These carob oatmeal energy bites are one of the easiest carob recipes you'll ever make. They come together in 1 bowl – no food processor required! The best part is that they really highlight the nutty and caramel-like taste of carob powder, making it taste more like a treat than a healthy snack.
If you like carob recipes, make sure to try my no-bake carob pie with a super fudgy texture.
Jump to:
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Gluten-free rolled oats add fiber and make these energy balls a filling snack. While you can make this recipe with thin oats, I recommend using thick old-fashioned rolled oats for some extra bite and texture. Make sure to use gluten-free certified rolled oats if you're on a gluten-free diet like me.
- Carob powder: It reminds me of cocoa but with delicate caramel notes adding such a nice twist to classic oatmeal energy balls! If you don't have carob you can easily replace it with cocoa powder but the taste won't be the same.
- 100% pure almond butter acts as a sticky base for all the other ingredients. You can replace it with any other nut butter you like but I find that almond butter pairs best with carob powder. To make this recipe nut-free, use sunflower seed butter or light tahini. However, I don't recommend brown/raw tahini as it has a very strong earthy flavor.
- Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness to the energy bites. You can replace it with agave syrup if needed.
- Coconut oil holds the energy bites together. Especially once it solidifies again in the refrigerator.
- Vanilla extract: To elevate the flavor. Make sure to buy high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor. My favorite is the Nielsen-Massey Madagascar bourbon pure vanilla extract.
Elo's tips
- I highly recommend grabbing a pack of carob powder to make this recipe! It's positively surprising and such a nice alternative to regular chocolate energy balls.
- If the energy bites mixture is too crumbly when trying to roll it into balls, add a little water (1 tablespoon at a time). The added moisture will make the dough stickier and you should be able to form energy balls easily.
- Make sure your hands a slightly wet when forming the energy balls to prevent the dough from sticking.
Step-by-step instructions
STEP 1: Combine the wet ingredients. Add the almond butter, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, carob powder (or cocoa powder), and salt to a medium mixing bowl.
STEP 2: Add in the rolled oats. Give it a good stir with a spatula until they are well-covered with carob mixture.
STEP 3: Form balls with your damp hands. Press about 1 heaped tablespoon of dough between your hands and roll it into a ball. If the dough keeps falling apart, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to the mixture to make it moist.
STEP 4: Optionally roll the energy bites into shredded coconut. If you do it right after rolling the balls, the coconut should stick naturally.
Storage tips
Place the oatmeal energy bites in an airtight container (I use Weck jars or these Pyrex food storage containers) and store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Note that they will harden a little in the fridge but soften again once at room temperature.
Energy bites do not freeze well but are easy to make in less than 15 minutes.
Join us!
Don’t forget to join the Cooking With Elo newsletter. You’ll get plant-first recipe ideas sent weekly to your inbox.
The recipe
Carob Oatmeal Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- ⅓ cup (80 g) almond butter
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons carob powder sub cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (100 g) gluten-free rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut optional
Instructions
- Melt. If needed, melt the coconut oil in a medium bowl.
- Combine. Add in the almond butter, maple syrup, water, carob powder, vanilla extract, and salt. Give it a good mix. Stir in the oats.
- Shape. Roll 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture into balls with damp hands to prevent them from sticking. If the mixture is too crumbly and falls apart when trying to shape balls, add another tablespoon of water to the mixture and give it a good mix. The added moisture should help it stick together.
- Coat (optional). Add shredded coconut to a small bowl or ramekin. Roll the balls into the shredded coconut.
Nutrition
Equipment
Leave a star rating and review below. Thank you!
Love these energy balls and they are so easy to make! I had no carob powder and took cacao powder instead.
Glad you could make it work with cocoa powder☺️