Easy Budget Energy Balls Recipe

Every so often I convince myself that this is the time I’m going to become someone who happily eats a bowl of muesli for breakfast every morning. I smugly buy a box of muesli, have one bowl, pour the rest into a nice storage jar… and then completely forget it exists. 😂

A few months later, I’ll find it tucked away at the back of the cupboard and wonder why I bought it in the first place.

This week, when I found my latest box of muesli at the back of the pantry, while on a search for some stock cubes, I decided to turn it into a batch of homemade energy balls.

Using muesli instead of oats is a brilliant little money-saving shortcut to me because it’s already packed with extra ingredients like nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Rather than buying all of those separately, you can use what you already have in the cupboard and end up with something that’s full of flavour and texture.

I love recipes like this because they don’t have to be followed exactly. They’re a great way to use up odds and ends that might otherwise go to waste, which means you’re getting more value from the food you’ve already bought rather than adding even more ingredients to your shopping list.

Today for example, I threw in a handful of dark chocolate chips because I had an open packet in the baking cupboard that needed using up. They’re completely optional, but they add great flavour without turning these into an overly sweet treat that’s no good for me as a diabetic. It’s another example of making the most of what you already have rather than buying extra ingredients just for one recipe, which is exactly what this recipe is all about.

I’m diabetic so I’m very conscious of the carbohydrate content in the snacks I eat. These energy balls do contain carbs from the muesli and honey, but they’re also made with ingredients like peanut butter, nuts and seeds, which add protein, healthy fats and fibre. I find that combination makes them a much more satisfying snack than reaching for something that’s mostly sugar. I’ll also be making mine slightly smaller so the portion size fits better into the way I manage my carbs.

Ingredients

200g muesli
150g peanut butter
60g honey (add a little more if needed)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Pinch of salt
A handful of chocolate chips (optional)

Method

Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Stir until everything is well combined. If the mixture feels a little dry, add another teaspoon or two of honey. If it’s too sticky, stir through a little more muesli.
Chill the mixture in the fridge for 20–30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Roll into around 18–20 bite-sized balls. I used a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop out the mixture before rolling each one by hand. The mixture is a little sticky (I had to wash my hands a couple of times while I was rolling them!), but once they’re chilled in the fridge they firm up beautifully.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or if they last longer than that, they do actually freeze for up to three months.

Recipe Tips

Any muesli will work, whether it’s plain, fruit and nut or no added sugar.
If your muesli already contains lots of dried fruit and seeds, you probably won’t need the chocolate chips.
If the nuts in your muesli are quite large, give it a quick blitz in a food processor before mixing everything together.
The recipe is easy to adapt depending on what needs using up. A handful of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts or desiccated coconut can all be added if you have them in the cupboard.

These have definitely earned a place on my list of favourite make-ahead snacks, and even better, I’ve finally found a good use for that forgotten jar of muesli!

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