Peanut Butter Balls
2013-11-05- Course: Snack
- Yield : 12
- Prep Time : 5m
- Cook Time : 0m
- Ready In : 5m
These are so much more than just peanut butter balls, but I just thought that peanut butter, coconut, date, chia, quinoa and cacao didn’t have the same ring to it? They really are packed full of the good stuff, and make for a healthy little treat that you can feel good about. Harry is still learning how to talk, but it has been interesting with him screaming for ‘pee but balls!!’ at the top of his lungs.
Store them in the fridge or freeze separately to enjoy when you need them.
Nutrition Note: Peanut Butter ‘Power’ Balls also has a nice ring to it – high in protein, carbohydrate, fibre and vitamin C all rolled into one. Plus the 100% cacoa gives these balls an antioxidant boost and a slight hint of the lovely bitterness of chocolate (but without the added sugar from chocolate).
Join us on Facebook for other foodie bits and pieces.Ingredients
- ¾ cup dried coconut
- ¾ cup dried pitted dates
- 2 tbsp of peanut butter (no additives, try and use natural 100% peanut butter)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup rice bubbles (salt and sugar reduced) or quinoa puffs*
- 1 tbsp 100% cacao or chocolate chips (optional for older kids)
- *Choose gluten free option if required for allergies
- Recipe update: if you find the mixture too dry you can add more peanut butter, pure maple syrup or a squeeze of honey depending on the age.
Method
Step 1
Place dried coconut and dates in a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and process to a fine crumb consistency. Transfer mixture to a clean bowl. -
Step 2
Use your hands to form a tablespoon sized ball (or roll to your desired size). Continue with remaining mixture. Store in the fridge for 3 - 4 days or freeze individually. -
Recipe Comments
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Average Member Rating
(4 / 5)
31 people rated this recipe
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posted by Leah on November 5, 2013
I don’t know if these would make it onto the tray of my daughters highchair…. I may have to eat them all!
posted by Leah on November 5, 2013
Also – the Woolworths Macro peanut butter has no additives or preservatives.
posted by Allie on November 5, 2013
Yes, you’re right. I am impressed by all the new health brands that have pure peanut butter now. It’s great to see. Ax
posted by Jo on November 5, 2013
Just made these, they are yummy! But I couldn’t get the mixture to stick into balls, so I made it into a slice!
posted by Allie on November 5, 2013
Thanks Jo, love the feedback. Oh a slice sounds great too. I think it depends on the ingredients you use as to the ‘stickiness’ you could always add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup for that final ‘stick’. I am so glad you enjoyed them. Ax
posted by Carla on November 8, 2013
Allie, these are AMAZING! Perfect to tide the little dude over until dinner. Delicious as always xx
posted by Allie on November 10, 2013
Awesome Carla. I hope little X loves them. Ax
posted by Kristin Clayton on November 10, 2013
Made these again today for my 2.5 year old and he loved them. I also love them as did my husband and Father! I added a extra tbsp of peanut butter & some honey to give the mixture a more sticky consistency. I also thought you could roll them in cacao or coconut or crushed nuts for that additional ‘something’ if you wanted to. These will be added to the menu as finger food for parties too – & I don’t just mean the kidlets. Thanks Allie x
posted by Allie on November 11, 2013
Thanks Kristin 🙂 I am so glad you all enjoyed them. I too thought they would be lovely rolled in a little coconut, might have to add that to the recipe as an option. Ax
posted by Nic on November 11, 2013
These are absolutely delicious and easy as pie to make. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll be making them again for sure.
posted by Nic on November 11, 2013
I meant to rate it 5/5!! I think it marked it as 3
posted by Anna Nunn on November 12, 2013
Yum! My 9 month old loves these but so does mummy! The first batch were gone in 2 days and I ate 90% of them, whoops. I had to add extra peanut butter to get them to stick into balls though.
posted by Allie on November 12, 2013
Oh I am so glad you said that Anna, I ate half the first batch too. I thought they tasted a bit like a healthy ferrero rocher! I think it depends on the brand of peanut butter you use, but as long as they stuck in the end! Enjoy, Ax
posted by Chloe on November 17, 2013
A bit of maple syrup and some extra peanut butter were needed to get then to stick. I also used brown puffed rice instead of rice bubbles. The batch disappeared in less than 24 hours!
posted by Allie on November 17, 2013
Thanks for the feedback Chloe. I love the idea of puffed brown rice. I made these again and they were sticky enough – strange? But it seems quite a few people have had this problem so I will make a note on the recipe. So happy you all enjoyed them 🙂 Ax
posted by Rebecca on November 21, 2013
These were a hit with my little one! She was a bit reluctant to try them at first, but now they are her favourite treat. I added a tiny bit of honey for just a little extra sweetness and stickiness. I’d like to make them with quinoa, but I can’t find quinoa puffs. Any ideas where I should look?
posted by Emma on December 5, 2013
I had the same problem, I doubled the peanut butter, and added some fresh dates that I pitted myself, and still couldn’t make balls. I ended up adding still more peanut butter, dates, and some honey and butter, which finally worked, though they are a bit greasy. I’m thinking the quantity of coconut could be wrong? Or that the dates need to be hand pitted and not pre-pitted (drier) dates?
posted by Allie on December 9, 2013
Hi Emma, thanks for the feedback. You could be onto something with the coconut. I used dried organic flakes and used a processor to process the coconut into fine pieces (have made this several times now without a problem) – if you were using desiccated coconut for instance you would probably use much more. I will try it again using a different coconut and see what happens. Ax
posted by Clare on January 21, 2014
These are delicious. I didn’t have any dates in the house the first time I made them so added prunes instead. Have since made them with dates, both just as yummy. Might try a mix of dates and prunes in the next batch. Also used puffed brown rice. So happy to have discovered your website.
posted by Allie on January 29, 2014
Thanks for your feedback, Clare 🙂 So glad you found us! Ax
posted by Amy on January 23, 2014
These are little ball of bliss! I had similar trouble with getting the balls to come together. Second time around, I soaked the pitted dates in boiling water for an hour or so before putting them into the food processor. The balls were much better vas I didn’t have to add extra peanut butter.
posted by Meg on January 29, 2014
My two boys love these and so have all their friends that I have introduced them to. I soak the dates in hot water for a few minutes before blitzing them which gives them extra moisture and stickiness. I also make them without the rice bubbles or puffed quinoa -(didn’t have any when I made them). I love the simplicity. Thanks for sharing!
posted by Allie on January 29, 2014
Great to hear Meg. Thanks for your feedback on the recipe 🙂 Ax
posted by AG on March 12, 2014
The only thing I would change is the quantity- MORE MORE MORE!!! 😉 Oh my word these are good! Ours stuck together fine, & holy moly they’re delicious… & so simple! While I’m at it with the feedback… I love your website & reckon you’ve made me a better Mum (in the food department anyway)! I was so daunted by the task of feeding my ‘fussy’, dairy intolerant daughter, & was so stuck for ideas, but your site started the ball rolling on my now determined & positive approach to preparing delicious & healthy family meals that we all can enjoy together. Thank you! Can’t wait to receive your mag in the post! 🙂
posted by Tammy on March 17, 2014
These sound awesome but I’d love to send these to school and nuts are now such a no no at most schools so I’m thinking I might try coconut spread. I’ve heard great things about it. Hopefully they will turn out 🙂
posted by Allie on March 17, 2014
Hi Tammy, they are very adaptable for you to add ingredients to. Just play around with quantities in the food processor until you have something sticky enough to form into balls. Let us know how you go with the coconut, sounds delicious. Ax
posted by Erin Burton on March 19, 2014
Hi, I love your recipes and this one is a favorite in our household.
Would love to know how many calories per ball?
Thanks!
Erin
posted by Melissa on April 7, 2014
Can you please advise an alternative to peanut butter (we are a no nut household, peanut and tree nuts)
Thanks.
posted by Hayley on May 5, 2014
I didn’t have dates, but I did have pitted prunes. Also, I only had rice flakes, not bubbles. Still absolutely delish!
posted by kylie on May 16, 2014
Do you know how many calories per ball?
posted by Brooke on September 7, 2014
I made these for my nearly 2 year old extremely picky eater. He wolfed them down and was asking for more, nearly unheard of! So relieved to find another recipe to add to my very short list of things E will eat. Thanks so much!
posted by Allie on September 8, 2014
Wonderful news 🙂 you can adapt this recipe with other healthy ingredients too. You could try some risotto balls next! Ax
posted by Adele on September 11, 2014
Hmm, no cacao in the house what would be a good substitute??
posted by Allie on September 11, 2014
You can just leave it out, Adele 🙂 Ax
posted by Amy on September 17, 2014
Do you know if this recipe is suitable to freeze? Would love to make a double batch and freeze half. Thanks
posted by Allie on September 21, 2014
Hi Amy, yes I freeze these all the time 🙂 Ax
posted by Bridget on October 18, 2014
I changed the quantities around a bit and softened the dates in a few tablespoons of boiling water. I also used rolled oats in place of rice bubbles. Made an excellent consistency for rolling into balls and the kids are big fans.
posted by nanook on October 24, 2014
I couldn’t find anything fitting the description of quinoa puffs, but found some rice and quinoa cheerio style cereal which worked well instead. I did find that I needed to use a LOT more peanut butter plus a bit of honey to get these to hold together, but wow they were delicious. Everyone in the family loves them, except the toddler I made them for. He doesn’t like the taste of peanut butter, I think, so I might have to try with another nut butter – will that work instead?
posted by Kylie on December 9, 2014
Although quite crumbly we all loved these. More Peanut butter & some Maple Syrup were needed to bind the balls.
posted by Katherine on January 15, 2015
My dates were so dry my food processor wasn’t even chopping them so I was pretty sure I was going to end up with the not-sticky-enough problem other people had. I treated my dates as I do for sticky date pudding- added 1/4 teaspoon of bicarb and 3tbsp of boiling water, then microwaved for 30 seconds. I did add a little extra coconut and rice bubbles at the end and rolled in coconut because they were sticky to touch – Maybe a spoon less of water? Anyway, they mixed up easily and are gobbled down very easily! Will definitely make these again.
posted by Clare on March 24, 2015
Hi. I’m in the UK, what are rice bubbles or quinoa puffs? Really keen on making these for my 16 month old, they look yummy!
posted by Allie on May 20, 2015
Rice krispies? Basically puffed rice – crunchy texture.
posted by Melanie on May 27, 2015
Brilliant, love these! Didn’t have rice or quinoa puffs, just added more coconut and chia. Also added maple syrup and some Tahini to make texture more moist and sticky.
posted by Allie on May 28, 2015
Appreciate the feedback, Ax
posted by Claudia on June 23, 2015
Hello, as per other comments I think these are just amazing. I can’t stop eating them. I am not sure whether this has been asked before, but is there any other variation without peanut butter? Not from an allergy point but my daughter doesn’t like peanut butter.
Thanks
posted by Allie on July 1, 2015
You can use seed butter, nut butter or even try some fruit and veggie puree. Ax