These pop-in-your-mouth Honey Peanut Butter Bites require no cooking* and almost no thinking. They’re delicious and portable and take under 20 minutes to put together.
Better yet, these little morsels boast protein and fiber without a lot of sugar – a triple win! With just 5 common ingredients you can go from craving to creation in no time at all. Grab your oats, peanut butter, coconut, honey and (if you like) mini chocolate chips and get to it.
These Honey Peanut Butter Bites also represent the latest addition to a long list of recipes borne from the desire to use up lingering and sometimes forgotten ingredients in my kitchen.
That’s totally where my Mexican Tortilla Casserole came from (leftover corn tortillas), as well as the Gluten Free Gingerbread Almond Squares (long-forgotten almond flour) and Mediterranean Strata (a rock-hard loaf of several-days-old French bread).
Mexican Tortilla Casserole 
Gingerbread Almond Squares 
Mediterranean Strata
Ultimately, you benefit from my panic creations fanned by a need to not waste anything. Evidently I’m reincarnated from a Puritan wife with mediocre skills in the kitchen inventory management area 🙂
Case en point, I’ve had a container of steel cut oats for months. They were doomed from the start. I just don’t have the patience for a 30-40 minute adventure at breakfast time. Not that they’re hard to cook up – they just take time. BTW, I love this blogger’s how-to on steel cut oats you can check out if interested.
While there were many options to consider, including overnight and slow cooker oats, I opted for a no-bake treat.
Are Raw Oats Safe to Eat?
Let’s chat briefly about the *asterisk after requires no cooking. Curious about the safety of eating uncooked oats, I investigated. Long after my family had devoured 4 batches. So, yes, it’s all a little shut-the-door-after-the-horse-gets-out-of-the-barn scenario. However, once the question popped into my head, I knew I had to check it out before sharing the recipe with the world.
Are steel cut oats even raw, technically? Yes, as it turns out. Their close cousins, rolled oats (aka old-fashioned oats) and quick oats (1-minute oats) get steamed during processing, thus, killing any germs. Steel cut oats are cut, but not steamed, so they are still raw.
What’s a mom to do? Next time I make them, I’ll likely zap the steel cut oats in the microwave for a minute or two, until they’re good and hot. Buh-bye, germs. Then I’ll proceed with making these creamy/crunchy little morsels, hiding just a few in the back of the fridge. Cuz survival.
Honey Peanut Butter Bites
These pop-in-your mouth treats take just minutes to make and will satisfy your sweet tooth with a decent dose of fiber and protein.
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats or substitute rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips optional
- sea salt optional
Instructions
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If you are using steel cut oats, put them in a microwave-safe bowl, and cook on High for 1-2 minutes, until hot. Stir to cool and dissipate the heat. This step is not necessary if using rolled (old-fashioned) oats.
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(optional step) In a coffee grinder or a food processor, whirl the oats and coconut for a few seconds until more finely chopped. You can make these balls without this step, with the result being just a slightly chunkier texture.
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In a medium bowl, add the oats, coconut, peanut butter, and honey. Add chocolate chips if desired. Stir together until well combined.
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Using a small scoop or two spoons, portion out the dough – about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons for each ball. Place each portion on parchment paper or a non-stick mat or cutting board. With damp hands, roll each portion between your palms to make a ball. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
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Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Hi Julia,
How much of water it needs for cook the steal cut oat in the microwave ? Or it doesn’t need water for cook it
Thanks
EJ
No water! Just heating it through to kill any bacteria since it is unprocecced/unheated in this form of oats. Old-fashioned oats are processed with heat so it isn’t an issue with that kind of oats, just steel cut.
So I have all the ingredients (ok so maybe not steel cut oats or chocolate chips, but rolled oats and walnuts) and can’t wait to make them!!!
ooh yes let me know how they turn out!