This post is dedicated to my mom, who, for years, provided childcare for my brothers and me, most of my gazillion cousins, a number of kiddos through her in-home daycare, and most-recently, for my son! Needless to say, the woman knows her stuff when it comes to little kids.
One of my favorite snacks my mom made (and one my cousins still remember her making) was Peanut Butter Balls. I love making them not just for The Bear, but for Hubs and myself, since they’re easy, kid-friendly, and delicious.
- ½ c. honey
- ½ c. peanut butter (or other nut butter; I used sun butter)
- 1 c. powdered milk (find it in the baking or breakfast aisle; I used goat milk powder, which I don’t mind but you might find overpowering.)
- 1 c. oats
- ½ c. raisins
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Shape into 1″ balls and place on a large plate or tray.
- Refrigerate for several hours or overnight (or freeze until firm).
Recently, I came across this recipe for a similar snack using whey protein powder instead of powdered milk. Since Hubs has an exorbitant amount of this stuff in our house, I thought I’d give it go with a few modifications:
Monkey Balls (Because of the banana! :p)
1 jar of sun butter
2 scoops cocoa whey protein powder (I used Dymatize Elite because it’s what Hubs uses. For a dairy-free version, you could use hemp or rice protein powder.)
2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 tablespoons flax seeds
1 cup oats
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
In a large bowl, mix together sun butter, protein powder, bananas, and flax seed. Stir in oats. Mold the mixture into walnut-size balls, and place them in a container lined with parchment to separate the layers. Freeze at least 2 hours before serving.
Consensus: I like my mom’s recipe better. Maybe it’s nostalgia.:) I will, say, though, that the Monkey Balls are much more filling. I’ll probably work with a few other recipes I’ve seen here and there, but for now, Mom’s recipe rules!
Do you have a favorite childhood snack?
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I seriously can’t believe I haven’t made these yet — it’s on my list for this week!
I can’t keep them in my house longer than a day! Such an easy little bite!
Just made these for the second time this week. Used malted milk powder instead of dry milk. We’re taking them on a road trip as an easy snack for the kids.