Peanut Butter Chocolate Cranberry Energy Balls – Road Trip Snack

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Our family loves to travel.  We have taken three long distance road trips this year already.  The best way we make our road trips run smoother is to pack plenty of food.  We usually take an ice chest filled with items to prepare sandwiches during a pit stop to have a picnic.  Taking breaks to refuel {not just the vehicle} helps make the trip not feel so long.

When we are driving far we like to leave at night so we can avoid traffic and let the kids sleep during travel. One of my favorite road trip snacks are oatmeal energy balls.  They are simple to make and so delicious that the entire family loves them.  Plus, the peanut butter provides a bite size of protein and the chocolate gives a little boost when you need it on the road.

To make these peanut butter, chocolate, cranberry energy balls I headed to our local Albertson’s to pick up our road trip essentials.  From M&M’s, to Quaker caramel rice crisps – they have something for everyone to enjoy.

Follow the simple instructions below to make your own energy bites for your upcoming road trip or to take with you on a busy day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of oats
• 1/2 cup of peanut butter
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• hand full of dried cranberries
• hand full of peanut M&M’s

How to Make Energy Balls

Start by crushing the peanut M&M’s so that they will blend with the other ingredients easier.

Once the M&M’s are crushed into smaller pieces you can start mixing the ingredients into your bowl.

I always like to mix my dry ingredients first before adding the sticky contents.  This way the mixture will be more evenly distributed.

Once all the energy ball ingredients have been added to your mixing bowl, the fun begins.

You have to stir it extremely well until you have a paste-like substance.  Use your spoon to smash all of the peanut butter into the oats.  Stir, flip, stir, smash, flip, stir…

Once your mixture is done place it in the refrigerator for at least ten minutes to let it cool and set before rolling into balls.  This will make it easier to work with so it is less likely to just stick to your fingers.  The peanut butter and honey will thicken as it cools.

Once you start rolling the mixture into balls your fingers will become sticky.  One trick to avoid having it all stuck to your fingers instead of creating the bite size goodness is to get your fingers damp with water.  Not too wet, just a couple of drops will do.

As you roll the balls place them in a dish to put back into the fridge so they can harden a little more.  After a couple of hours they are ready to go!  You can eat them immediately if you wish, they will be soft but still delicious.  After they set and cool in the refrigerator they will no longer be so sticky or fall apart.

Toss your energy balls into a plastic food storage container to carry with you on your road trip.  I recommend keeping them in a cooler bag or ice chest so they stay firm.  Even if you keep them right next to your seat to snack on for a few hours, the worse that can happen is they get a little soft.

Beyond energy bites, rice crisps and sandwiches – we love to pack crackers and cheese for the kids to snack on along with fresh fruit.

Wheat Thins are a long time family favorite.  We take both string cheese and square cheese that is cracker ready.  The caramel corn rice crisps are so good I’m addicted!

Road Trip Tips

• Drive at night to avoid traffic and construction. This allows the kids a chance to sleep instead of constantly asking “are we there yet?”
• Pack your own food.  You not only save money but you also save time by having your own snacks and lunch in the car instead of stopping for fast food.  This gives you a chance to eat at a rest area and have a picnic which makes the road trip even more fun!
• Remember your chargers! Using your smartphone for a GPS can drain your battery quick.  Don’t forget the portable chargers.
• Games… From card games and magnetic travel-ready games to geocaching and iSpy.  Make sure you are ready to provide some entertainment on the road.
• Safety.  Make sure you have a safety first aid kit and that your car is ready for a long drive.  Everyone’s safety is the most important.

Share your road trip essentials for a chance to win a brand new car!  Albertson’s and their participating partner stores are hosting The Best Road Trip Ever Sweepstakes.  Click over to find out more information on the sweepstakes and enter to win.  Good luck!

What is your must-pack road trip snack from Albertson’s?  Share with us in the comments below.  Know a great travel hack?  Join the conversation on our Facebook page!