Date Energy Balls (Print Page)
No-bake date energy balls with oats, almonds, peanut butter and coconut - chewy, portable vegan snack.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (about 10.5 oz)
02 - 1 cup rolled oats, certified gluten-free if needed (about 3.5 oz)
03 - 1/2 cup raw almonds (about 2.1 oz)
04 - 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (about 1 oz)
→ Flavor and Binding
05 - 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
06 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
→ Optional Mix-Ins
09 - 2 tablespoons mini dark chocolate chips
10 - 2 tablespoons cacao nibs
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped dried cranberries
# Directions:
01 - If the dates feel dry or firm, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes to soften, then drain thoroughly.
02 - Add the raw almonds and rolled oats to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped and uniform in texture.
03 - Add the soaked dates, shredded coconut, peanut butter, chia seeds, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the food processor. Blend until the mixture becomes sticky and holds together when pressed between your fingers.
04 - If using chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or dried cranberries, pulse the food processor a few times until they are evenly distributed without being over-processed.
05 - Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture at a time and roll firmly between your palms to form a smooth ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture to yield 12 balls.
06 - Place the energy balls in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- No baking required and you can mix the whole batch in under fifteen minutes with one appliance.
- They taste like dessert but the ingredients are all things you would feel good about eating for breakfast.
02 -
- If the mixture feels too crumbly to roll, add another half tablespoon of peanut butter or one more soft date and process again.
- Wetting your hands slightly before rolling prevents the mixture from sticking to your palms and makes the process much faster.
03 -
- Soften dates in the microwave for ten seconds instead of soaking if you want to skip the draining step entirely.
- Adding a tiny pinch of cinnamon or cardamom makes people ask what your secret ingredient is every single time.