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I made this recipe last week using two ingredients you probably aren’t used to seeing on this food blog: oats and peanut butter. Gasp! Since I used oats and peanut butter, this recipe is neither Whole30 nor paleo! But I’ll tell you why I did this if you want to hang around.

On hiking and backpacking trips my diet is pretty terrible. I’ll admit it. I also really don’t have an appetite to speak of. So, in order to want to eat anything at all, I have to bring along really delicious foods. I’ve also noticed I’m kind of lacking in the fiber department lately. I won’t get into the specifics there, but I’ll just bet you can guess. I made these oatmeal balls last week because I knew Mike and I would be going on our first backpacking trip of the season and I wanted to test how these held up outside of refrigeration. The results? Amazing! I fully expected these to turn into a gooey mess after they had been out of the fridge for an hour. I took them out around 4:00 pm. I didn’t crack them open until about 9:00 am the next day and when I did, they were just as I had left them! I was elated. I did pack them in a hard sided plastic container, because had I not they would have been crushed against my sweaty back for sure. But I’m happy to report that was not my experience. Now, this isn’t to say that these will hold up in the desert. They surely will not. But when the temperatures are under 75 degrees or so, I think these balls will hold up just great for you!

Let’s continue discussing why these are so great to take with you on a hike. They are packed with fat, protein, sugar, and fiber, all things I am looking for during strenuous hikes. Fat will keep you hiking and keep you fuller, longer. Protein helps you rebuild what all you’re tearing down. Sugar? Don’t worry about the sugar, because you’ll be using it up immediately and it will provide you with a quick boost to help you run up that next hill! Lastly, fiber. Because it’s good to keep your insides moving, wouldn’t you agree?

Just go make the balls and enjoy them, okay? Even Mike agreed, these little bites of joy are top notch!

thehungryhungryhiker

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Oatmeal Balls

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Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 20 balls
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • ⅓ cup freeze dried strawberry slices heaping, measured first and then crushed
  • 1 + ¼ cup rolled oats
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • ⅓ cup peanut butter
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • pinch sea salt
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips I use Enjoy Life for vegan

Method
 

  1. Add ⅓ cup (heaping) freeze dried strawberry slices to a large bowl. Use a wooden spoon to break up the strawberries a good portion of the way. You want some powder and you don't want any chunks bigger than ½ inch or so.
  2. Add the remainder of the ingredients to the bowl and stir to combine completely. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper. Use your hands to form and gently roll the mixture into balls about 1" in diameter. You should yield 18-20 balls. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to one week and enjoy!