Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
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Published Nov 29, 2018, Updated Dec 15, 2021
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Make healthy peanut butter balls with only 5 simple ingredients: peanut butter, oats, dates, chocolate and coconut oil! No powdered sugar or butter needed. These peanut butter balls are dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan!
We’re all about the holidays this weekend. Wrapping, baking, family and celebrating… that pretty much sums it up. We’ve been jamming out to Christmas tunes, traveling to visit family and overall just enjoying the season. Yesterday I spent the afternoon baking Christmas cookies with my nanny, sister and her girls. It’s a tradition and it’s something I look forward to every year. We baked and then took the goodies to our family Christmas party at my aunt and uncle’s house, which is always a good time.
Since I was young my favorite holiday treats have always been nanny’s crescent cookies, no-bake cookies and peanut butter balls. Can you tell I love all things peanut butter and chocolate?
After a little recipe testing I finally perfected a recipe for healthy chocolate peanut butter balls. They taste just like the ones I loved growing up, only they’re vegan, gluten-free, sweetened with dates and require only five ingredients! They’re basically just like my peanut butter eggs, but in the shape of a ball instead of an egg.
Everyone who has tried them has loved them, including Isaac who said, “Oh yum! They’re like peanut butter cups.”
So if you’re in need of another holiday treat recipe, these balls should be added to your list. And if you’re taking them to a party, I highly recommend doubling the recipe because they’ll go fast, trust me! 🙂
Healthy Peanut Butter Ball Ingredients
- medjool dates
- old fashioned oats
- natural roasted and salted peanut butter
- chocolate chips – I used Enjoy Life chocolate chunks.
- coconut oil
How to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
Process – Start by adding the dates to your food processor and pulse until the dates are finely chopped and form a sticky ball. Add in the oats and pulse a few more times until combined. Add in the peanut butter and process until combined.
Form balls – Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into balls. Place balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the peanut butter balls in the freezer until firm – this takes several hours so I usually just let them sit overnight!
Coat with chocolate – After your peanut butter balls are firm, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-second increments until the chocolate is melted. Dip the chilled balls into the melted chocolate and roll until covered. Place back on the parchment paper and then back in the freezer until chocolate is set.
How to Store Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Store the chocolate covered peanut butter balls in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy! They should last about a week in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.
More Chocolate Peanut Butter Treats to Try
- 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites
- Healthy Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars
Healthier Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 4-5 medjool dates, I used Natural Delights
- 2 Tablespoons gluten-free old fashioned oats
- ½ cup natural roasted and salted peanut butter
- ½ cup chocolate chips, I used Enjoy Life chocolate chunks
- ½ Tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Add dates to food processor or mini chopper and pulse until dates are finely chopped and form a sticky ball. Add in oats and pulse a few more times until combined. Add peanut butter and process until combined. If the mixture seems too oily, add another Tablespoon of oats.
- Scoop out peanut butter dough by the tablespoon and roll into balls. Place balls on parchment paper. Place peanut butter balls in the freezer until firm (several hours or overnight). This step makes it easier to dip the balls into the chocolate.
- A couple minutes before taking the balls out of the freezer, combine your chocolate chips with the coconut oil and melt the mixture. Use a double boiler or microwave in 30 second increments (stirring after every 30 seconds) until the chocolate is melted.
- Dip chilled balls into the melted chocolate and roll until covered. Place back on parchment paper. Once all balls are covered, place back in freezer until hard. Store in freezer or fridge until ready to enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Yum these sound amazing. I’m sure they were a hit! Love when you can healthily a recipe and it’s just as good!
These look delicous! Glad to hear you are enjoying the holidays. Wrapping up gifts and listening to holiday music always puts me the right spirit. Enjoy your Sunday!
Yum! You can never go wrong with the peanut butter/chocolate combo. These sound super easy too!
These look delicious! I love peanut butter balls and any way to make them healthier is great!
Love this combination and because it’s so heavy in calories I rarely make them. This is a great recipe.
I’m such a peanut butter and chocolate fan! I would loooove these 🙂
Great seeing you last night!
ANDDDD I’m really excited to have some frozen ones when I get home tonight.
Because, you know, I really need those right now. 😉
These look terrific. I love the idea off using dates as the base.
Yum, these look like a delicious snack! I’m all about anything peanut butter and chocolate.
Happy holidays!
So, I made these for my younger brother for Christmas and he LOVED them. Of course I didn’t tell him they were actually a lot healthier than they tasted 😉 Thanks for the great recipe Brittany!
OATS HAVE NO GLUTEN TODAY YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW, NEVER HAVE NEVER WILL SO STATING GLUTEN FREE OATS IS STATING THE OBVIOUS.
Hi Sandra. I realize that oats are inherently gluten-free, but unless the package or bulk bin says “gluten-free certified” the oats could be grown in the same field with other (gluten containing) grains or processed with these other grains. While this isn’t a big deal for most folks that have gluten sensitivity issues, it can be problematic for those with celiac disease. That’s why I pointed this out in the recipe. 🙂
These look delicious! My kids have peanut allergies so I would sub in SunButter, but I definitely should make these 🙂
My family is all about peanut butter. I love your healthier version of their favorite treat.
I love everything about these treats! Wish I had some to snack on right now! They’d be the perfect ending to my day!
These are so good. Tried them and now they are a new favorite!
Yay!!! So glad you love them.
I’m excited you linked to that no bake cookie recipe! I’ve made your protein no bake cookie recipe before, but can’t wait to make the more classic version!!
Hello. I’d love to make these; however, I am also intolerant to oats. Can you recommend a substitute ingredient?
Almond flour should work, you might just need to add a little extra. Maybe 3 Tablespoons instead of 2.
Love the almond flour idea! Thanks.
These are amazing!! Thank you:)
Love this recipe! I love having these on hand.
What can these be covered with instead of chocolate?
Hmmm… what type of coating are you looking for?
thank you for sharing this great content thank you so much
Next time I’m doubling the recipe!! 💕
I made these and I was pleasantly surprised! They are delicious, and will be my favorite go to when I get a craving for peanut butter and chocolate.
Hi Heather, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed these. Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, it means the world to me! 🙂
This recipe sounds so delicious! I will definitely give it a try! It’s so quick and easy, and such a perfect fix when you have kids and want to give them a snack.
Yes, these are definitely kid-approved! Let me know if you end up making these pb balls and how they turn out for you. 🙂
How long will these stay good in the fridge? Thanks!
They should stay good in the fridge for at least a week and then in the freezer for a few months! 🙂
Hi! Just wondering if I can make these without dates or if there’s a substitute? I don’t have them on-hand right now.
Hey Megan! The dates are a pretty big component to this recipe and I’m not sure what would be a good substitute. 🙁
SO easy and delicious! Taste just like peanut butter cups! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
You’re so welcome, Monique! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Hi! I can’t wait to try these! I bought Zahidi dates and theyre not Medjool dates.Will that work?
That should work just fine, you might just need to use more dates since Medjool dates are bigger. Let me know how they turn out for you!!
Wow nice recipe… thank you
do I have to use chocolate chips or can I just use the wafers for melting , I used them in a different recipe. without the oil. Ghirdelli’s has some nice dark chocolate ones.
Hi Dawn! I think you’re fine to use the chocolate wafers instead of chocolate chips. And I agree, I don’t think you’ll need the oil with the wafers.
I am always really impressed with “eating bird food” recipes and ideas. Thank you, this helps a lot!
These are fantastic! We voted them even better than traditional buckeyes. I didn’t even use the coconut oil with the chocolate and they still turned out great. Highly recommend.
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Amazing!!!
I would eat these as a treat over Reese’s any day! These are super easy to make and sooooo good.
Ahh, this makes me so happy to hear! Thanks for the review, Alyse.
Delicious! I used to love the conventional ones but once I learned how much powdered sugar was in them, I didn’t make them much. These are better tasting and I feel great knowing it’s healthy. My whole family enjoys these!
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear. I’m glad these pb balls were a hit with your family. Thanks for the review, Diana. I so appreciate it!
Another great sweet treat that will have a home in my freezer for the foreseeable future. YUMMY!! Thank you!
Yay!! So glad you loved these. Thanks for the review, Sherry. 🙂
Hello does the recipe still work if you don’t use any oil?
Hey Myah – The coconut oil is used to help thin the chocolate out for dipping the pb balls. You can skip it if you prefer, but the chocolate might be thicker for dipping.
Delicious! Loved equally by me, a dessert-addict, and my husband, who prefers less sweet treats.
Woo!! So glad these pb balls were a hit, Sonia. Thanks for the review, I so appreciate it!
Absolutely delicious 😋😋 I used almond butter as just my personal preference …. loved them, only problem I had was stopping at just one 🤭
So glad you loved these treats!! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
It looks like I’m gonna have to do some major shopping 😃 so I can start busting out all these GF goodies for my husband! Carnelian ginger indeed!
I noticed you responded to another commenter saying that Zahidi dates could be substituted if one didn’t have medjool. I was wondering what you think of the Noor date as a substitute? From what I’ve been reading about it it’s drier than the medjool, but do you think it would still work?
That should still work! Noor dates are smaller, so you’ll likely need to use more and also if the dates seem dry, just soak them in water for 10 minutes before to soften them up. Let me know how these turn out for you!!
Loving this recipe. Can I sub sun butter for the peanut butter? I’m making these for someone with a tree nut allergy?
Totally sun butter will work great as a sub for the peanut butter.
I love the taste of this snack! Any suggestions for making the peanut butter balls firmer for rolling. When I scoop out the tablespoon to roll into a ball it will not hold form. Still love the taste.
So glad you love these, Cheryl! You could try placing the dough in the fridge to harden up a bit before rolling them into balls?
I would add a little almond flour or whey protein powder which is what i used.
They were very messy trying to roll the dough. Any tips. I did add the additional tablespoon of oats.
Mmmm.. sounds like they were too wet and might of needed even more oats maybe?
My husband LOVES peanut butter balls, but I rarely make them because of all the sugar. I made these this weekend and they are absolutely wonderful!!!! I 4x the recipe to have plenty. I had no problem with them being too sticky. We are cyclists and I took some to eat while riding and they were great. Thanks for a great recipe!!
Ah yay! This makes me so happy to hear, Juanelle. Glad these peanut butter balls were a hit! Thanks so much for trying them out and coming back to leave a review :).
excellent post thank you for sharing
Doubled or tripled the dates and oats and used homemade peanut butter with some almond flour mixed in. There were so delicious that we ate them all before we could even coat them with chocolate! There is a place in town that makes something similar and I was addicted…but now I can store them myself in the freezer! Thanks!
Yess! Love hearing that you are enjoying this recipe, Phaid. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it.
These are so good! They definitely don’t make it a week at my house!
YES! They don’t make it long at my house either! Glad they are a hit and you are loving them, Amy. Thanks for your review + star rating, I appreciate it!
Delicious!!
Could i make these without dates? Same pb/oats ratio?
Hey Irene – The dates are a pretty big component to this recipe and I don’t believe the pb + oats would hold together without them. You could try swapping the dates for figs or raisins if you want, but I wouldn’t skip it all together.
Yeah…these are dope. Is it still healthy if I eat 5 in a row? 😂😂😂
Made once already, about to make them again 🙂
LOL 😂! These are definitely hard to keep around! Glad you’re loving this recipe, Elise! Thanks so much for your review & star rating, I appreciate it!