I made you brown balls today.
Yea… I feel bad.
Yea… you totally deserve better.
The summer is alive with color and gorgeous produce and I bring you brown balls? I’ve got some nerve.
In other news:
I’m looking for a place to live by the beach… turns out that it’s exhausting.
I’m currently eating popcorn for at least two meals a day.
I’m house sitting a dog that begs and farts.
Lastly, I spent a majority of this evening using two Sharpie markers, 18 pieces of white paper and a camera. It’s an art project to ask a boy out… because texting just seems too hard and awkward. Riiiight. Dang, I’m weird.
This is what happens when you stare at your barely stocked kitchen cupboards long enough…
Little brown balls of oats, cereal and dehydrated bananas glued together with maple syrup and peanut butter seems like a good idea after a solid 18 minutes of blank cupboard staring.
Uh….
Here’s what you should know about these little gems.
They’re hearty, made with raw oats and peanut butter (among other things)… if you want to use almond butter or sunflower butter you totally should.
I used maple syrup to bind the balls. Honey is also great!
Dehydrated banana slices (that I found at Trader Joe’s) are a little bit softer and tastier than banana chips. You can use either. You could also substitute dried cherries, cranberries or apricots.
Now… use an ice cream scoop with one of those revolving levers to portion these balls out. If you have trouble getting them to stick together, just help them along with clean, wet hands. They’ll harden and keep their shape in the fridge.
That’s it for the pro tips.
Now… brown balls.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Banana Granola Bites
adapted from Martha Stewart and my kitchen cupboards
makes 24 balls
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup cold cereal like Rice Krispies (I used wheat and flax flakes)
1 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup dehydrated banana slices, or dried cherries or cranberries or apricots
In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the maple syrup or honey, peanut butter and butter. Heat until the butter is melted and the peanut butter is loosened.
Combine cereal, oats and dehydrated banana slices in a medium bowl. Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and fold tom combine. Stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened by the peanut butter mixture.
Using a small scoop, scoop mixture onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Press balls together with clean and damp fingers if they break apart a bit. Place in the fridge for about 15 minutes to harden and set. Place balls in cupcake liners and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Kori
These sound like the perfect pick-me-up when you’re on the go. I’ll have to try them!
Kate
Would it be possible to use coconut oil in place of the butter?
joythebaker
i don’t think coconut oil will work for this recipe. the butter helps the balls to solidify and stick together in the fridge… because it’s a solid when cold. the coconut oil, i think, would remain a liquid… ya know?
Adrienne
Hi Joy,
I just found your site through the recommendation of a friend. You have so many wonderful recipes! I made these this weekend and they were a huge hit (yes “were”, they are all gone now and its only Monday). I made them in a muffin tin lined with paper cupcake liners and I think it helped the balls keep their shape nicely as they chilled. I can’t wait to experiment with other combinations!
danielle
loved these! held shape in fridge but once u start eating them they come apart a bit. Did yours do this? Should I try more pb, or try less cereal, or just push them together a little harder before chilling? Thanks!
joythebaker
Yea. Mine came apart a bit too. Just smash em together really well before popping them in the fridge n
Ingrid
these look so good!
Jenn
Yummo! The kids could totally do this!
Na'ama
Hi Joy!
I just love your site!! I’m pretty sure I’m your biggest fan in Israel!
I’m happy to say I tried this recipe (with dried blueberries instead of bananas, which I didn’t have at home) and they were yummy! I had to stop my boyfriend from eating them all at once and leave some for me… :-)
Catherine
Woah Joy, these look really good! Haha can’t wait to hear about you art project! Good Luck (not that you’ll need it.) :)
Ashley
I think that art projects are a great way to ask a boy out… Once I made up missing posters for a bike courier guy I had a crush on… I drew a stick figure drawing of him and made up an email address for him to get a hold of me… put them up around town… lucky for me he never saw any… he was engaged.
I hope you get a positive response!
Anne's Kitchen
Joy, I can’t help but keep on wondering what you always end up doing with all of your creations?! These balls look yum, but hell, you wouldn’t be able to gobble down more than three, right?! So whose belly do they end up in…? Did you give some to the farting dog?!
jenna
When I was in middle school my best friend and I would make no bake peanut butter balls..heres the recipe! I bet they would be even more delicious covered in chocolate.
1/2 a cup of peanut butter, 1/2 a cup of honey, and 1 cup of non fat dry milk
Sues
I think they look beautiful! And delicious, of course :) And now I want to hear more about this art project!! ;) ;)
Jenna
Your brown balls sound great but your white paper project is making me nervous. Let us know how it turns out!
Anne @ the doctor takes a wife
These look delicious. I can’t wait to make these healthy treats.