PB&J Inspired Peanut Strawberry Oat Balls
No-bake oat balls built on the PB&J combo, sweet from dates, salty and crunchy from roasted peanuts, and tart from freeze-dried strawberries. No peanut butter needed; the peanuts and dates blitz into their own binder. Ready in about 15 minutes, with a pink strawberry dusting if you're feeling fancy.
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet or plate
- Parchment paper
- Fine mesh sieve (for dusting)
- Spice grinder (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates 150g
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, certified gluten-free 90g
- ¾ cup salted roasted peanuts 100g, plus extra for coating
- ½ cup freeze-dried strawberries 15g, plus extra for coating
- 1–3 tsp water, as needed 5–15g
- 1 pinch salt optional, to taste
For Dusting
- 2 tbsp freeze-dried strawberries, powdered 6g
Instructions
- Add the dates, oats, and peanuts to a food processor. Pulse until broken down and starting to clump, 30 to 45 seconds.
- Press a bit of the mixture together. If it's crumbly and won't hold, add water 1 tsp at a time, pulsing after each addition, until it holds together when pressed.
- Add the freeze-dried strawberries. Pulse briefly, just a few times. You want visible pink flecks, not a uniform pink dough.
- Roll into balls, about 1 tablespoon each, pressing firmly so they hold.
- Crush the extra peanuts and freeze-dried strawberries separately. Roll half the balls in crushed peanuts and half in crushed strawberries.
- For the dusted finish, blitz the 2 tbsp freeze-dried strawberries in a clean food processor or spice grinder until powdered. Sift over the finished balls through a fine mesh sieve right before serving.
- Chill 20 minutes to firm up, or eat immediately (your choice!).
Notes
Substitutions
Swap the peanuts for almonds if needed. It changes the PB&J idea but works the same texturally.
If your mixture won't hold even with water, a spoonful of peanut butter can go in as a binder. Optional Add-ins
Chia seeds or hemp hearts, pulsed in with the oats Tips
Process the dates and peanuts well before adding anything else. The dates need to break down enough to bind everything.
Dates vary in moisture, so some batches won't need water at all. Check first, then add it sparingly.
Use certified gluten-free oats if you're cooking for someone with celiac.
Dust with strawberry powder right before serving. It absorbs moisture and goes patchy if it sits. Storage
Store un-dusted in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze up to 2 months. Dust just before serving.
Swap the peanuts for almonds if needed. It changes the PB&J idea but works the same texturally.
If your mixture won't hold even with water, a spoonful of peanut butter can go in as a binder. Optional Add-ins
Chia seeds or hemp hearts, pulsed in with the oats Tips
Process the dates and peanuts well before adding anything else. The dates need to break down enough to bind everything.
Dates vary in moisture, so some batches won't need water at all. Check first, then add it sparingly.
Use certified gluten-free oats if you're cooking for someone with celiac.
Dust with strawberry powder right before serving. It absorbs moisture and goes patchy if it sits. Storage
Store un-dusted in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze up to 2 months. Dust just before serving.