Rather than reaching for that afternoon cup of coffee, Diet Coke, or Red Bull, reach for one of these.
Vegan, gluten-free, and a shot of espresso is blended right in.
Ok maybe not a shot, but there’s some. Enough to help power you up, in addition to the cocoa and peanut butter.
I love no-bake balls, bites, cookie dough, and truffles because they’re fast and easy to make, and almost impossible to screw up.
Add all the ingredients to the canister of a food processor and blend until everything comes together in one big ball. When you see the dough traveling around the base of the food processor like a tennis ball, you know it’s the right consistency.
For jobs like this, I prefer my food processor to my Vita-Mix, but either will work. Cleanup is easier with a food proc and no issues with overheating.
For these fudgy, dense balls, I combined peanut butter, corn syrup, cocoa powder, instant espresso granules, vanilla, and old-fashioned whole rolled oats. Within a matter of about 2 minutes, the dough combined and I rolled them into balls.
I used storebought peanut butter for its thickness rather than homemade peanut butter, although you could try with homemade, but may have to add more oats since it’s runnier.
For the sweetener, use agave, brown rice syrup, honey (not vegan), or corn syrup. I used corn syrup because it’s sweet, cheap, and works.
I used these Instant Espresso Coffee Granules, sold right next to cans of coffee in my grocery store. It’s only about $4 bucks and very worth having on hand. I add a tablespoon or so to any kind of chocolate dessert, especially brownies, because it helps intensity the chocolate punch.
It brings out the chocolate flavor of the powerballs, and doesn’t really make them taste like espresso. The cocoa powder masks the flavor of it.
The peanut butter flavor takes a backseat to the chocolate, too. It’s there, but not overly bold.
Because I used unsweetened cocoa powder, in conjunction with the espresso granules, the powerballs aren’t overly sweet. They’re rich, with a robust depth of flavor, without being too sweet.
They pair perfectly with a cup of coffee, a glass of merlot or a bold cabernet. Not that I’d know.
The recipe is very flexible and ripe for substitutions. Use a splash of bourbon rather than vanilla, skip the sprinkles and roll in cocoa powder, swap Nutella for peanut butter, start with quick-cook oats rather than old-fashioned because old-fashioned become pulverized into quick-cook in about 10 seconds anyway.
As written, you may have to play around with the ratios slightly, adding a pinch more oats or squirt more sweetener, but the dough should come together easily.
If it’s seems very soft or is overly sticky, add more oats until it firms up. It’s sticky to a point, but it shouldn’t be so sticky that it’s like working with paste. That’s a sign you need to add more oats.
If you’re having issues forming it into balls or it still seems on the sticky side despite adding more oats to dry it out and firm it up, chill the dough for an hour or so before rolling into balls.
Dredging in sprinkles is optional, but highly recommended if you love sprinkles like I do. They add texture, a pop of flavor, and they make everything look more fun.
They’ll keep in the fridge or freezer for months, and the next time you need a little boost, a couple of these should do the trick.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Mocha Powerballs (no-bake, vegan, gluten-free)
Rather than reaching for another cup of coffee or diet soda, a couple of these will power you up instead. Rich, dense, fudgy, and not overly sweet. They’re no-bake, vegan, gluten-free and come together in minutes. The recipe is ripe for substitutions (see blog post for suggestions). If your dough is sticky or tacky, it means it’s too moist and needs to be dried out – add more oats. Chilling the dough for an hour before rolling into balls is also helpful. The powerballs keep for months in the fridge or freezer and come in handy for those afternoon slumps or before a workout.
Ingredients
- heaping 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I used storebought rather than homemade peanut butter
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup, agave, brown rice syrup, or honey (not vegan)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons Instant Espresso Coffee Granules
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or bourbon or whiskey)
- about 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned whole-rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if necessary; quick-cook oats may be substituted – start with 1 cup, and add more as needed)
- sprinkles or cocoa powder for rolling, optional
Instructions
- To the canister of a food processor, add peanut butter, sweetener of choice, cocoa powder, espresso granules, vanilla, 1 cup oats, and blend until mixture comes together.
- Add 1/4 cup oats, or as needed, until dough comes together. When dough is the correct consistency, it travels around the base of the canister like a tennis ball. If it’s sticky, tacky, or isn’t clumping together in a ball; or if you’re trying to roll into balls and it’s very difficult to shape, it’s too wet and more oats should be added. Add more until it firms up.
- Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, form 1-inch balls (approximately). Roll between your palms until smooth. If dough is very sticky, even after adding additional oats, chill it for about 1 hour before rolling. Repeat until dough is gone.
- Optionally dredge balls through sprinkles or cocoa powder.
- Place balls in a large airtight container in a single, flat layer. I prefer to store balls in the fridge and serve slightly chilled. Balls will keep for at least 6 weeks in the fridge, and can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 69Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
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My cookbook, Peanut Butter Comfort is full of peanut butter + chocolate combinations, including a no-bake chapter with little balls, bites, and truffles
What kind of energy, snack, or cookie dough balls do you make?
Oh wow, I’m glad I asked. Thank you!
would I able to substitute the syrup for applesauce? I really want to make these but I don’t have enough honey.
No do not use applesauce. Make a half batch then if you have enough honey, but applesauce will make them gloppy and it won’t bind them like honey will.
When I saw these on google plus I thought I might be in heaven! Peanut butter, chocolate and espresso, then covered in sprinkles! I’m in love! I better pin these little ladies for later!
Thanks for pinning!
I love the simplicity of this recipe, especially the fact that there’s espresso blended in. Just wanted to let you know that I linked to these on my blog today. :)
These are amazing! I usually hit my afternoon slump around 3pm. I had all the ingredients for these and they are a hit around the office.
So glad to hear you loved these!
I thinnk I’m addicted..just made my second batch…rolled in coconut (ran out of sprinkles on the last batch).
That is awesome! Glad the recipe is coming in handy and fun idea with the coconut!
I need these powerballs in my liiiiife!! They sound amazing, and I adore the sprinkles!!
Of course these caught my eye with all those sprinkles!!
Delish! And so pretty!! I’d chose these over a Red Bull any day.
Why are you still using corn syrup when there is so much out there that is better for you?
she gave the option of agave or honey….I just used a combo of both in the second batch I made.
I would choose these over energy drinks any day! And they’re so cute with all those bright, vibrant sprinkles :)
Yummy! Looks like a perfect afternoon pick me up! :)
http://www.dressdinedwell.wordpress.com
Love the color combination on these! Yummy!
Ok, I just pined this and I have a quick question for you if you don’t mind. You can email if it’s easier. How did you get the bigger photo for you picture? Mine always show up as the smaller rectangular standard photo size, but I want the bigger photo? Is it easy to set up? Thanks girl! xoxo, Jackie
Ok, first off these look amazing and they totally caught my eye on my Facebook feed. I love all the colors of the sprinkles in contrast with the dark chocolate. It’s literally eye candy! I’m so going to try these up soon. Ok, how did I miss all of those amazing truffle recipes? OMG, that cake batter one looks so yummy! Going to have to remember that come Christmas time :) xoxo, Jackie
These look amazing! Love all the sprinkles and creativity!
I love that that keep so long in the fridge! These are so darn cute too!
I think the sprinkles are where the power comes from :)
OMG! These look so good and simple!! So many of your recipes are on my “list!” Thanks for sharing :)
awesome! so simple and easy! i’ll definitely try them out as a yummy power snack when studying! :)
Having these in the freezer would be DANGEROUS! And the nutella swap…yes please!!
These are the cutest, love the sprinkles!
I love that you called these powerballs. Like, right?! These are easy. I like that the processor does all the work anyway. Nice mini bite things for parties. I might wanna do a batch for the freezer.
Ok…these little guys made me smile right when I laid eyes on them! Can’t wait to give them a try! Great pictures by the way :)
Thanks for the compliments & LMK if you make them!
WOW! Powerballs is the perfect name! Nut butter, agave, chocolate, AND espresso powder would give anyone insane amounts of energy. Love the idea of eating one of these as a mid day snack and pick-me-up
Well said! When you put it just like you did, no wonder they give some good energy :)
Powerballs!
Now you can have your powerball and eat it too!
LOL (sorry I have powerball jackpot on the brain).
These are so cute Av!
I would love to win the Powerball. I should probably buy a ticket, right! :)
THIS is something I need for finals week. Espresso, no bake, and vegan? Perfect for college!
Perfect for college b/c you dont even need to technically refrigerate them, even though I like them chilled, but they’re shelf-stable for a long time!
Wow! Impressive. I need some of these power me up powerballs, asap!! You made these look so pretty with the sprinkles/jimmies! (=
Everything is better with plenty of sprinkles!!!
This is a Katie recipe if ever there was one. I’m so getting those espresso granules!
I just got a cookbook in the mail to review called Sprinkles! LOVE them.
Sprinkles (book) – I have Heather’s book, Sprinklebakes, but I don’t think I’ve seen Sprinkles. Sounds like a good one.
Oh if you dont have that espresso powder, GET IT. It’s the best – 1 tsp to 1 tbsp in any choc cake, brownie, etc recipe. Any chocolate recipe at all, it’s mandatory to add :)
Love this, Averie! Fantastic snack idea! And you’re right, sprinkles make everything taste better! :)
These little powerballs just have fun written all over them! Your photos add to the fun, I can only imagine how wonderful they taste. Great post!!
Thanks for the awesome comment, Dan!
These are stunning! I’m all about substituting good ingredients for bad and I know that these will fool ya! Gorgeous photos as usual…
want, need, LOVE
I really love how fun you made these powerballs look!
Powerballs! Yes! These are my kind of treat. And the sprinkles make them that much better, obvi! :)
They just scream, Happy Food! :)
These powerballs just make me so over the moon happy! SPRINKLES!
I feel the same! :0
I need these powerballs in my life! Sprinkles and all!
What a fun idea for a pick me up!
A dessert to wake me up in the morning? Yup, count me in!! Who needs coffee when you have these?
Exactly! :)
They’ll keep in the freezer for months, you say. Well, not in my house!! These would be gone in a second, they look wonderful and I can’t wait to try the nutella version ;-)
Exactly – but if you make a bigger batch or find yourself with soooo many treats b/c you bake for a living (me!) it’s always nice to have things that are super easy to freeze, and compact and take up almost no room!
I could totally wake up to these every morning! And I’m sure I’d gobble up about 20 of these instantly!
They like Pringles. Once you pop, you can’t stop :)
Those are just fun. I love how you take a simple recipe, but make it really stand out as something special.
Thanks Heather – I try! :)
Visually, they remind me of brigadeiros – the Brazilian bonbons – only they’re really very different…yours are much healthier! I love the idea of the PB and espresso combination. Looks great, too!
And it’s really more of a chocolate flavor than PB when you bite into one b/c the PB is more subtle. Usually PB dominates but not in these. Brazilian bonbons. I love the sound of that!
The sprinkles are definitely mandatory. :)
Hello afternoon snack, nice to meet you. LOVE the espresso Averie, both for the punch it adds to the chocolate and because I always need a miday boost.
Medaglia D’oro is the only brand of instant espresso powder I can find around here–I try to keep a jar for recipes involving chocolate! I’m on a roll for getting some of your posts made and sampled before I go to work…..and this one is my favorite base recipe for homemade protein bars. I usually swap some of the oats for a little protein powder. Thursdays are long–I have my guitar lesson right after work so I need an afternoon powerball (or 3)! These are so yummy–one of my favorite quick snacks. I added some toasted cocoa nibs for a little crunch.
I can’t believe you already made these!! Literally 2 hours or so after the recipe was up. Bravo!!! Glad you like them and happen to have everything on hand, including the espresso powder. It’s the cheapest and most readily available brand here, and it works, so I stick with it! Toasted cocoa nibs – darn, I actually have some and picked up the bag and moved it out of the way when I was reaching for my cocoa powder. (head smacking forehead now!) – That sounds like a great idea for next time. Glad you like them and they’ll get your over long Thursday!
I have the same espresso granules and used it just last night for some chocolate pots de creme. Love that it totally amps up the chocolate level.
All my favorite things in one cute as can be power ball! I love these, Averie!
Thanks Tieghan!
I love this idea Averie!! Such a fun snack (and one to not feel too guilty about).
What a fun, beautiful and healthy afternoon snack!!!
wow these look so healthy and delicious! would make for a perfect mid-day snack…i love the sprinkles on them, too…cute!
Chocolate, peanut butter and mocha in a truffle-like treat called a powerball? I’m there! Fun photography, too. Thanks for another great quick and easy treat recipe, Averie!
Glad you like them. They were fun to shoot (and come up with a name for!)
These sound like my cup of tea. I’d be quite tempted to have them with a glass of bourbon…to compliment the bourbon in them, of course:)
Great minds think alike :)