Field Trip Nut-Free Energy Balls (Printable)

Chewy energy balls packed with oats, honey, pumpkin and sunflower seeds for a wholesome nut-free snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 0.5 cup toasted sunflower seeds
03 - 0.25 cup pumpkin seeds
04 - 0.33 cup mini chocolate chips, nut-free brand
05 - 0.5 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, optional
06 - 0.25 teaspoon sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 0.5 cup sunflower seed butter
08 - 0.33 cup honey
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut if using, and sea salt. Mix thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, stir together sunflower seed butter, honey, and vanilla extract until the mixture reaches a smooth, consistent texture.
03 - Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until evenly combined and the mixture holds together when gently pressed.
04 - Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, roll the mixture into 1-inch uniform balls. Work quickly to prevent the mixture from becoming too warm.
05 - Place balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow them to firm up completely.
06 - Transfer cooled balls to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They require zero oven time, which means you can make a batch while your coffee brews on a busy morning.
  • Unlike store-bought versions, you control exactly what goes in, making them safe for every allergy concern in the room.
  • The combination of sunflower seed butter and honey creates this naturally sweet, almost fudgy texture that keeps kids and adults equally satisfied.
02 -
  • The mixture needs to be pressed together firmly—if it feels loose, it means your sunflower seed butter was too thick or the honey didn't fully incorporate, so take an extra minute to really work it together.
  • Humidity matters more than you'd think; on particularly dry days, the mixture might need an extra teaspoon of honey, but on humid days you might need slightly less to avoid them becoming gummy.
03 -
  • If you're making these for a school snack, prep them on Sunday so they're ready to grab all week—they stay fresh in a sealed container and actually improve slightly as flavors meld together.
  • A small cookie scoop makes the rolling process faster and ensures uniform sizing, which means they cook (or in this case, chill) evenly and look intentional rather than haphazard.
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