Peanut Butter & Oat Balls

A couple years ago I found several recipes for no-bake “energy bites,” all including peanut butter and chocolate (two great flavors that are perfect together). I took what I liked from those recipes and experimented making my own, quickly settling on a simple set of ingredients (only 5!) for an easy-to-make, any-time treat. I like to consider these somewhat healthy since they pack a lot of protein and fiber, but they do have an added touch of chocolatey goodness. Also, they are gluten-free! But, they are quite easy to pop in your mouth, so you might find yourself over-indulging :)

Ingredients: (makes about 24 balls...estimate depends a great deal on your powers of restraint to keep from eating too many as you make them)

1.5 cup oats (I usually use 1 cup quick oats and ½ cup old-fashioned oats)

½ cup all natural creamy peanut butter

½ cup dark chocolate chips

⅓ cup honey or maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional: replace ½ cup quick oats with ½ cup flaxseed

In a medium-sized bowl, mix all the ingredients together until a crumbly dough forms. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Roll into balls roughly 1 inch in diameter.

These can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week...if they last that long!

~Karla

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Posted by The Cooks of Cake and Kindness on Monday, October 12, 2015