry jam into the center of the circle you made and then fold the edges over and finesse it back into a ball.
Place the ball on the prepared surface and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Let the energy bites chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes and then serve.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:

To Store: To store your energy bites, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to one week.
To Freeze: You can store your energy bites in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 months.

Tips:

If you are tight on time and don’t want to fill each energy ball with your jam, you can simply add the jam into your mixture along with an additional ¼-½ cup of oats. Simply roll the balls up like you normally would once everything is mixed together.
If you would like to toast your oats before using them, use a skillet on the stovetop at medium high heat. Toss the oats with some butter until they are golden brown. Or, use a baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Try dipping your energy bites in melted chocolate for an extra yummy layer.