Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
These peanut butter oatmeal balls (formerly known as apple oat no-bake bites) are soft, naturally sweet, and packed with nourishing ingredients.
You can whip them up in minutes, no oven required, and they store beautifully in the fridge or freezer—ideal for make-ahead snacks, lunchboxes, or a quick bite on the go.
Why Busy Parents Love This Recipe
- Easy No-Bake 4 Ingredient Recipe
- Toddler Approved
- An energy dense grab and go snack you can make ahead!
Ingredients You Will Need
Ingredient Notes and Allergy-Friendly Swaps
- The peanut butter can be swapped for any nut butter such as almond butter or cashew butter.
- If you're looking to make these nut-free, try using tahini (I find hulled tahini works best here as it has a milder flavour that doesn't overpower the apple) or sunflower seed butter.
- Raisins can be swapped for sultanas or dates.
- Choose unsweetened apple sauce or make your stew your own apples to make homemade apple purée. This recipe will also work with mashed ripe bananas.
How to make Oat and Peanut Butter Balls
Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my Peanut Butter Oat Ball recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card below.
Step one: In a food processor, blend the apple, peanut butter, and raisins until mostly smooth.
Step two: Add the rolled oats and pulse until well combined.
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Step three: Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls. If the mixture is sticky, dampen your hands slightly to make rolling easier.
Chill the balls in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
Serve and Enjoy!
Top Tips
Here is how you can make these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls perfectly every time!
- Want to boost the nutrition even more? Try mixing in a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, hemp seeds or chia seeds before rolling.
- If you find your peanut butter oat mix is too soft to roll (the apple sauce you choose to use can affect the consistency either add a little more rolled oats or chill the mixture for 15 - 30 minutes before rolling.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- These balls are freezer-friendly too—perfect for batch prepping. Just thaw in the fridge overnight or pop straight into a lunchbox to defrost by snack time.
- My older kids still love these peanut butter energy balls, but now that they are older sometimes I add chocolate chips.
How to Make This Recipe Suitable For Baby Led Weaning
To make these peanut butter balls suitable for baby led weaning, choose smooth, unsalted peanut butter and make sure there are no added sugars or salt. Use finely ground oats or oat flour for a softer texture that’s easy for little mouths to manage.
Be mindful of the size of the balls you create—you want them to be too large for your baby to fit the entire thing in their mouth, which helps reduce the risk of choking. Consider rolling the mixture into logs instead, as these can be easier for your baby to pick up and grasp.
Always supervise your baby while they’re eating, sit with them, and wait patiently as they explore the food at their own pace.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsweetened Apple sauce (Apple Puree) (200 grams)
- ½ cup Peanut butter (120 grams)
- ½ cup Raisins (60 grams)
- 2 cups Rolled oats (200 grams)
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend the apple, peanut butter, and raisins until mostly smooth.
- Add the rolled oats and pulse until well combined.
- Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls. If the mixture is sticky, dampen your hands slightly to make rolling easier
- Chill the balls in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- The peanut butter can be swapped for any nut butter such as almond butter or cashew butter.
- If you're looking to make these nut-free, try using tahini (I find hulled tahini works best here as it has a milder flavour that doesn't overpower the apple) or sunflower seed butter.
- Raisins can be swapped for sultanas or dates.
- Choose unsweetened apple sauce or make your stew your own apples to make homemade apple purée. This recipe will also work with mashed ripe bananas.
- Want to boost the nutrition even more? Try mixing in a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, hemp seeds or chia seeds before rolling.
- If you find your peanut butter oat mix is too soft to roll (the apple sauce you choose to use can affect the consistency either add a little more rolled oats or chill the mixture for 15 - 30 minutes before rolling.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- These balls are freezer-friendly too—perfect for batch prepping. Just thaw in the fridge overnight or pop straight into a lunchbox to defrost by snack time.
- My older kids still love these peanut butter energy balls, but now that they are older sometimes I add chocolate chips.
Nutrition
Quick Start Guide To BLW
Baby led weaning doesn’t need to be complicated, grab my quick start guide to begin your little ones food journey.
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These are super easy and tasty, the only problem I have is not eating them all before my son can have some ? I added some chocolate chips to a few at the end too and those are great as well!!
These are super easy and tasty, the only problem I have is not eating them all before my son can have some ? I added some chocolate chips to a few at the end too and those are great as well!!
Can you tell me if the amount in parentheses is US cups? It seems off that 150g is half a cup and 300 is 3 cups. Thanks!
yes it is cups. In nz our cups are 250ml which I think is the same as the USA. Peanut butter is far denser than rolled oats which is why it weighs so much more compared to the oats.
These are super easy and tasty, the only problem I have is not eating them all before my son can have some ? I added some chocolate chips to a few at the end too and those are great as well!!
I would like to add you to favorites as my daughter in law does very
Healty treats.
Sounds great
These are super easy and tasty, the only problem I have is not eating them all before my son can have some ? I added some chocolate chips to a few at the end too and those are great as well!!
I love them and so do my grandchildren, only problem is they only last a short time ?, but its great fun making them.
Could you please tell me how much 250ml of apple is in US cups, and by apple puree, do you mean apple sauce? If cooked apple, could you explain how you cook apple(s), how many and if peeled or unpeeled? I'd really like to make these but unsure about the apple ingredient. Thanks!
For us in New Zealand, a Cup is 250ml, is it the same in the USA? I use one cup. To make my apple puree I peek apples, pop them in a pot with a little water and cook until tender, Then drain remaining water and blitz.
These are super easy and tasty, the only problem I have is not eating them all before my son can have some ? I added some chocolate chips to a few at the end too and those are great as well!!
I'm wondering if you could use apple sauce instead of puree, or would that be too watery?
I'm wondering if you could use applesauce instead of apple puree, or would that be too watery?
It will depend on the apple sauce, I have used canned apple sauce that worked as it was a thick one, ie little added water and it had no added sugar.
These are super easy and tasty, the only problem I have is not eating them all before my son can have some ? I added some chocolate chips to a few at the end too and those are great as well!!
These look right up my alley - few ingredients, healthy and simple 🙂
I made these but realized at the end I only had half the required oats and only had instant oats- what can I do now with these squidgy balls?
Could we use dates instead of rasains?
Yes absolutely. depending on the power of your food processor you may need to soak them first.
Hi Stacey
Sorry to bother but my 2 boys attend a nut-free daycare. Is there an ingredient i can use to replace peanut butter.
Thank you
You could sub peanut butter for sunflower butter
Hi is there a way to make these with porridge oats instead of rolled oats? Just realised that's all I have!
yes any rolled oats or porridge oats are totally fine
Hi there! I plan on making these as a cooking center for 2st graders. Can I skip the food processor and let the kids mix with wooden spoons and hands? Thanks!
Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?
Depending on your blender it should be fine!
Hi we have a peanut allergy. Could the peanut butter be substituted for almond butter or another nut butter?
Absolutely any nut butter or sunflower seed butter.