This post is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company. All opinions are my own.
We are in prime snacking season. From summer camp lunch boxes to afternoons at the pool to car trips to the beach, so many of us are on the go. I am also so much more active in the summer, yet I don’t want to fuel up on something that’s going to weigh me down. That’s why I love little energy bites like these Chocolate Coconut Snack Balls.
Ingredients
They are made with wholesome, energizing ingredients: Quaker Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, whole wheat flour, chia seeds, coconut, chocolate sunflower butter, coconut butter, and vanilla. Mazen thinks they are cookies! Of course, if you like your snacks on the sweet side, feel free to add a little honey, maple syrup or to roll these in chocolate! (Just note that you’ll need to adjust the water a little to account for the added liquid.)
(If you’re wondering why my coconut butter puddle is lightly brown, it’s because I melted it a little too much in the microwave! Toasted coconut butter anyone?!)
How To Make Them
This recipe couldn’t be easier to make: dump everything but the water in a bowl. Mash. Add water. Roll. Done!
I used my clean hands to mix the dry ingredients and butters together – it’s easier than a spoon!
Next, add a few tablespoons of water until the mixture comes together. I ended up adding 2.5 tablespoons. Start with two and then add a wee bit more if you need it.
Roll the mixture into about eight balls. You can store them on your counter or chill them in the fridge. I like the texture when they’re chilled because the coconut butter hardens a bit and gives them a bit more chew.
The Recipe
Chocolate Coconut Oat Balls
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Quaker Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tbsp dried coconut
- 1/4 cup coconut butter softened
- 1/4 cup chocolate sunflower butter or other nut butter
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2-3 tbsp water
Instructions
- Soften coconut butter in the microwave or a pot of warm water.
- Combine all ingredients except for water in a bowl. Mix well with hands.
- Add water one tablespoon at a time until mixture comes together into a dough.
- Roll dough into eight balls and chill in the refrigerator.
Snack, snack, and away we go!
This post was sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company
Kori says
July 12, 2016 at 8:37 amI really need to make us some energy bites! I love keeping Larabars on hand, but these look even better!
Jenn says
July 12, 2016 at 8:37 amLooks yummy! Is there a substitute for the coconut butter? I have everything but this!
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 10:32 amYou could try using a nut butter, which would work just as well in the mixing stage, but it wouldn’t get as hard in the fridge like coconut butter does.
Becca says
August 28, 2016 at 1:14 amWould coconut oil work ok?
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
July 12, 2016 at 8:58 amI love making energy bites! Currently in the fridge is salted peanut butter next up are these! Yum!
Valerie says
July 12, 2016 at 9:13 amYum! Don’t we need to be careful about eating raw flour dough now — not the egg, but the flour?
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 10:36 amI’m aware of that warning, but my flour wasn’t affected. If you’re worried you could use homemade oat flour.
Ellen says
July 12, 2016 at 9:33 amJust wondering if there is something I could substitute for the flour. (The FDA issued a warning two weeks ago telling people not to eat raw flour because of e.coli.) Thanks!
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 10:37 amIf your flour is at risk, you could use homemade oat flour by putting some oats in the food processor.
Alex says
July 12, 2016 at 9:37 amThe FDA just released a warning about eating raw flour. I would consider leaving it out of no bake recipes. Otherwise looks tasty!
OKC Painting says
July 12, 2016 at 10:24 amThese look so yummy! I would love to give them a try!
Lisa Valinsky says
July 12, 2016 at 10:26 amYum! And love that you used coconut butter. I rarely buy it but it’s so delicious. 🙂
Danielle @ Wild Coast Tales says
July 12, 2016 at 10:45 amThese look great! I love the combination of chocolate sunflower seed butter and coconut butter.
Keri says
July 12, 2016 at 11:31 amI think the FDA warned against eating any raw flour/dough. Maybe you should edit the post to include a warning or change the ingredient list…for safety!
Otherwise, sounds delish!
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 11:40 amSee my other response to this!
Kelly says
July 12, 2016 at 11:33 amThe FDA says that raw flour- regardless of brand- can harbor bacteria that causes disease. This is not limited to the recent brands of General Mills flour being recalled due to the E. coli outbreak.
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm508450.htm
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 11:40 amYeah, and I think this is quite overkill on their part, as the risk of contamination is extremely low. They have to say it to make people aware of the risk – especially for those with weakened immune systems. By all means take their advice – they are the food safety experts. But I hardly expect all the no-bake recipes with flour to disappear from the world (or all the cookie dough!). And as I said above, disclaimer: to be extra safe given that one contaminated batch, use oat flour for even more oaty-ness!
Linda @ The Fitty says
July 12, 2016 at 11:46 amThese are great for an on the go snacks! So long as I don’t squish them in my bag, haha.
Molly says
July 12, 2016 at 1:07 pmThis is my first time commenting, but I wanted to say thank you for a recipe using sunflower seed butter. My 11 month old baby was diagnosed with a peanut allergy last week, so our family has eliminated all peanut products. I enjoy health blogs, but hate seeing peanut butter everywhere since it’s a constant reminder of our new biggest fear. I’m assuming you chose to send these to camp with Mazen for the safety of other children like my sweet girl. Thank you! Hopefully other parents will follow suit!
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 1:16 pmI used sunflower butter a lot because our schools and camps are peanut free 🙂
Yuki says
July 12, 2016 at 1:25 pmI used toasted wheat germ in place of the flour in this recipe because I love it and always have it on hand. It worked really well, and these coconut oat balls are delicious!
KathEats says
July 12, 2016 at 1:43 pmGreat to know – thanks! I imagine any loose flour-y mixture would be a great sub.
Amanda says
July 12, 2016 at 1:42 pmWow what an easy and delicious recipe! I love the combo of chocolate and coconut any day 🙂
Patti says
August 20, 2016 at 5:04 pmIs the wheat needed? I’ve had to go gluten-free recently and am trying to find snacks that aren’t just bananas. Would a GF flour work? Is flour even needed?
KathEats says
August 20, 2016 at 10:15 pmYou can probably skip it!
Becca says
September 5, 2016 at 6:36 pmWould coconut oil work in place of coconut butter?
KathEats says
September 5, 2016 at 6:48 pmIt wouldn’t have quite the same effect, but I think it would work
Debra cohen says
August 26, 2018 at 1:54 amWhat is chocolate sunflower buttr and where can I get it. Could you just mix cocoa powder into sunflower buttr?