These energy bites are filled with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, making them the perfect anytime snack! With just 8 ingredients and minimal prep, these balls could be your easiest make-ahead snack for lunch boxes, work, gym bags, picnics, and more.
Spoiler alert: you’ve seen these before, with a different nut butter. I swear I don’t live off chocolate and nuts. But, maybe I do?
I almost didn’t share this recipe with you because it’s really just a riff on my peanut butter oat balls, which are utterly perfect and wonderful in every way. I’ve taken to bringing a batch of them everywhere I go, and I am yet to come home with leftovers. Moving? Sure, I’ll help…and bring some balls. Easter morning? Actually, yes, those are peanut butter balls in your basket. Invite me on a hike and I’m showing up with a backpack full of ’em. Work meetings? Balls for everyone! 
Despite my endless love for the peanut butter balls, I took that recipe and made a few simple changes. First, almond butter replaces the peanut butter. I like almond butter here because it is a little saltier, stickier, and more mildly flavored than peanut butter. Almonds are also full of protein, fiber, unsaturated fats, and vitamins/minerals like Vitamin E, B2, and Iron. I used maple syrup instead of honey, because I love the dark, smoky flavor of maple syrup contrasted with the smooth, intensely creamy almond butter. I also added cinnamon; its warm, sweet flavor and aroma makes these balls extra special. Finally, I reduced the amount of flax seed meal from the original recipe, because I didn’t want the flavor to overpower the more subtle almond butter. Peanut butter can stand up to the whole 1/2 cup of flax, but the almond butter flavor gets lost with more than 1/4 cup.
If you’ve tried the peanut butter version of these balls, you will definitely love their almond-y cousins. They’re still perfectly snackable in a take-them-everywhere-you-go way. They’re great cold, but can sit in a gym bag or backpack all day and still be delicious whenever you’re ready for a little boost of energy. Just like the peanut butter version, these are vegan, gluten-free, and are made in just 1-bowl in under 5 minutes. Snack time = anytime!
If you try out these almond butter oat balls at home, let me know! Leave a comment below, or tag me #bakedgreens on Instagram so I can see all your adventures in ball land! Happy Memorial Day, Friends!
Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Oat Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy salted almond butter*
- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup maple syrup can sub maple/agave
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate**
Instructions
- 1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and mix with a wooden spoon until fully combined.
- 2. Use a small ice cream scoop or spoon to portion out batter into 18-20 balls, then roll between palms to make each one round. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
**Sometimes I use chopped dates instead of chocolate chips and we love them just as much! Adapted from Baked Greens