Quick No-Bake Peanut Butter Powerballs

Peanut Butter Power Balls are an easy no-bake snack packed with protein and whole grains. These bite-sized energy balls are perfect for kids to help make—and even better to eat! Great for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, or on-the-go fuel.

Know Your Oats! Rolled vs Steel Cut

For centuries, oats have been a staple crop known in homes around the world. Surprisingly, though, only about 5% of oats grown globally are used for human consumption. Most oats are fed to livestock or used in skincare and beauty products due to their naturally high fat content. That being said, oats remain a popular ingredient in many family-friendly recipes, especially in breakfast foods and healthy snacks. In fact, the United States consumed 2.3 million tons of oats in 2020 alone.

Although this much-loved grain is eaten daily by millions, the process of turning raw oats into something we can cook and eat, like oatmeal or energy balls, isn’t widely known. In grocery stores today, the two most common types of oats you’ll find are old-fashioned rolled oats and steel-cut oats, and they’re processed very differently. Teaching your kids about these two types is a great way to connect food with where it comes from.

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats:

• Appearance: Flat, rounded, slightly irregular shape with a tan color and a darker line down the middle
• Taste: Creamy and smooth with a mild, slightly sweet flavor
• Cooking: Because they’re flattened thin, rolled oats cook quickly and are sometimes pressed even thinner for “instant oats”

Processing:
1. Husks are mechanically removed from the oat groat
2. Groats are steamed until soft
3. Steamed groats are rolled into flakes using large metal rollers
4. The flakes are toasted in a kiln to preserve flavor

Steel-Cut Oats:

• Appearance: Small, chunky pieces that look like chopped grains of brown rice
• Taste: Hearty, nutty, and slightly chewy
• Cooking: Absorb less water and take longer to soften—ideal for slow-cooked or overnight oat recipes

Processing:
1. Husks are removed from the oat groat
2. Groats are toasted to preserve shelf life and flavor
3. The toasted groats are chopped into pieces with steel blades
4. The chopped oats are dried and toasted again

This no-bake energy ball recipe calls for old-fashioned rolled oats. Because they’re already steamed and flattened, they stay soft enough to chew—even without cooking—making them perfect for kids and adults alike. If you swapped them out for steel-cut oats, the results would be tough, hard to chew, and not so enjoyable to snack on!

Super Seeds: Tiny Ingredients, Big Nutrition

Between the protein-packed peanut butter and the quick-fueling, carbohydrate-rich oats, these no-bake peanut butter power balls are surprisingly nutritious and perfect for healthy on-the-go snacking. In small quantities, the health benefits of seeds are often overlooked—but they’re tiny nutritional powerhouses. So what is it about seeds that makes them so good for you?

Before becoming full-sized plants, seeds start their journey buried underground. When the soil is warm and moist enough, the seed germinates and uses the nutrients stored inside to grow a baby plant that eventually breaks through the soil and begins photosynthesizing to make its own food.

Because of this early stage of life, seeds are packed with protein, fiber, healthy fats, essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And since every plant is unique, every seed brings its own nutrient profile to the table.

Hemp Seeds

• Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation, support brain development and function, and regulate blood pressure for better heart health
• Contain all nine essential amino acids, making them a complete plant-based protein
• High in dietary fiber, which supports digestive health
• Promote skin health thanks to vitamin E and linoleic acid

Chia Seeds

• Extremely high in fiber, helping to keep digestion on track
• A rich source of omega-3s for brain health and cholesterol regulation
• Great for bone strength, with calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus
• Complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids, important for body function and development

Flax Seeds

• High in thiamine (Vitamin B1), essential for energy metabolism
• Loaded with fiber to support gut health
• Excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial to heart and brain health
• Contain lignans, which have powerful antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties

The Best Way to Store No-Bake Energy Balls

One of the things that makes peanut butter power balls such a great source of energy and nutrients is how easy they are to eat on the go. These no-bake energy bites are perfect for lunchboxes, road trips, or after-school snacks—no reheating, no mess, just grab and go. But what’s the best way to store them for freshness and convenience?

If you plan to eat the whole batch in about a week, the best option is to store them in an airtight glass food container (like Tupperware). Neatly place one layer of power balls on the bottom of the container, then cut a piece of parchment paper to separate the next layer. Repeat until the container is full.

In a rush? Plastic bags work too, though they may cause the balls to stick together or break during transport.

Think it’ll take longer than a week to finish the batch? Freeze some! These healthy snack balls freeze well for months and keep their delicious flavor and chewy texture. Bonus: try one straight from the freezer—many people actually prefer them cold and extra firm!

Kids Recipe Card