These oatmeal bliss balls are nut-free and super easy to make! This is a delicious budget friendly energy bite recipe.
Energy balls have been one of my favorite snacks over the last 5 years for hiking, kids, and toddlers! Try these carrot cake bites and these pumpkin spice oatmeal balls next!
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Why you will love this recipe
- Oatmeal raisin bliss bites are great for on-the-go, bring them as a snack for workouts, work, or school.
- These energy balls are made without dates!
- You can make these bite-sized balls in 10-15 minutes! So fast and easy!
Ingredients & nutrition
7 simple ingredients are needed for these healthy raw balls! I will share a little about the nutrition of these whole foods and why they are in this recipe.
- Rolled oats: The base of these oatmeal balls is oats! Use rolled oats or quick oats however, rolled oats contain more nutrition as they are less processed. Oats are high in protein and help in balancing blood sugar levels.
- Sunflower seeds: Adding sunflower seeds to these energy bites brings a good source of minerals. Sunflower seeds are a good source of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.
- Raisins: Raisins are the base of these balls holding them together so they can be made without dates. Raisins are an awesome source of iron.
- Honey: Adding a little honey to this recipe brings a great flavor! Choose raw honey to enjoy the minerals and enzymes it contains.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon makes these taste like raisin oatmeal cookie dough! Cinnamon is good for balancing blood sugar levels.
- Sea salt: Adding sea salt pops the flavor. I like to use Redmond salt as it is less refined and a good source of minerals.
- Chocolate chips: Adding chocolate chips makes these like a chocolate raisin oatmeal cookie in a healthy form! I use mini chocolate chips.
- Optional - Hemp hearts: I like to add hemp hearts to increase the protein! I tested the recipe with and without, and found the balls with hemp were more tasty!!!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities.
Step-by-step instructions for raisin energy balls
Follow the photos from my kitchen to make these homemade oatmeal balls. Scroll down to see the recipe card for exact ingredient details.
Soak raisins: Place raisins in a small bowl and pour hot water over them. This is to make them soft.
Drain raisins: After 5-10 minutes drain the water from the raisins and set aside for later.
Place the oats, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and sea salt into the food processor (or blender) and pulse for 30 seconds until it resembles a fine crumb.
Add the raisins and the honey to the food processor. Pulse until it all sticks together about 30 seconds. Add the chocolate chips and pulse for another 10 seconds.
Using a tablespoon roll the dough into bliss balls.
Makes about 14-16 balls. Store the energy bites in the fridge (in a container with a lid) for up to three weeks. Or keep them in the freezer and enjoy within 3 months.
Top tips for oatmeal raisin energy balls
- If the dough is too thick it may be from using hard raisins, add 1-2 tablespoons of hot water, and process again. OR, blending more in the food processor is sometimes all that is needed.
- If the dough is too sticky add more oats until everything sticks together.
- Be sure to add sea salt and cinnamon, they make the flavor delicious!
Substitution and variations
Here are a few ways to change this healthy recipe to suit your household's preferences!
- Add nuts: Throw in a handful of walnuts, pecans, or almonds to increase the healthy fats and protein in these energy balls. Add ¼ cup to the oats or with the raisins if you desire them to be chunky.
- Make without raisins: To make these oatmeal raisin energy balls without raisins use dates or dried apricots instead. Be sure to soak the dates or apricots.
- Make without oats or grain-free: To make these energy balls grain-free use walnuts, almonds, or pecans instead of the oats.
How do you store homemade energy bites?
In the fridge: Homemade energy balls should be stored in a sealed container in the fridge and eaten within 3 weeks.
In the freezer: Energy balls keep well in a sealed container for three months frozen. After this they won't go bad, they will just slowly lose their taste and texture.
These raisin bites have a firm texture and stay together when I take them hiking or on a road trip.
Other no-bake recipes to try
Oatmeal is one of my favorite ingredients because it's so versatile and affordable! Next try these chewy apple raisin oatmeal cookies!
What did you think of these oatmeal bliss balls? Would you please give this recipe a star rating and leave your comments below, I read every one, and it helps others find this recipe. 🙂
Oatmeal Bliss Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ⅓ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup optional - hemp hearts for more protein
- 2 tablespoon honey
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place the raisins in a small bowl. Pour boiling water over them so they are covered. Let them soak for 5 to 10 minutes until they're soft. Then drain the raisins in a colander, and set them aside.
- Pulse the rolled oats, sunflower seeds, sea salt, and cinnamon, for 30 seconds until it is like coarse sand. Add the raisins, honey, and hemp hearts if using, then pulse for another 30 seconds until the dough sticks together. Add the chocolate chips and pulse for 10 seconds.
- Using a tablespoon roll the dough into balls, it makes about 15 energy balls. Place the balls in a sealed container in the fridge up to three weeks. Or place the bliss balls in the freezer and enjoy them within three months.
Jen Hennig says
These are a lunch box favourite in our house! Really tasty with oatmeal cookie coziness 🧡
Danika Vanderpyl says
Jen, thanks for sharing how well these are liked in your house. Enjoy!