Banana Chocolate Chip Energy Balls (Printable)

No-bake banana and chocolate chip energy balls with oats and nut butter. Naturally sweet, ready in 10 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 large ripe banana, mashed
02 - 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
03 - 1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter
04 - 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

→ Add-ins

05 - 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
06 - 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
07 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
08 - Pinch of sea salt

# Method:

01 - In a large bowl, mash the banana until smooth and no large lumps remain.
02 - Add almond butter, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the mashed banana. Stir until fully combined and smooth.
03 - Add oats, ground flaxseed, sea salt, and chocolate chips to the wet mixture. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed and the mixture holds together when pressed.
04 - Refrigerate the mixture for 20-30 minutes to firm up. This step makes rolling easier and prevents the balls from becoming too sticky.
05 - Using your hands, scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll into 1-inch balls. Place each ball on a parchment-lined tray or plate.
06 - Transfer the energy balls to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No oven required, which means you can make them even when your kitchen already feels like an oven at 4pm on a July afternoon
  • The natural sweetness from ripe banana means you can feel good about grabbing two instead of just one
  • They somehow taste indulgent enough to satisfy dessert cravings while being substantial enough to power you through a workout
02 -
  • If your mixture feels too dry to hold together, add another teaspoon of honey or a tiny splash of water until it cooperates
  • The mixture will seem very sticky before chilling—that's completely normal and exactly why the fridge step matters
  • If it's too sticky even after chilling, wash and dry your hands between every few balls to keep things manageable
03 -
  • Let your bananas get almost black before using them—the flavor develops dramatically and you'll need less sweetener
  • Toast your oats in a dry pan for 3-4 minutes before mixing them in for an extra nutty, sophisticated flavor
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