No Bake Energy Balls

A few years back I gave my mom a recipe I had made up. I didn't think she would actually make it, but surprisingly she did- the best part was the recipe not only worked it was delicious! 

Fast forward to now and people still ask her for the recipe. One of my neighbors is literally obsessed with the recipe. She is a nurse so she doesn't have a lot of time to sit down and eat a snack, so she will make a batch of my energy balls that she can eat while moving around. The oats and peanut butter pack the balls with protein to keep you full and energized, while the sunflower seeds add a crunch and of course the little bit of chocolate helps satisfy the sweet tooth without over indulging. 

No Bake Energy Balls

• 4 cups (GF) oats- steel cut or old fashioned work best
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 or 3/4 cup chocolate chips (more or less to your preference)
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup organic (melted) honey or agave nectar
• 1 cup organic peanut butter- do not use crunchy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large mixing bowl combine oats, raisins, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds and cinnamon. 

After mixing the dry ingredients together add in the wet ingredients: peanut butter, honey and vanilla. 

Once a "dough" forms allow mixing bowl to cool in fridge for 30-40 minutes.

After the "dough" has chilled begin rolling balls with your hands. Your hands will be sticky by the end. To make forming the balls easier keep your hands cool by continually running them under cold water and drying. Hot hands will melt the chocolate and make the peanut butter runny making the balls difficult to form. The balls are not easy to form, so be patient.

Depending on how large you make the energy balls you should get 35 and 40 (1.5 inch balls).