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.
Love these! Made them into “reindeers” for with my daughter and her friends
Love that idea Diana!!
DELICIOUS and so easy to make!! Love the satisfying chewiness, sweetness, and nutrients that each ball packs. These will be becoming a household staple — especially since I have all of the ingredients on hand!
How can I eat just one? Delicious
So much deliciousness in a little ball! Thank you Laura!!
So yummy and easy!I added a bit of shredded coconut to mine!
Thank you Laura, these are the best date based power balls I have ever eaten! Super yummy!!! I was looking for a plant based treat and this was perfect 🙂
Easy to make and delicious.
These were absolutely delicious!!
Can’t remember if I’ve made them and reviewed before , but if so – they are going to be in repeat around here.
Thanks for another delicious recipe .
Amazing!!! They taste like dessert!;)
I’m so glad you like them Ella!
Best date nut balls of ever made.or eaten!!