Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls
~ PB&J just got less messy – and totally portable! These yummy Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls are a simple, fast, wholesome, no-bake energy snack … that tastes like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Yum! So perfect for kids (and adults, too)! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Freezable • Make Ahead • Vegetarian • Gluten Free •
A New (Delicious) Take on a Classic
We all grew up on it – and some of us still swear by it, even as adults (no shame there). It’s our old friend … PB&J!
It’s the quintessential lunch, and somehow it just never gets old.
But, what if I told you that I figured out a way to harness all that fan-favorite PB&J flavor … in a less messy, more portable, nutrient-dense, eat-it-on-the-go snack???
Because … well … I did exactly that! (Cue cheering crowd noises.)
These delicious little Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls channel all those beloved PB&J vibes, with:
- Creamy, all-natural peanut butter
- Pure-fruit strawberry jelly
- Dried cranberries for extra fruitiness and (surprise!) shredded coconut for chewy texture and extra depth of flavor (Trust me on the coconut here, friends – it’s a terrific little flavor boost we employ in our Strawberry-Peanut Butter Tortilla Sandwiches, too. Super good!)
- And just a hint of cinnamon
… and it all combines to make the most wonderful, kid-friendly (and adult-friendly!) snack.
Seriously, everyone will love these!
Plus, they’re nutrient-rich, so you can truly feel terrific about making them for your family. Here’s what I mean …
Peanut Butter and Jelly Snacks Loaded with Nutrition
These are so much more than just a regular snack. They’ll knock the socks off a processed granola bar from the vending machine or a snack-size bag of chips – every.single.time.
And they even make a perfect breakfast when you’re in a hurry. They’ll absolutely keep you fueled up all morning long.
For real – our Energy Balls will give you the fuel you need to power through whatever the day throws your way!
They’re packed with:
- Antioxidants for fending off free radicals (which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases).
- Whole Grains, which are packed with essential nutrients like protein, fiber and B vitamins.
- Complex Carbs to give you that much-needed boost of energy (without the quick crash you get from simple carbs).
- Protein, which will keep you feeling satisfied while boosting you to a constant energy level.
- Fiber to help keep your hunger levels, blood sugar, and digestion in check.
Bottom Line: They’re great early-morning, after-school, pre-soccer-game, post-workout, hectic-afternoon, and quick-on-the-way-to-work snacks. (Ummm … so, really anytime snacks.)
Wanna make some? It’s super easy, I promise. Here’s all you have to do …
How to Make These EASY Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls
Making a batch of these is truly so simple. You basically just need to grab a few ingredients that you probably already have hanging around your pantry, plus a mixing bowl and spoon.
Step #1 – Start by combining the ingredients (except for the dried cranberries).
Give it all a good stir to make sure everything is evenly incorporated, so you don’t end up with pockets of peanut butter here … and jelly there. Get it all mixed in together!
Step #2 – Then, add your cranberries and stir it around again, to distribute the berries throughout.
Step #3 – Using your hands, press your yummy mixture firmly into one-inch balls. (Here’s the tough part: try not to eat tooooooo much along the way. I mean, some “taste testing” is obviously mandatory, but try to end up with at least a few Energy Balls for later. It’s hard, but I have faith in you!)
Step #4 – Pop your Energy Bites (however many made it through your “taste-testing”!) into an air-tight container and stash ’em in the fridge. (Or in the freezer … more details on that in a moment …)
Done! How easy was that?!?
√ No baking.
√ Almost no dirty dishes.
And you’re all set with some healthy snacks you’ll absolutely love (and feel great enjoying). Pat yourself on the back!
But wait … it gets even better …
Energy Balls Freeze Great, Too!
Have a couple extra minutes? Whip up a double batch (or … hey hey … even a triple batch). Make ’em, freeze ’em, pull ’em out when you need ’em.
I speak from experience … one batch doesn’t last long around my house, and the whole fam feels kinda sad when I don’t have a supply of Energy Balls ready and waiting.
So, do yourself a favor and make extra. You’ll be glad you did!
Pro Tip: Two Ways to Freeze These
Option #1 – What I usually do is portion sets of 2 or 3 balls into individual snack bags, ready for grab-and-go munching. Put all of the individual snack bags into a big gallon freezer bag – so the little baggies don’t wander around your freezer and get lost somewhere underneath frozen peas and last summer’s popsicles {*sad*}.
Option #2 – You also can store your Energy Bites all together in one big freezer bag, so you can grab out just one at time. If you want to do that, I recommend opening the freezer every so often during the first hour or two, to jiggle the bag around a little and help prevent the balls from sticking together. (But never fear … if they do happen to stick together, it’s really not that hard to break them apart. It’s not a high-stakes problem!)
Oh – and don’t worry about them going bad. These Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls really do freeze beautifully, and they’ll keep well for at least 3 months.
Just thaw for a few minutes, and enjoy!
Ready to get going? I am! Scroll down to the recipe card to get started.
Or maybe you’ve got a few more questions first? I can help …
FAQs At-a-Glance
As we explain in the post for Easy Blueberry Overnight Oats, quick oats are rolled thinner than old-fashioned oats. In a no-bake recipe like this, old-fashioned oats can be a bit too thick and chewy for some people’s liking. In a pinch, you can try using old-fashioned oats. But in general, I really recommend sticking with the thinner, less dense quick oats to get the best texture in this recipe.
Definitely don’t use steel cut oats – they’re far too hard and crunchy to work well in Energy Balls.
Sure! I usually go with creamy in this particular Energy Ball recipe, but some of our others (like our “original” Peanut Butter Energy Balls) call for crunchy to get that extra texture goin’ on. Just be aware that those bits of peanuts can make it a little more difficult to press the balls together (although it’s truly not all that difficult, if you’re pressing them firmly together, anyway).
I don’t recommend it. Sweetened coconut is generally moister (especially Baker’s brand), and the drier unsweetened coconut can make the balls harder to press together. Also, as I mention in my post for “Candy Bar” Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding, when I compared product labels side by side, I was surprised to see that (comparing 15g portions), the sweetened coconut only has a little bit more sugar that the unsweetened … and sweetened actually has quite a bit less saturated fat (and overall fat) and also fewer calories.
You can use a cookie scoop if you want, just for spooning up equal portions, but not for actually shaping the balls. And lightly rolling them like you would, say, sugar cookie dough, won’t quite work either. With Energy Balls, you do need to actually firmly press them together to get all the yummy ingredients to stick to each other in a ball shape.
Want Even More Energy Ball Recipes?
Energy Balls have been around since the genesis of Two Healthy Kitchens. In fact, our Peanut Butter Energy Balls were our very first post ever! (Originally, we called ’em “Snack Bites.”)
Over the years, we’ve created a variety of crowd-favorite Healthy Energy Ball recipes.
- We’ve got ones that taste like cookie dough (except healthy, and without the terrible sugar crash).
- And if you love the flavors of Reese’s Cups, you’ll go wild over our Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls, for sure!
- And so many more!
Be sure to check ’em all out!
Well, you know … after you make these Peanut Butter and Jelly ones first, of course! 😉
~ by Shelley
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick oats
- ½ cup natural, creamy peanut butter
- 6 tablespoons 100% pure fruit strawberry jelly or jam
- ⅓ cup sweetened, flaked coconut
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed meal
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup cherry-flavored dried cranberries (see note)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except dried cranberries. Mix thoroughly.
- Add cranberries to mixture and stir again, just until combined.
- Using your hands, press firmly to form one-inch balls.
- Place in air-tight container and refrigerate until serving.
Notes
Nutrition
* Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
This recipe was originally published as Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites on April 11, 2014, and was also featured as a guest post by one of my absolute favorite food bloggers – Julia at A Cedar Spoon. Julia’s recipes are delish (we’ve even featured her in our own hot dips roundup). I hope you’ll hop over to take a peek at her terrific site and fantastic recipes, too!
Hi Shelley –
Do you have to use the flaxseed meal or can I substitute Chi seeds?
Hi, Sharon! You have a variety of options here. Yep – you could definitely try swapping in chia seeds, similar to what we do in our Tropical Date Energy Balls with Chia Seeds. However, you might want to decrease the amount of chia seeds somewhat. Another option is to sub toasted wheat germ (we actually use both flax and wheat germ in our “original” Peanut Butter Energy Balls, and I find that they sub well for each other in this type of recipe). Lastly, you could simply leave the flaxseed meal out altogether if you don’t happen to have any. The only thing there might be an issue with consistency – so you might find that you’d like to slightly increase another dry ingredient (the oats or coconut) to compensate, so the consistency and texture are right for shaping the balls. Hope that helps! Good luck – and let me know what you think! 😀 ~Shelley
I was so excited to try another kind of snack bites so I made them the day you posted it! My oldest doesn’t like peanut butter and jelly but she loves these!! Love this new snack bite recipe!!
Wow! What a fabulous compliment! Thank you so, so much for taking the time to pop back to our site and let us know how much you and your family loved these! That really means a lot! And hey – if we start a Snack Bite fan club, we’re thinking you’ll be the first president. Deal?!?!? 😀 Seriously though – thanks a million! Have an awesome weekend! ~G&S
What a delicious idea!!
I will have to make this for the kids lunch boxes when they go back to school. Congratulations on the guest post!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Thanks so much, Julie! Our kids are so happy when we tuck Snack Bites in their lunch or send some along in their backpacks if they’re heading straight to after-school activities! Plus, we’re happy knowing that they’ve got the good-quality fuel they need so they don’t have an energy bonk right in the middle of a test … or soccer practice … or band … or, well, you get the idea! 😀 ~G&S
Congratulations Shelley + Gretchen on your guest post! These PB&J bites look so tempting that we could eat them through out the day. Lovely photos 🙂
Hi, Judit! Thanks so much for your kind words! And honestly – our families eat Snack Bites all throughout the day, for sure! They’re the perfect fuel to start your day as emergency grab-and-go breakfasts, and great little power snacks all day long, plus we’re even happy to nibble them as something-a-little-sweet desserts. So awesome when the kiddos are even happy to call something this healthy “dessert!” 😀 Hope you and Corina have a fabulous weekend! ~G&S