Chocolate Date Energy Balls
Posted Jan 26, 2020, Updated Apr 29, 2024
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No-Bake Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe! These healthy energy balls are made in 5 minutes with 8 ingredients and they taste like brownie bites! They are vegan, Paleo gluten-free and have no refined sugar, but you’d never know it! They’re also freezer-friendly!
These chocolate date energy bites are a snack time staple in our house. Skip the pre-packaged snacks and make these energy balls full of wholesome ingredients!.
We love these because they taste like brownie bites, but contain lots of of healthy fats, protein and fiber. They’re also great for pregnant women who are trying to eat dates to prepare for labor (which was described me perfectly for 10 years)!
They are easy to make, have no added sugar (are just sweetened by dates) and are freezer friendly.
Date Energy Balls: Ingredients & Substitutions
As always, let’s chat about the ingredients in this paleo energy balls recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
- Pecans/Cashews. You can substitute your favorite nuts. Use a total of 1 cup of nuts. I prefer softer nuts (pecans, cashews, walnuts) in this recipe over almonds for a soft and brownie-like texture.
- Almond butter. Any nut butter works great in this recipe! My top recommendations are almond butter and cashew butter.
- Almond milk. Use your favorite non-dairy milk in this recipe.
- Sea salt. If you use salted nuts, you will want to omit or decrease the amount of sea salt.
How to Make Date Energy Balls
This energy balls recipe only take a mere 5 minutes to make with 8 ingredients! It’s super easy, but I have some tips to help ensure your e energy-bite-making success! Don’t forget to watch the video too!
The first step in this recipe is to process the dates and nuts together until a crumbly meal forms. This ensures that there won’t be any large chunks of dates in the final product!
Then, add the rest of the ingredients to the date/nut mixture in the food processor and process until mixture just starts to clump together and easily holds together when squeezed.
Next, measure out 1 Tabespoon portions of the date energy balls mixture, and roll them into balls. Repeat until all the mixture has been used.
Chill & Serve
Place rolled energy bites in a storage container with a lid, and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. These chocolate energy balls are best served cold.
We actually store ours in the freezer! We usually eat them frozen, but sometimes let them thaw a little bit before enjoying them!
Date Energy Balls Recipe FAQs
Store these date energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
These vegan energy balls last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and 3 months in the freezer if stored properly.
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Chocolate Date Energy Balls (Vegan & Paleo)
Ingredients
- 2 cups pitted dates
- ½ cup raw pecans
- ½ cup raw cashews
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons almond butter
- 1 Tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a baking pan with wax paper, set aside. (You will not be baking these, you just need a place to set your rolled bites as you make them).
- Put dates, pecans and cashews in a food processor fitted with an “S” blade or and process until the mixture is fine and uniform throughout.
- Add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed (cocoa powder, salt, almond butter, almond milk, & vanilla) to the food processor and process until mixture just starts to clump together.
- Roll 1 Tablespoon portions of the “dough” into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Transfer the rolled energy balls to an airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer until they are chilled/hardened.
- Serve chilled or room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Pecans/Cashews. You can substitute your favorite nuts. Use a total of 1 cup of nuts. I prefer softer nuts (pecans, cashews, walnuts) in this recipe over almonds for a soft and brownie-like texture.
- Almond butter. Any nut butter works great in this recipe! My top recommendations are almond butter and cashew butter.
- Almond milk. Use your favorite non-dairy milk in this recipe.
- Sea salt. If you use salted nuts, you will want to omit or decrease the amount of sea salt.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve made these twice and they are super delicious, however, they keep coming out oily. I was careful not to over process the second batch and they did come out less oily, but still more oily than I would like. They leave a residue on the wax paper and I have to wipe my fingers after eating one. I haven’t read this problem on any of the other reviews so any ideas on what I am doing wrong? I will continue making these regardless because they are SO good, but I would love to remedy the oil situation. Thanks!!
These are delicious! I don’t usually care for dates but mixed with the nuts and cocoa powder, even I like these! I used 3/4 cup walnuts and 1/4 cup almonds, and added a few chocolate chips for a treat! Will definitely make these again.
These are delicious!! My hubby said these are the best energy balls I have ever made! Question, about how many dates is in 2 cups? I think I made 11 and my carb count went way up. I was wondering how many you use to make it?
These look really delicious! I love brownies and I will definitely love making chocolate energy bites. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Love these! When eating paleo, it’s hard to find a snacks without oatmeal or other grains! I love these are protein filled and sweetened with dates! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Thank you Melissa! These little snacks are a staple in our house! 😉
Today, my son and I made these together. He was nervous because he doesn’t like dates. To our surprise these turned out awesome! Very delicious and takes care to that sweet craving one might have. Thanks for sharing!
I recently got a new food processor and went crazy making all of the energy bite balls on this website. I love them! They’re a new thing that I’ll always have stocked in my freezer. Such a great quick, filling, and healthy snack that I can bring along with me each day. My husband loves them too. Thanks Laura!
I unfortunately have an almond sensitivity to work around. Is there a substitute nut butter/milk that would perform well in this recipe? Thanks!
Hey Holly! Absolutely!!! You can substitute any nut butter or dairy-free milk in this recipe with fantastic results! I suggest trying Cashew Butter…it’s super delicious!
I rolled half of my batch in unsweetened coconut flakes…so good, and they look so decadent!!
OoOo that sounds perfect! So glad you love them!!!
These broownies were really amaziing . Lovely one I just tried them, any other amazing recipes you proud enough to share? Thanks