• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Moments
    • Pregnancy/Baby
      • Baby Registry List
      • Thriving Postpartum: What to Expect & Postpartum Essentials for Mom
  • Essential Oils
    • Getting Started with Essential Oils
    • Essential Oil Roller Blends
    • Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
  • Shop
    • Best Kitchen Gifts
    • Baby Registry List
    • Kitchen Tools (Must Haves)
    • Pantry Staples (Baking & Cooking)
    • Food Photography Essentials
  • Instagram
JoyFoodSunshine
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Laura
  • Contact
  • Essential Oils
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Never Miss a Recipe!

  • ×

    Home » Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Balls

    Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Balls

    Published: Apr 14, 2016 · Modified: Aug 9, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Almond Butter Protein Balls finished image with almonds.
    Almond Butter Protein Balls with drizzle on them.
    Almond Butter Protein Balls drizzled with sauce.

    Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Balls are made with 7 ingredients in 10 minutes. They are the perfect easy & healthy snack recipe. Also, these Almond Butter Energy Balls are paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, date-sweetened & vegan.

    6 almond butter protein balls drizzled with almond butter

    These little balls of chocolatey bliss are crazy delicious and healthy! They're paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and are only sweetened with date. Simply almonds, dates and a few other ingredients come together beautifully to make a healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.

    Everyone in my family LOVES these Almond Butter Energy Bites. My husband, who usually doesn't care for my "healthy" treat options, raves about these. However, My kids think I'm feeding them cookies for a snack. And, I like to enjoy them in the silence that follows all of my babes settling in to their nap/quiet time in the afternoon.

    overhead view of 10 almond butter protein balls spilling out of a bowl with almonds around them

    Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Balls: Substitutions 

    As always I recommend making this recipe exactly as it's written. But here are a few notes on substitutions:

    • Almonds: To keep these balls raw choose raw almonds. 1 cup of any nut variety will work in this recipe. To keep it paleo make sure you choose almonds, cashews, pecans or walnuts (i.e. no peanuts)!
    • Almond Butter: Any variety of nut or seed butter will work in this recipe. My two favorites are almond butter and cashew butter. Just be sure to choose a variety that meets your dietary needs.
    • Almond milk: Any variety of non-dairy milk can be used with delicious results. Also, I've used coconut milk and cashew milk in this recipe.

    How to make Almond Butter Protein Balls

    Process Nuts & Dates Together

    First when making paleo energy balls, always start by processing the dates and nuts together. These are the two most difficult ingredients to process, so it's important to be sure that they're finely ground and mixed well before adding the rest.

    Add the Rest of the Ingredients. 

    After the nuts and dates are processed well, add the rest of the ingredients and process for about 60 seconds.

    Overhead photo showing how to make almond butter protein balls in the food processor.

    Make the Almond Butter Energy Balls

    Next, process the ingredients for 30-60 seconds. The mixture will begin to clump together. At this point, it's time to stop processing because the it is ready to be formed into balls.

    like to keep these Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Bites small (about 1 TBS of mixture per ball), but you can make them any size you like.

    Be careful because you do not want to over-process this mixture or the energy bites will turn out greasy. The picture below shows how the optimal "clumpiness" you are looking to achieve for energy bite perfection.

    Overhead photo showing how to make protein balls in a food processor grinded.

    Add a Drizzle or Coating

    Finally, you can leave your Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Bites bare, or you can drizzle them with extra almond butter, roll them in coconut, etc.

    Store/freeze

    Store these almond butter protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to two months.

    overhead view of 8 almond butter protein balls in a silver pan

    Recipe FAQs

    Are energy balls good for you?

    Yes! Energy balls are full of healthy fats, fiber, and protein.

    Do protein balls need to be refrigerated?

    Yes, I suggest storing them in the refrigerator so they stay fresh for longer. They can be eaten at room temperature or packed in a lunch box, etc. for a day.

    Why are my protein balls not sticking together?

    If your protein balls aren't sticking together well then add some more moisture, in this case I'd suggest adding more almond butter.

    7 energy bites with drizzle on wooden surface.

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    6 almond butter protein balls drizzled with almond butter

    Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Balls

    Laura
    Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Balls are made with 7 ingredients in 10 minutes. They are the perfect easy & healthy snack recipe. Also, these Almond Butter Energy Balls are paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, date-sweetened & vegan.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Chilling time 5 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 18 energy bites
    Calories 70.8 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula
    • baking sheet

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cups pitted dates
    • 1 cup almonds
    • 2 TBS almond butter
    • 1 TBS unsweetened almond milk
    • 2 TBS cocoa powder
    • ½ tsp vanilla
    • ¼ tsp sea salt
    • More almond butter for drizzling optional

    Instructions
     

    • Line a baking pan with wax paper, set aside. (These will not be baked! This is where the bites will be placed after they are rolled into balls).
    • Put dates and almonds in the container of a food processor fitted with the “S” blade. Process until mixture is resembles a coarse meal and is uniform throughout.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients (almond butter, almond milk, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt) to the food processor and process until the mixture just starts to clump together. (Do not over process here or the bites will become oily).
    • Roll 1 TBS portions of the mixture into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
    • Place the baking sheet lined with energy bites into the refrigerator or freezer for 30-60 minutes or until they are firm.
    • Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

    Video

    Notes

    Store/freeze

    Store these almond butter protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to two months.

    Ingredient Substitution

    • Almonds: To keep these balls raw choose raw almonds. 1 cup of any nut variety will work in this recipe. To keep it paleo make sure you choose almonds, cashews, pecans or walnuts (i.e. no peanuts)!
    • Almond Butter: Any variety of nut or seed butter will work in this recipe. My two favorites are almond butter and cashew butter. Just be sure to choose a variety that meets your dietary needs.
    • Almond milk: Any variety of non-dairy milk can be used with delicious results. I've used coconut milk and cashew milk in this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1energy ballCalories: 70.8kcalCarbohydrates: 5.8gProtein: 2.2gFat: 4.8gPotassium: 92.4mgFiber: 1.7gSugar: 3.8gCalcium: 29mgIron: 0.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Delicious Recipes

    • Try these delicious energy balls Chocolate Date Energy Balls, Cashew Coconut Energy Balls, or these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls.
    • Also, Check out these easy No-Bake Coconut Almond Bars.
    • Lastly, we love making these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

    « Honey Oatmeal Bread
    Raising Sons: Using Warrior Language »

    Did you make this recipe?

    Leave a comment and review below, then take a picture and tag @joyfoodsunshine #joyfoodsunshine on Instagram so I can see it! Sign up here to receive weekly e-mails!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wy @ The Healthy Patron

      January 28, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      5 stars
      These were great! I even used Costco almond butter to make mine! Looking forward to trying more stuff from your site.

      Reply
    2. LuAnn Bunch

      November 24, 2019 at 9:44 am

      Can you use powdered almond butter in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Laura

        November 24, 2019 at 3:27 pm

        If you don't use liquid almond butter you will need to add more moisture somewhere. Maybe compensate by adding more almond milk.

        Reply
    3. Becky

      April 08, 2019 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      I would add a few hemp hearts for crunch, otherwise amazing

      Reply
    4. Kim

      February 05, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      I used raw cashews instead of almonds.
      These are amazing. They are so creamy
      and delicious. A perfect snack when you’re
      craving something sweet!

      Reply
    5. Carrie

      January 25, 2019 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      So so so good! Satisfies my sweet/chocolate cravings in a healthy way!

      Reply
    6. Kerry

      September 14, 2018 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      So I have never eaten a date ... until today. I made these balls and even once they were ready, I was a little nervous to try them because of the dates in them. I finally tried one and they are delicious!!!! I was worried about an aftertaste but there was none.
      Thank you for this recipe! I seriously cannot stop eating these treats!

      Reply
    7. Dawn

      July 29, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      These were delicious! Even a hit with my finicky 6 year old. Better than candy any day.

      Reply
    8. JENI

      January 31, 2018 at 7:25 am

      5 stars
      These are seriously amazing. And easy! Already planning my second batch. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

    Click here to read more >>

    Never Miss a Recipe!

    Top Recipes

    • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
    • Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Better than Cinnabon)
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
    • Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
    • Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang's)!
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5- Minutes)!

    Trending now

    • Feta Watermelon Salad
    • Mexican Corn Salad
    • Orange Smoothie
    • Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
    • Peach Cheesecake
    • Chicken Kebab Recipe & Marinade

    Search

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Joy Food Sunshine Logo

    Never Miss a Recipe!

    16577 shares
    • 278