Peanut Butter Power Balls

Peanut butter is a food group in my household. My favorite way to eat it? Straight out the jar with a spoon. Drop in a handful of chocolate chips and dig them out with the aforementioned spoon if you want to make a game out of it.

I love to melt peanut butter in the microwave (a tablespoon in a ramekin for 30 seconds, remove carefully because the ramekin gets hot, and stir) and drizzle it over fruit. I also love to make Laura Lea Balanced’s 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Drop Cookies. They are delicious right out of the oven, but also when kept in the fridge. And of course, there’s my Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies.

Another favorite way to consume peanut butter? Peanut Butter Power Balls.

I often make a batch of Peanut Butter Power Balls on a Sunday night to have throughout the week. I’ve found they make a great pre-workout snack – protein and carbs to fuel you, plus they taste like dessert.

Best of all? They are really easy to make, require no baking, and will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. If you don’t eat them first.

Save this Peanut Butter Power Balls recipe – you’ll want to make these. (And you can make them gluten/dairy free with the appropriate

Peanut Butter Power Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats (use gluten-free if desired)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (use dairy-free if desired)
• 1/2 heaping cup peanut butter
• 3-4 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl; I recommend starting with three tablespoons of honey
2. Combine ingredients – if the dough isn’t quite sticking together, add the fourth tablespoon of honey
3. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to drop one inch balls onto a cookie sheet; If the dough is too sticky, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes, but no longer than 15 as it will get tough to work with
4. Once your balls are formed, place them in the fridge, on the cookie tray, to set. An hour or so is usually plenty.
5. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week (again – if they last that long!)

This recipe makes approximately two dozen power balls. Sometimes, I may add just a dash of salt to give them that satisfying salty/sweet combo, especially if I use freshly ground peanut butter. I also find these to be a great snack on meet day.

Tag me if you make these – @SarahWyland on Instagram!