No-Bake Oatmeal Balls

These No-Bake Oatmeal Balls are an easy, healthy, gluten-free treat made with oats, raisins, dates, cinnamon, and nuts.

Reminiscent of an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, these oatmeal energy balls are a faster and healthier way to satisfy your cookie craving.

Oatmeal Energy Balls are packed with fiber, nutrients, healthy fats, and a bit of protein--no added sugars, no processed fat! Like a guilt-free oatmeal cookie!

They are made with wholesome ingredients, easy to throw together, and sweet enough to satisfy your sweet tooth without a sugar crash.

Like Homemade Larabars, these Oatmeal Balls make a portable snack or a perfect sweet bite to finish a meal.

Ingredients Needed

While the options for oatmeal balls are endless, this variety is made with the addition of cinnamon and raisins to mimic the flavor in an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.

• Dates: Be sure to use whole pitted dates, not chopped dates as they are typically coated in sugar.
• Nuts: Be sure your nuts are unsalted and dry roasted. If using raw nuts, toast them lightly before preparing these oatmeal balls.  I use a mixture of almonds and walnuts for the best texture and flavor, but feel free to use all almonds or all walnuts.
• Oats: Use either old-fashioned oats or quick-cooking oats for these oatmeal balls, but be sure the oats are gluten-free to keep these oatmeal balls gluten-free.

Step-By-Step Directions

• Place the dates in a large heat-safe bowl and cover with boiling water and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes to soften the dates.
• Drain off the dates and place them into the food processor. Add the oats, cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, and almonds into the food processor.

• Pulse the mixture until the nuts and dates are broken down into small pieces and everything is well incorporated. Don't overprocess or the energy balls will lose all their texture.

• With moistened hands, roll out a tablespoon of the mixture into a ball.
• Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for 10 minutes to harden up slightly.

Mix-In Options

While the flavor in these Oatmeal Raisin Balls is delicious, feel free to play around with adding in additional ingredients for nutrients or flavor.

• Chocolate Chips: After pulsing together the dates, raisins, oats, and nuts, stir in up to ⅓ cup of mini chocolate chips.
• Flaxseed: Add 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds to the food mixture before processing, for added fiber and healthy fats.
• Wheatgerm: For added protein and fiber, add 1-2 tablespoons of wheatgerm to the food mixture before processing.
• Nuts: Use pecans instead of walnuts. Or use all almonds and omit the walnuts entirely. Any combination of nuts works as long as you use a total of ¾ cup.
• Dried Cranberries: Instead of raisins use dried cranberries for a pop of tart flavor.

Recipe Notes

• Storage: Store leftover oatmeal balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I don't recommend freezing due to the dates.
• Raisins: If your raisins happen to be dried out or not very plump, soak them in hot water as you do the dates.
• Toasting Nuts: If you are using raw nuts, spread them out onto a sheet pan and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or place them in a single layer in a skillet and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, or until golden and begin to smell nutty. This is an important step to really developing the flavor in the nuts and will allow your oatmeal balls to have the best flavor.

More Wholesome Snack Recipes

• Homemade Granola Bars
• Homemade Larabars
• Healthy Homemade Granola
• Whole Wheat Banana Snack Bars

If you enjoyed these simple Oatmeal Energy Balls, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below. 

No-Bake Oatmeal Balls

These Oatmeal Energy Balls are made with dates, raisins, nuts, and oats for a healthy treat that mimics the flavor of an oatmeal cookie.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 20

Calories: 58kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• ▢ ½ cup pitted dates
• ▢ ½ cup raisins
• ▢ ½ cup oats
• ▢ ¼ cup almonds
• ▢ ½ cup walnuts
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ 1 tablespoon reserved liquid

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Instructions

• Soak the dates in boiling warm water for 10 minutes. Drain the dates, reserving the liquid, and place the dates into a food processor that has been fitted with an s-blade.
• Add the raisins, oats, almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon and pulse until the mixture just comes together, adding in up to 1 tablespoon of the date soaking liquid to the mixture if needed.
• With dampened hands, roll 1 tablespoon of mixture together to form a ball.
• Let harden in the fridge for at least 10 minutes
• Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Equipment Needed

• Food Processor

Notes

Storage: Store leftover oatmeal balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I don't recommend freezing due to the dates.

Dates: Be sure to use whole pitted dates, not chopped dates as they are typically coated in sugar.

Oats: Use certified gluten-free oats to keep your oatmeal balls gluten-free if needed.

Raisins: If your raisins happen to be dried out or not very plump, soak them in hot water as you do the dates. 

Toasting Nuts: If you are using raw nuts, spread them out onto a sheet pan and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or place them in a single layer in a skillet and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, or until golden and begin to smell nutty. This is an important step to really developing the flavor in the nuts and will allow your oatmeal balls to have the best flavor. 

Optional Mix-Ins: Play with the ingredients to use what you like. Use all almonds or all walnuts, or add pecans to the mix. Use dried cranberries in place of raisins, or add 1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed or wheat germ to the mixture. Or for a chocolate treat, stir in up to ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips after processing the oatmeal balls. 

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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This post was originally published in 2015 but was updated in 2021 with new pictures and tips.