This is our go-to snack to make as an example of how quick and easy to fix a snack can be. As fast, in fact, as a boxed snack full of processed ingredients that you'd find on the shelf at the grocery store! It takes more time to roll the snack into balls than it does to mix it up. We make it for handing out at info tables for the market.
Five of the eight ingredients in this version grow or are found in the region, and are designated with an asterisk (*).
- 1/4 cup raw, unfiltered honey*
- 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
Mix the honey and peanut butter together in a bowl, then mix in the chia seeds. Add no more than three to four tablespoons total (combined) of the following, chopping the dried fruits as needed:
- dried apricots*
- raisins*
- sunflower seeds*
- mini chocolate chips (We wish cacao grew here!)
Add the last ingredient:
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats* (uncooked)
Mix in the oats really well. Test a little bit to see if it will stick together without much fussing. If it doesn't, you probably added too many of the mixins (a common problem!), so you'll need to add equal amounts (start with a tablespoon of each) of honey and peanut butter to make it stick together correctly.
Chill at least half an hour in the fridge. Once the mixture is cold enough to stick together, roll into small, bite-sized balls. (Damp hands make this process much easier.) Refrigerate the bites overnight.
Makes 32 bite-sized energy balls.