Funfetti Energy Balls for Toddlers + Kids
It’s so easy to make these Funfetti Energy Balls for toddlers and kids! It takes just 10 minutes to make a batch and they make for a fun and tasty snack for your little ones! This recipe is also a great one to make alongside your kiddos.
Energy Balls for Kids
If you are running out of snack ideas 🤔 for your toddlers and kids, then these funfetti energy balls 🎉 might be just what you need!
Super easy to make using natural ingredients, they are a fun and tasty snack that will give your little ones a energy power boost 🏃♀️!
Plus, they have sprinkles in them😍, which makes everything better in life!
Even better, they are a great snack for Mom and Dad too!
Funfetti Energy Balls Video
Watch this video to see how to make these fun snack balls for kids!
Reasons to Love these Energy Balls
- kid and toddler approved
- great for 12 months and up
- full of lots of essential vitamins and minerals for growing baby
- high in fiber
- simple ingredients
- no bake recipe
- just 10 minutes to make
- plant-based
- dairy-free and gluten-free
- great for Mom and Dad too!
Ingredients
- Oats: I like to use old fashioned oats in this recipe as they add a nice texture. You can also use quick oats if that’s what you have.
- Peanut Butter: can also use almond, cashew or seed butter. Look for peanut butter that is natural and made without any added sugar.
- Honey: can also use agave nectar or maple syrup.
- Hemp and Chia Seeds: for an extra power boost, add in both hemp and chia seeds. You can sub one or both for flax seeds if you prefer.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: I like to use semi-sweet, but you can use your favorite, white, milk and dark all will work well in this recipe.
- Sprinkles: bring out the fun! I prefer to use these plant-based sprinkles, but you can use whichever sprinkles you prefer.
- Vanilla Extract: vanilla extract adds a nice sweetness and flavor. I prefer to use pure extract rather than imitation.
- Pinch of Salt: a little pinch of salt really helps to bring the sweetness out in each bite.
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a food processor, apart from the chocolate and sprinkles and blend.
- Pour into a bowl and stir in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.
- Scoop the mixture with a cookie scoop and roll the mixture into balls.
- Place in the fridge to chill.
Storage
Once the energy bites have chilled, place them in an airtight container in the fridge and they will keep well for up to one week.
COOKING WITH KIDS
You can easily have your toddlers and kids help make these fun and healthy Funfetti Energy Balls!
TODDLERS
- Toddlers can help measure and pour the ingredients into the food processor. or you can measure and they can pour. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the food processor blade, as it can be sharp.
- They can help put the lid on the food processor and push start.
- You can have them help you count to 10, and then push stop.
- Once you remove the blade, toddlers can assist in transferring the base of the energy balls to a medium bowl.
- Toddlers will definitely want to help measure and pour the chocolate chip and sprinkles into the bowl (while testing them out of course 😉).
- Once mixed and chilled, toddlers can help you roll the energy balls out. Theirs will not look like balls and they might eat half of the batch on the spot, but that is all part of the fun.
KIDS
- You can pretty much let older kids make this recipe by themselves.
- They can take out and measure all of the ingredients. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the food processor blade, as it can be sharp.
- Once mixed and chilled, kids can roll the energy balls by themselves or with a little assistance from you.
More Snack Recipes
- Berry Granola Yogurt Bark (toddler + kid approved)
- Rainbow Popsicles for Toddler + Kids
- Healthy Funfetti Granola Bars (toddler + kid fav!)
- Healthy Spiced Apple Dip for Toddlers + Kids
- 100 Toddler + Kids Snack Ideas (plus FREE printable)
- 14 On-The-Go Healthy Snacks for Kids + Toddlers
Tools Needed
DID YOU MAKE THIS ENERGY BALLS FOR YOUR KIDS?
I’D LOVE TO KNOW HOW IT TURNED OUT! LEAVE A COMMENT AND A ⭐️ RATING BELOW 👇
Get the recipe: Funfetti Energy Bites for Kids
It's so easy to make these funfetti energy balls for kids! It takes just 10 minutes to make a batch and they make for a fun and tasty snack for your little ones!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (see notes)
- 1/3 cup honey, agave nectar or maple syrup (see notes)
- 2 tbsp hemp, chia or flax seeds (see notes)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Place the oats, peanut butter, sweetener, seeds, vanilla extract and salt into a food processor.
- Process in 10-20 second intervals, scraping down sides, until the ingredients are mixed and still slightly chunky (see photos for reference).
- Pour this base mixture into a medium bowl and stir in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.
- I find that by placing the bowl in the fridge for 20-30 minutes helps firm the dough up and is easier to roll into balls. But you can also just roll them into balls at this step.
- Scoop the mixture out of the bowl with a cookie scoop and roll the mixture into 1" balls. Repeat this process until all the dough is formed into balls.
Notes
Age: 12 months and up
Yield: roughly 18 – 1″ balls
Storage: place in an air-tight container in your fridge for up to 1 week.
Note on Peanut Butter: you can make these energy balls with any nut or seed butter you prefer – almond, cashew or sunbutter. The taste will be slighly different when using each butter.
Note on Oats: to make these gluten-free, make sure to use a certified gluten-free brand of oats.
Note on Sweetener: you can use any sticky sweetener for these energy balls – honey, agave nectar or maple syrup.
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25 Comments on “Funfetti Energy Balls for Toddlers + Kids”
Hi! I tried these today but my dough came out very dry and crumbly, even after refrigeration. I used quick oats instead of old fashioned, maple syrup instead of honey and flax meal instead of hemp seeds. Could any of those have caused the problem? Thanks!
Sorry these didn’t turn out for you. I haven’t tried using quick oats or flax meal before, but I would suspect that they sucked in some of the stickiness and moisture from the maple syrup and peanut butter. I would suggest mixing in a little more sweetener and peanut butter into the dough to see if that holds it together better. Let me know how it turns out.
Just made these with my 4 and 2 year old. HUGE hit! Easy and fun to make and delicious! My husband and I enjoyed them too. We will definitely be making these again. Thank you!!
Love that you made these with your little ones! So glad you all enjoyed them;)
Hi!!
I made these with the kids tonight and they loved them and loved making them. Super fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen.
Do you know if you can freeze these? I would love to make extra and freeze. I have froze most of the energy ball recipes I have made in the past but was not sure about these since they seem a bit softer.
Love that your kids got into the kitchen! I just froze some and they turned out great. I also love eating them frozen:)
Perfect little pick me up snack, so easy with lots of flavor. Everyone loved them from toddlers to teens (ok even us grown ups too). Great treat for soccer games! Only problem is can’t keep them in fridge longer than a day! Thanks for this recipe
Love that the whole family enjoyed them!
Yummy and we will definitely make it again but will use less honey and chocolate chips. They were too sweet for us but otherwise good and my 3 year old helped me make them.
What are the nutrition facts for these?
You can find the nutritional information on any free nutritional calculator site.
Great! Thanks. I love your site!
can you freeze this?
I haven’t tried. I think they would be okay frozen and then eaten by an adult hard or taken out and thawed in the fridge. If you try freezing them, please let us know how they turn out.
So good and so simple!!
How many do you give your toddlers for a snack size?
I would serve 1-2 of these energy balls with a side of fruit, cut veggies, cheese or yogurt for a complete snack.
These would not hold together even after chilling. Not sure why that was the case. Added more nut butter and sweetener until I could get them to come together. Toddler loved the taste though and loved the idea of sprinkles in them!
What kind of seed, nut or peanut butter are you using? Perhaps, it’s too dry? I’m not sure what happened but I’m thrilled your toddler loved them! 💕
We made these for a nut-free 4k classroom snack with sunflower butter. I put popsicle sticks through each one and rolled sprinkles on at the end. The kids loved their power ball pops. Make sure to make these the night before serving because refrigeration really firms these up. Thanks for the recipe!
Love the idea of adding the popsicle sticks! Genius!
These have been such a hit with my very picky 3yo and 1yo. We use almond butter instead of peanut butter and they’re delicious (3yo doesn’t like PB). They love helping to add the sprinkles.
My girls love adding the sprinkles too! I’m thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit for your little picky eater! Win! xo, Michele
How many calories do these have per ball?
Hi Abby! I don’t provide nutrition data in my recipes. You can use a free online nutrition tool to plug in the ingredients and amounts. Thanks! =)