This easy and healthy recipe for granola balls is made with peanut butter, honey, coconut, chocolate chips, dried fruit and nuts. A favorite healthy snack for kids, and perfect for school lunches or to enjoy on the go!
Here’s the thing about store-bought kid’s snacks, it seems like no matter how much of them my family eats, they never feel full. Is it like that at your house? Teddy grahams, cheese puffs, crackers…No matter how many boxes I bought when I went grocery shopping, they never lasted til my next trip.
I finally decided to stop buying all those premade kids snacks and start making my own (ok, I still buy some for back up, but not as many). Recipes that were yummy, but also healthy and most of all FILLING! This granola balls recipe is a big hit at our house. Packed with fiber and protein, and sweetened with honey, so no added sugar! I love that its quick and easy to whip up a whole batch of healthy snacks for my kids that will last the week.
Have you tried my date sweetened rice crispy treats yet?
I pack them in school lunches, my husband takes them to work, and I like to bring some with me when I go shopping to keep myself from getting fast food on the go!
If you like store-bought granola bars, you are going to LOVE this recipe! There is just something about homemade that just tastes better and more wholesome. Knowing exactly what is going into your kids tummies is a great feeling.
FAQ About This Granola Balls Recipe:
Are Granola Balls Healthy?
Homemade granola balls are a healthy snack since they’re high in protein and don’t contain any processed sugars. They’re also a great source of fiber since they are loaded with nuts and dried fruits.
How Do You Make Granola Balls Stick Together?
The best way to make your granola balls stick together and not fall apart, is to use honey in them. Honey binds and holds the rest of the ingredients together like a glue. Making sure the ratio of sticky to dry ingredients is just right is also important.
Is This Granola Ball Recipe Gluten Free?
You can easily make this recipe gluten free by making sure the oats you use are certified GF on the package.
Can I make this granola balls recipe without coconut?
I know a lot of people aren’t coconut fans (I’m not crazy about it either). I’ve made these balls without coconut, just adding extra oats instead and it turned out fine. The balls were a bit more crumbly but still held together pretty well.
Can I use other nut butters in place of peanut butter in this recipe?
You can use any other nut butters in this recipe as long as they are the same consistency as peanut butter. Not oily or runny.
Granola Balls Recipe Ingredients:
- Oats: rolled Old Fashioned Oats make up the bulk of this recipe
- Peanut Butter: creamy peanut butter helps hold the shape of the granola balls
- Honey: for sweetness and to help the ingredients stick together
- Shredded Coconut: I like to use this organic unsweetened shredded coconut
- Rice Crispy Cereal: for a nice crispy bite
- Sea Salt: because sea salt makes everything better, am I right?
- Vanilla Extract: I love to use my homemade vanilla extract in this recipe
- Chocolate Chips: I use mini chocolate chips but regular sized will work too
- Dried Fruit: cranberries, dates, raisins, chopped apricots…
- Chopped Nuts: pecans, walnuts, peanuts all work well in this recipe
- Cinnamon: really makes these granola balls taste like cookies!
How to Make Healthy Granola Balls:
- Add all of your ingredients to a large bowl, or kitchen aid mixer.
- Stir until well combined. You may need to get in there with your hands to really mix the ingredients together.
- Scoop out a Tablespoon amount at a time and shape the mixture into balls with your hands.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or freeze for several months.
Tips:
To Store – To keep the granola balls from getting stuck together, store them in the fridge. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to a week or in the fridge for 3 months.
Put 4-5 granola balls into 8 oz. mason jars with lids for easy, healthy, quick snacks for your kids on the go!
Variations – If you are crunched for time, you can press the mixture into a cookie sheet, refrigerate for at least 2 hours and cut into bars. The bars will have to be refrigerated after cutting to retain their shape well.
Substitutions – Its very easy to swap out ingredients if you are missing one or two! Just make sure you are substituting something sticky another sticky ingredient and something dry with something dry. I have been out of coconut in the past and substituted with more rice crispy cereal and more oats with good results.
If you don’t want to include nuts in this recipe, you can replace them with extra chocolate chips or dried fruit.
More Recipes for Healthy Snacks On the Blog:
If you liked this recipe, I think you’ll really enjoy these other healthy snacks on the blog:
- Rice Crispy Treats With Dates
- Healthy Berry Jello
- Creamy Greek Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip
- Homemade Greek Yogurt
- Chunky Date Granola
I hope you love this recipe for healthy granola balls! If you make them, I’d love for you to come back and leave a comment and rating so that I know how you like them!
Healthy Granola Balls
Yield: about 24 balls
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
This easy and healthy recipe for granola balls is made with peanut butter, honey, coconut, chocolate chips, dried fruit and nuts.
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1-1/2 cups rice crispy cereal
- 1/2 cup dried fruits
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1/2 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Add all of your ingredients to a large bowl, or stand mixer.
Stir until well combined. You may need to get in there with your hands to really mix the ingredients together.
Scoop out a Tablespoon amount at a time and shape the mixture into balls with your hands.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or freeze for several months.
Notes
To Store - To keep the granola balls from getting stuck together, store them in the fridge. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to a week or in the fridge for 3 months.
Variations - If you're crunched for time, you can press the mixture into a cookie sheet, refrigerate for at least 2 hours and cut into bars. The bars will have to be refrigerated after cutting to retain their shape well.
Substitutions - If you don't want to include nuts in this recipe, you can replace them with extra chocolate chips or dried fruit.
If you want to leave the coconut out, just add extra oats in their place.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 4 balls
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 838Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 962mgCarbohydrates: 107gFiber: 11gSugar: 56gProtein: 18g
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