Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls are the perfect healthy snack that your family will love. Quick and easy, these morsels of goodness are in and out of your mixing bowl within ten minutes. A grab-and-go delicious convenience that will make life much easier for you and your family. 

Is there anything better in this world than chocolate and peanut butter mingled together in the same recipe? I think not. Obviously, Reese's figured this out and created the much-beloved Peanut Butter Cup which I love to indulge myself in. But let's be honest, I can't OVER indulge or my waistline will start screaming at me. And now since it's a New Year and like every year, it's time to reassess my eating habits, especially after the Holidays.

Therefore, mixing up these Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls helps defeat my cravings for sweet things all the while eating what tastes like candy but with a secret healthy side. Check out the ingredients below and you will see these Energy Balls are full of good nutrients that aid in a healthy diet.

Ingredients in Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Old-Fashioned Oats

Oats are among the healthiest grains on earth and are a great source of protein, fiber, minerals, antioxidants, and important vitamins therefore you will find them mingled here in this recipe. 

If you have the choice, grab a package of "old-fashioned" oats as they have more texture and substance than "quick oats." Either one will do though, I just prefer the "old-fashioned" ones. 

Chopped Peanuts

Peanuts are a good source of vitamin E which is a nutrient that your brain relies on for good health and function. Peanuts can help to prevent cognitive problems that can occur with age. They contain folate which is linked to improving the health of neurons in the brain.

Not only do peanuts have healthy benefits, but they also add a nice crunch and give texture to these Peanut Butter Energy Balls. 

Unsweetened Coconut Flakes

Coconut is fiber-rich and full of MCTs which can offer a number of benefits such as improved heart health, digestion, and weight loss. Unsweetened coconut makes for a great addition to a balanced diet. 

Coconut Flakes add a nice chewy texture to the Energy Balls. You can use sweetened coconut flakes instead, but for a healthier choice, especially since I am watching my sugar intake, I prefer unsweetened. 

Creamy Peanut Butter

Since I'm choosing to go healthy these days, I look for peanut butter that is rich in unsaturated fats, protein, and fiber with minimal additives. Look for one that has the least amount of ingredients. Less healthy varieties often contain hydrogenated vegetable oils and added sugar. My preference when shopping for good healthy peanut butter is a brand named Justin's. 

Creamy peanut butter is the glue that holds the Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls together and increases the peanut butter taste of these little morsels. It is definitely the key player of this recipe. 

Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Lily's Semi-Sweet Chocolate is a great healthy choice for these Energy Balls. This brand of chocolate does not contain any sugar and it's made with non-GMO ingredients. I love good dark chocolate but for these balls, I chose a semi-sweet to complement the saltiness of the peanut butter. 

Chia Seeds

A healthy additive to these Energy Balls is highly nutritious chia seeds. There are several health benefits from these tiny black and white seeds. Loaded with antioxidants which may help with lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. Because of the fiber and protein in chia seeds, it may help in supporting weight loss. Also consuming Omega 3 fatty acids which are found in chia seeds, has been linked to decreased heart disease risk. 

If you're looking to sub these out, flax seeds or hemp seeds are a great healthy option as well. 

Raw Honey

When you're looking for the healthiest honey, choose raw honey as it is not pasteurized and bypasses filtration, which is a process that may reduce its nutrients. Raw honey itself is a great source of antioxidants, it also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

Honey in this Peanut Butter Energy Balls Recipe is obviously what contributes to the sweetness of these bites. It also helps bind all the ingredients together. You can substitute pure maple syrup if you wish. 

Pure Vanilla Extract

Pure Vanilla Extract is rich and complex in flavor with an incredibly smooth aroma. In my opinion, there is no substitute for the real deal when it comes to vanilla. The imitation vanilla, although much more affordable, doesn't compare to the flavor or the health aspect of the pure extract. Imitation vanilla may utilize artificial flavors and harmful chemicals. There are some things that are worth the extra expense, and I feel pure vanilla extract is just that. 

Although the energy bites do have a few calories, all the ingredients have really healthy benefits, that will definitely aid in your resolution to eat better this year. 

How to Make Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Combining All the Ingredients

Time is a valuable commodity and any time you can throw together a snack in less than 15 minutes that, my friend, is time well spent. Making these Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls is literally as easy as dumping each ingredient into a large mixing bowl and throwing your hands into the mix. It's super, super simple, and a great way to get down and dirty and a little messy in your kitchen. BTW, there's all the yumminess between your fingers when mixing and you get to enjoy it all by yourself. 

Cover and Chill 

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes until chilled. This process will help the mixture not crumble and they will easily stick together. 

Use a Cookie Scoop and Roll the Balls

A cookie scoop is a perfect size for forming these Energy Bites. But honestly, you can use a spoon to scoop out the mixture. Mine ended up being about 1 ½ inches in diameter and made 14 balls altogether. I don't pack them tightly together as a nice smooth ball. I like a somewhat rustic look with these.

How to Store Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Balls

These store best in an airtight container placed in the refrigerator. They will last a week in the fridge. But if you're anything like me they won't last a week. 

If you want to make a large batch and freeze these peanut butter delights, place them single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze for a couple of hours. Remove them from the cookie sheet and store them in airtight freezer bags. They will last three months in your freezer. To serve, remove from the freezer and let sit out at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Then enjoy. Or you could eat them directly from the freezer! Either way works for me.

Other Energy Ball Varieties to Try

Almond Joy Energy Bites

Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites

Don't reach for the old familiar peanut butter cup when you're feeling low on energy, it's a downward spiral when that sugar high drops. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Balls are the perfect pick-me-up in the middle of the afternoon when you've run out of steam and your eyes are feeling heavy. Pop one of these delights in your mouth, savor the moment, and feel your energy revive. 

If you're looking for more snacks to try, check these out:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Lavender Infused Lemon Bars

Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Kiss

Spinach and Feta Puff Pastries

Jalapeno Poppers

Cheesy Breadsticks Wrapped in Bacon

Crispy Loaded Bacon Skins

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