The latest Pinterest recipe I decided to try out was for No Bake Peanut Butter Balls. The recipe I followed is from Chef Savvy. I was excited to try this recipe because I was looking for a super easy, inexpensive snack food that I could make ahead and eat throughout the week. I thought this would be perfect!
You only need five ingredients for this recipe:
(and most of them I already had at home)
- 2/3 cup peanut butter, creamy: <$2/jar
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (I used quick oats that I already had at home): $1.89/small canister
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips: $2/bag
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseeds (I use whole and grind fresh – more on this below): $4/bag
- 2 Tbsp honey: $3.50/jar
The ingredients above make far more than one batch of these No Bake Peanut Butter Balls, so factor that in when thinking of the cost.
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How to Prep No Bake Peanut Butter Balls:
The prep couldn’t be easier. Now this is my kind of recipe 😉
All you do is…
Measure out your ingredients. I used whole flaxseeds, so I ground them first using my coffee grinder. I prefer grinding them fresh to buying them pre-ground because I have read it helps to maintain the omega 3s in them anad prevent any rancidity (when oils get oxidized and go bad). Plus, I think the taste is richer when ground fresh.
Combine them in a small mixing bowl…
Mix them all up…
Refrigerate for 15 minutes or so…
And roll out into balls (~12 per batch). How easy is that?!
What did I think of the No Bake Peanut Butter Balls?
I thought they were good, but not spectacular. I thought they were drier than I would have liked, but still tasted really good. I mean peanut butter and chocolate, you can’t go wrong. I did notice that on a couple of similar type recipes, they used some water in the recipe, which could have helped or adjusting the ratios of the ingredients slightly.
With that being said, they only lasted a few days in my house, so they definitely were not bad. I would just look to adjust the ratios slightly if I made them again.
So how good are they for you?
They are not bad for you. The flax and oats really bump up the nutritional profile by adding some omega 3s and fiber. However, they are very calorie dense, so you have to be careful not to be popping 5 of them at a time or you could be eating almost 1,000 calories. I would think of them more like a healthier version of a cookie. Here is the breakdown per ball (1/12th of recipe):
It is a very flexible recipe that you could easily adjust for diet restrictions. For instance, you can sub out peanut butter for almond butter or use agave nectar instead of honey if you are vegan.
Final verdict:
- Budget: $ low cost and budget-friendly. Especially because the ingredients are typically ones you already have in the pantry or can use for many other things.
- Time: <10 minutes to prepare (+ 15 minutes in refrigerator). Very, very easy recipe with minimal cleanup.
- Taste: Yummy, but a bit dry. Ratios may need adjusting slightly.
- Nutrition: A healthier treat than a cookie, but still need to portion control because they are about 175 calories each.
- Would I make them again? Yes, on occasion. But I would try a recipe with a bit different ratios to try to make more moist.
Have you tried No Bake Peanut Butter Balls? What did you think?
