I love today.
It’s Monday, but it feels like Tuesday — which is even better. The week already feels a little lighter, and I’m here for it.
Let’s make this our new routine.
I made a snack for you — a very snackity snack — and I can’t stop eating it. You’re probably waiting for me to gush, so here it is: I am totally obsessed.
Sooooo, I intended to make my oatmeal peanut butter snack squares for my husband, but when I gathered ingredients I realized there was no flour. Not a pinch. No whole wheat, no all-purpose. I had to improvise, but nothing too crazy — he just wanted something simple. Sometimes he craves basic comfort food like spaghetti and meatballs.
He doesn’t get plain dinners often because I’m always experimenting with something new or a little too foodie for his taste. This time I wanted to be considerate.
Two things were immediately out: coconut — he dislikes the texture, even if he likes the flavor — and dates. I love dates on their own, but I can’t stand them in energy bar or ball recipes. They don’t taste like cookie dough or chocolate; they taste like dates. So no dates for these bites.
After a few test batches, I found the perfect chewy-but-not-too-sticky texture using ingredients I already had. The result: instant peanut butter bites. Call them energy balls if you like — I call them genius. They’re even better rolled in crushed almonds or peanuts. We actually ended up fighting over them—once I went to grab one before a workout and they were gone. He’d taken them to work and I was not happy.
Now I make a big double batch on Sunday, rolled in peanuts for him and almonds for me, and store them in separate containers with playful labels so nobody accidentally takes the other’s stash.
Quick + Easy No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bites
12 to 15 bites
5 mins
10 mins
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- a pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup ground peanuts or ground almonds, to roll the balls in
Instructions
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Combine oats, chopped almonds, flaxseed, chia seeds, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine.
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Melt the peanut butter and let it cool slightly (about 30 seconds in the microwave, then stir). Stir in honey and vanilla until combined. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon, then bring the mixture together with your hands. When it holds together, fold in the mini chocolate chips.
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Roll the dough into golf-ball-sized (or slightly smaller) balls, then roll each ball in ground peanuts or ground almonds. These are fine at room temperature, but they keep best chilled.
Did you make this recipe?
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Classy, right?