Chocolate Chia Balls
Savor the wholesome goodness of these Chocolate Chia Balls, your perfect choice for a healthy and delicious energy boost. This simple-to-make snack is rich in fiber and omega-3s and, of course, loaded with irresistible chocolate flavor!
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No-bake energy bites are such a great grab-and-go snack. Besides these chia balls, we also love this recipe for Hemp Seed Energy Balls and these yummy Protein Cookie Dough Balls. Check out all of our Snack Recipes for more inspiration.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Find the complete ingredient list, with measurements, in the recipe card below.
- Almond Butter – We always recommend using a natural variety of nut butter where only almonds are listed on the label.
- Honey – Choose a local variety of honey for the best flavor and environmental benefits.
- Cacao Powder – Raw cacao powder adds a chocolatey taste as well as antioxidants and minerals.
- Vanilla – For that classic warm flavor. Check out how to use all of the different types of vanilla.
- Rolled Oats – This is the bulk of the energy balls. Be sure to check for certified gluten-free on the label if allergies are a concern.
- Chia Seeds – These seeds add a snappy flavor and pack a punch of fiber.
- Salt – A pinch of fine sea salt pulls out the best taste of your ingredients.
- Chocolate Chips – Look for dark chocolate chips to maximize the nutritional profile of this recipe.
Equipment
Small Saucepan – We like using a stainless steel pot.
Mixing Bowl – A medium to large mixing bowl for stirring the ingredients.
Spoon or Spatula for mixing.
Small Cookie Scoop – This helps for accurate and even portion sizes.
Small Cookie Sheet – Use this baking pan to place the chia balls on ready to be chilled. We use a quarter sheet pan, so it easily fits into the fridge.
Parchment Paper – A must for easy cleanup. We recommend unbleached parchment paper.
Instructions
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.
Step 1
First, line the baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Then, add the chia seeds and oats to the large mixing bowl.
Give them a stir and set the bowl aside.
Step 2
Next, melt the almond butter and honey in a small saucepan over low heat.
Stir until smooth.
Step 3
Then, add the cacao powder, sea salt, and vanilla to the saucepan.
Stir well until everything is combined.
Step 4
Next, pour the chocolate mixture over the oats and chia seeds in the bowl and mix well.
Pop the mixture in the fridge for five minutes to cool down.
Step 5
Then, add in the chocolate chips and stir again.
Expert tip! Based on my firsthand experience, I learned that placing the mixture in the fridge to cool down before adding the chocolate chips means the chocolate chips won’t melt into the mixture and will hold their shape.
Step 6
Using the small cookie scoop, roll the mixture into heaping tablespoon-sized balls.
Transfer the balls to the prepared cookie sheet and pop them into the fridge for 30 minutes to harden.
Substitutions
- Use peanut butter instead of almond butter. We recommend using a natural variety where peanuts are the only thing listed on the label. Check out his list of the best healthy peanut butter brands. Cashew butter and sunflower seed butter are also good substitutions.
- Cocoa powder is a good substitute instead of cacao.
- For a vegan recipe, substitute maple syrup instead of honey.
Recipe Variations
- Incorporate protein powder to boost the staying power of this snack. We recommend Ora Brand Protein as they have a super clean ingredient list.
- Give these balls a tropical vibe by adding shredded coconut to the mixture.
- Add some crunch by stirring in some toasted pecans, roasted hazelnuts, or walnuts.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy chia balls on their own as a quick and nutritious snack. This is a straightforward way to savor their natural flavors.
- Pair chia balls alongside your morning bulletproof coffee or tea as a quick breakfast. They are a great energy booster.
FAQS
Yes, chia balls are considered a healthy snack. Chia seeds are rich in omegas, fiber, and various nutrients. The additional ingredients, such as oats and almond butter, contribute to the overall nutritional profile, making them a wholesome option.
While chia balls can be a nutritious snack, they are generally not intended to replace a complete meal. They are better suited as a supplement to a well-balanced diet.
Storage Tips
To Store: Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
To Freeze: Keep these in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
More Energy Bites Recipes
**This recipe was originally posted on April 7, 2014, and updated on January 18, 2024, with updated recipes, writing, and photos.**
If you’ve tried our chia balls recipe, please rate it and let us know how it turned out by leaving a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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Chocolate Chia Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ cup almond butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the chia seeds and oats. Set the bowl aside.
- Next, in a small saucepan over low heat, melt together the almond butter and honey and stir until smooth.
- Then, stir in the cacao powder, sea salt and vanilla. Stir well until everything is combined.
- Next, pour the chocolate mixture over the oats and seeds and mix well.
- Pop the mixture in the fridge for five to ten minutes to cool down. Doing this will prevent the chocolate chips from melting when you stir them in.
- Once the mixture has cooled, add in the chocolate chips and stir.
- Roll the mixture into heaping tablespoon-sized balls ( using a small cookie scoop makes this easy ). Place the balls on a parchment lined cookie sheet and pop it into the fridge for thirty minutes to harden.
I used peanut butter and added less honey, and followed the recipe. However, they were crumbly and didn’t stick together. Do you know what went wrong? They tasted delicious though, but I need to spoon it up.
Hmmm … Was the peanut butter a natural variety? The oils help these to stick together. Also, I do recommend using the amount of honey listed for optimum stickiness. 🙂 I hope that helps!
I love, love this recipe! Mahalo for sharing! I’ve made it as written and now am making it with some toasted coconut and dried cherries. It’s so fun and delicious while being much healthier choice,
Thanks Cookie! I love the sound of adding dried cherries. Yum!
Great way to get more chia into my diet.
For sure! I love yummy ways to incorporate these healthy seeds. Thanks Keira!
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
You can keep them in the fridge or freezer for up to 2 weeks. 🙂
This looks so good! What a great way to enjoy a treat while still eating healthy!
Thank you so much fir sharing this! Our daughter is a big time athlete and loves these to keep her going over any processed Power or protein bars. We as a family will also share them too if we’re staring waiting fir a night game in over time to end!
Even our son with sensory issues with food , likes them too! Thank you!
Wow, Hope! Thanks so much for the great review, it has really uplifted me. I love hearing how the whole family enjoys this recipe and especially how it is now preferred over the processed stuff! Fresh and homemade all the way. Thanks to you Hope for taking the time to spread some positivity. All the best!! xoxo Sharon
Super yum! Made these today to take to a triathlon training camp this weekend. Do you think I can freeze them? Thanks
Yes to freezing! 100 percent. Hope you have a fun and successful training camp! 🙂
I was just wondering how many balls is a serving size
It really depends on the size of ball – if you make 16 balls as the recipe says it is 1 ball = 1 serving.
Since the first time I made this ( on my third time now ) I’ve eaten two every morning for breakfast. They are exactly the kind of thing I was craving. It’s like a heathy tasting brownie bites! My daughter loves them! She wants to leave these out for santa to eat on Christmas Day instead of cookies! Haha, thank you soooooo much my tummy thanks you!!!
Hey Parker! This comment made my day. 🙂 I adore that your daughter wants to leave these for Santa! Thanks so much for sharing that with me. Have a very happy Christmas. <3
Can I use macadamia butter instead of peanut butter?
Sure! Sounds delicious. 🙂
Please someone, anyone tell me that you all are talking about Chai seeds, and not Chia seeds… Because all I can picture is I don’t know how many people putting plant seeds in these powerballs…
Hi Sharon, just wondering if I could replace the chocolate chips for Cacao nibs?
Sorry to bother you, it may have helped if I read other comments. Just saw someone else say they tried Cacao nibs and it worked so I’m going to go and make these delicious looking balls! Thank you so much
Hey Sharon! Yes, the cacao nibs work perfectly. 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Please send me the nutrition info since i am unable to get it on the link u have…. thanx
I am late to the party but I made these for the first time last weekend and was seriously smitten. I did not have any choc chips so I used cocoa nibs instead, and that worked really well too (the slightly bitter taste of the cocoa nibs against the sweetness of the balls). I just love the consistency of these balls – a bit gooey, chewy (I added a few dried sour cherries) but crunchy at the same time.
I work a job where I don’t really have time to sit down and have a lunch break, so these are really handy for me to just pop one in my mouth once my stomach starts growling, and carry on working. Only problem is, the first batch was supposed to last me all week and only lasted 2 days (!) so am about to make another batch for the second half of the week.
Thanks again for sharing the recipe.
Isabelle (Brighton, UK)
Thanks Isabelle! I have the same problem with them not lasting as long as intended. 😉 I love these types of snacks for grab and go. I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week!
Hey all!
I just wanted to say that the chia power balls are awesome! I didnt have chocolate but they still turned out great.
Sincerly from Vienna,
Teri
Thanks Teri! You’re a doll for leaving such a lovely comment. Love Vienna! Travelled there in 2000 and it was one of the most beautiful cities I visited in Europe. 🙂
Hey,
can I use regular cocoa powder instead of raw cocoa if I can’t find that and if so, would I have to double that? I live in Germany and looking at most of the energy bites recipes I get the feeling we have like no food here . I have never seen almond butter in any store, neither chocolate chips. At first I was thinking about making the almond butter myself but then I saw that I would need a food processor, which I don’t have unfortunately. You guys don’t think an immersion blender would do, right?
Thank you so much
Hi Anna! It’s funny you say that because we just moved from one side of Canada to the other and I feel like the food situation is totally different! Cocoa powder is fine and should be swapped out in equal amounts. The cacao is just a better nutritional choice. Less processing. I don’t know about almond butter in an immersion blender. Probably wouldn’t work. Peanut butter could be subbed out for that though. As for chocolate chips? Yikes. You should start importing them and open a chocolate chip store in Germany. You’d be SO busy! I hope this helps. 🙂
Absolutely love these! I make them for my 3 year old son all the time and he eats every bite! Such a healthy alternative to a late night snack or a yummy dessert! Thanks for this recipe!!!
Thanks Kelsey! I love when kids are fans. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Hi Sharon, Delicious tasting but I did have a challenge getting the mixture to roll into balls. It simply fell apart. Any suggestions? Do I need to add more of a certain ingredient to get it all to bind? Thanks.
hi Gila! Sorry they didn’t hold to well for you. Consistency of the honey and peanut butter could be the case. I would add more of either/both of those to help the stick factor. Maybe a tablespoon or two. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 🙂
Hi, they taste amazing! Check out my instagram (website) to see a picture of how they turned out. I changed around a couple ingredients so I could use what I already had in my house but it turned out so so good, thank you for the recipe
My pleasure Crystal! So glad you loved them. I like using up what you have too! 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week!
these balls are the best! I’ve tried a few other recipes (and my own inventions) that were usually pretty good, but these are by far the tastiest. love them! thanks for posting 🙂
Thanks so much Rhiannon! These are one of my faves too. Enjoy the energy. 🙂
Made these today as written, reminds me of the popular no bake chocolate pb cookies except I really love the added texture from the Chia seeds! All of the added calories and sugar from the honey still kind of make me think of this recipe as a guilty pleasure. So I made another batch except I only added 1tbs. honey and used 1/3c. mashed ripe banana for the sweetener. Came out great, they do have that slight banana taste but still chocolatey and held up just as well when rolled. Original recipe is great! But if you are wanting to cut a few more cals/sugar try subbing with the banana! My fitness pal clocked this at 120 calories and 6 grams of sugar per ball
Love the swaps for cutting calories! Thanks Jes. 🙂 I think as long as the chia is there, these will be delicious. Have a great long weekend!
Definitely making these today! I make something very similar and freeze them…otherwise I’d eat too many if they were in the fridge! They freeze great! Just take out what you need (haha…need!) and let them defrost on the counter or pop into microwave for a few seconds and indulge!
Eating too many is always my problem. 😉 Thanks Shellee!
I can’t eat almond butter. Is there something else I could substitute?
You could totally use peanut butter or any kind of nut or seed butter like cashew or sunflower seed butter. They will all have different tastes.
Looks good! Can I sub ground chia for the whole chia?
Sure! You would lose a little of that texture from the crunch of the seeds but I’m pretty sure it would work. 🙂
Hi what can I use instead of almond butter please? I’ve heard it’s good for you but my wee boy is not allowed anything with nuts into school. I’m not sure about almond butter but I’d still like an alternative. Also it’s really expensive in Dubai where we live (we are from Scotland though)!
Hey Pauline! Greetings from Canada! 🙂 Nut butters can be tricky to sub unfortunately. You can definitely sub peanut butter as its much more cost effective and maybe you could still enjoy these at home at least? Must be so different to be in Dubai compared to Scotland!
You could try sunflower seed butter it’s a good substitute when you can’t have nuts. Looks and tastes very close to peanut butter.
Great idea! Thanks so much Holly. 🙂 I’ll have to try sunflower seed butter.
Finally something without Date !!! Yummy
I hear ya with the dates. I love them but it always requires lugging out the food processor. That thing is heavy! 😉 Thanks Joyce!
Any way to figure out the calories per ball? I use my fitness pal and would love to track this since it’s my mid afternoon snack!
Great idea for a snack! I love these. I think they may be around 300 calories give or take 50? I really don’t know though. Does my fitness pal have a calorie counter on their site?
This looks soo yummy! I love recipes that don’t take too long to make with ingredients that are easy to find. And I’m a bit of a snacker so having these kinds of healthy & yummy treats are so awesome! Thanks for sharing this recipe! 🙂
Thanks so much Joanne! 🙂 It sounds like you and I share a mutual love of snacking. 😉 These are fabulous. I love them right out of the fridge when the chocolate chips are icy cold.
YUM!!!! I’m a big fan of powerballs/blissballs, I always make a batch and leave it in the fridge to use during the week.
I actually just put a batch in the fridge! Best thing for a quick bite. 🙂
Oh yum, these look like the perfect little chocolatey treats! Everything tastes better with chocolate 🙂 Also, your cat is the cutest thing – he definitely is looking happy at having the sun back!
Isn’t he the cutest little angel? Not so cute sometimes at 3am when he likes to let out howling meows. Maybe because he can’t have chocolate? 😉
Is it a messy recipe? For example, when cacao, honey and butter are melted, would I be able to pour all of it out without any hassle? I don’t like wasting ingredients and it seems like maybe a lot of the melted goodness will stay on the sides of the pot. No?
Thanks
I use a spatula to give the sides a good scrape. I usually get anything left behind with a soup spoon and do a little taste-testing. 😉
Yeah, I completely forgot about this one, I do that too all the time, especially if it’s something good, even raw 😀
Oh, wow these looks tasty! I’m a huge fan of buying local honey. I have allergies and I think it really helps not be so effected by local allergens. I’m so happy to hear that you finally got a little visit from the sun. We keep getting teased. A day of sunshine and then a few days of snow and dark skies. One day Spring will really be here and we’ll see new growth and sun on a regular basis.
Local honey for the win! 🙂 I’ve made a conscious effort to support local businesses whenever I can.
The sun will be here soon for both of us! I definitely won’t be complaining about the heat once summer finally arrives. 😉 Have a great week, Cindy!
Oh, Sharon … I am sooooo with you! First, on how difficult it is to make a bed in which an adorable animal looks all fluffy and cute and cuddly (my laundry piles sometimes don’t get folded for the exact same reason – my little dog Finn claims that warm just-out-of-the-drier real estate, and I can’t stand to kick him out!). And second … you know how much I love power balls! These are terrific in every way! Loaded with protein and fiber (and perhaps most important …) chocolate! Triple yum! 😀
Nothing better than a cuddly-soft fur baby. 🙂 Except maybe balls!! 😉 Thanks Shelley!
Awwww Louis is so adorable! Love him, such a cutie! Oh & these chocolate balls look amazing too, especially with added chocolate chips!!!
Thanks Karen! Lou loves compliments. 😉 I guess I do, too! Have a great week.
Glorious day, these power balls look amazing! I love all the healthful ingredients and I bet they taste fabulous! Your kitty cat is such a doll! I have one at home too…I could definitely curl up with my furry friend and munch on some power bites!
I love fellow cat people! 🙂 I also love balls! Ummm. You know what I mean. 😉 Thanks Julia!
Yesssss! Thanks goodness I have all these ingredients hanging out in my pantry because these are so happening today!!! Is it wrong I want them for breakfast right now? 😉
I’m having one right now! 😉 Thanks Kaitlin!