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5 from 8 reviews

These 3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls take just 5 minutes to prepare and are a super quick and easy snack! They’re vegan, gluten free, and are a perfect little sweet treat.

3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls in a bowl with oats scattered around

Whether you’re low on ingredients or just looking for an easy kid-friendly snack or dessert that comes together in minutes, you’re going to love these peanut butter oatmeal balls! I like to make these every week so that I can just grab one whenever I’m snacky.

They are made with just 3 simple ingredients: oatmeal, maple syrup (or sweetener of your choice), and peanut butter! I also like to add mini chocolate chips to mine, but it’s totally optional.

Why You’ll Love These 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

  • They are gluten free (be sure to use certified gluten free oats), dairy free, and egg free. You could even replace the peanut butter with another nut butter if you have a peanut allergy.
  • These no bake oat balls are easy to meal prep for snacks and are freezer friendly too.
  • With just 3 ingredients, one bowl, and a few minutes of prep, this recipe literally couldn’t be easier!
  • These peanut butter bites are a great dessert or snack for picky eaters. I have a picky eater at home and he ate about 10 of these in a day the last time I made them.
3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls with chocolate chips in a bowl with chocolate chips scattered around

Ingredients Needed

  • Peanut Butter: This recipe can be made using creamy natural peanut butter or regular (Jif, or Skippy) style peanut butter. Note that the oat balls with natural peanut butter will be a bit drier the next day than the ones made with Jif. 
  • Maple Syrup: you can also replace the maple syrup with honey or your liquid sweetener of choice. Depending whether you’re using natural peanut butter or regular, the amount of maple syrup will be a bit different. Notes for this are in the recipe card below!
  • Oats: This recipe uses old fashioned oats. Large flake oats work as well, but I don’t recommend quick oats – they would make the oat balls more flaky and harder to bind together.
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: this is an optional add in! Mini chocolate chips are great because they are so small and easier to bite into, but regular chocolate chips would work as well!
Ingredients needed to make 3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls in bowls with labels

Step By Step Instructions

Note: Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

STEP ONE: Add the peanut butter and maple syrup to a medium mixing bowl. Pour in the oats, then stir together with a wooden spoon. Add in chocolate chips if desired.

STEP TWO: If the mixture is sticky, place it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before rolling into balls. 

STEP THREE: Scoop out tablespoons of dough and roll them in your hands to form the balls.

step by step showing how to make 3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls

Add In Suggestions

Mini semisweet chocolate chips are my personal favorite add in, but you can also add shredded coconut, chopped nuts, cranberries, or raisins. I also sometimes like to melt chocolate chips and drizzle them over top of the oat balls before refrigerating!

Close up image of peanut butter balls with chocolate chips in a bowl a bite is taken out of one so you can see inside

Expert Tips

  • Weigh your oats: I always like to weigh the oats because there is a significant difference between the weight of one cup of old fashioned oats and one cup of large flake oats. 
  • Chill the dough: You can chill the dough for 10-15 minutes, making it easier to roll the dough into balls.
  • If using natural peanut butter, increase maple syrup to 6 Tablespoons: Regular (Jif, Kraft, or Skippy) style peanut butter is sweeter than natural peanut butter, so you only need 4 tablespoons of maple syrup. If using natural peanut butter, which is unsweetened, you can increase the sweetener to 6 Tablespoons to give the oatmeal balls more sweetness and more liquid in the dough.

Storage Instructions

The oatmeal balls can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature, or you can freeze them in a container or freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy!

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If you make this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

3 ingredient peanut butter balls with chocolate chips in a bowl
5 from 8 reviews

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

Gabby Kislanko
These 3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls take just 5 minutes to prepare and are a super quick and easy snack! Vegan and gluten free!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 20 oatmeal balls
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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Add the peanut butter and maple syrup to a medium mixing bowl. Pour in the oats, then stir together with a wooden spoon. Add in chocolate chips or other add ins if desired.
  • If the mixture is sticky, place it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before rolling into balls.
  • Scoop out tablespoons of dough and roll them in your hands to form the balls. Store or enjoy!

Equipment

Mixing Bowl

Video

Notes

MAPLE SYRUP/HONEY: Increase to 6 Tablespoons if using natural peanut butter
PEANUT BUTTER: Since natural peanut butter is drier, if you make this recipe with natural peanut butter, the oat balls may dry out the next day. If the mixture is dry before you’ve formed the balls, you can add another tablespoon of peanut butter until the consistency of the dough is more moldable.
OATS: Old fashioned oats work best. Weighing your oats using a kitchen scale is the most accurate way to ensure that the oatmeal balls aren’t too dry. I don’t recommend using quick oats, as the oatmeal balls will be flakier and harder to bind together.
Storage and Freezing:
The oatmeal balls can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature, or you can freeze them in a container or freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy!
Calories: 90kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 41mg, Potassium: 106mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 1mg
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The calorie information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.