Name: No Bake Energy Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup pitted dates; 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter ((or almond butter)); 1/4 cup rolled oats ((certified gluten-free, if needed)); 2 tablespoons ground flax or chia seeds; pinch of salt

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.

These No Bake Energy Bites are a healthy snack that I make for my kids almost every week. They’re naturally sweetened with dates, and you can customize the flavor using your favorite nut or seed butter.

How to Make Energy Balls

Energy balls are a simple combination of dates, nut or seed butter, and something dry, like rolled oats or ground flax seed to help them hold together. To make them, you simply combine the ingredients in a food processor and process until they stick together, so you can easily roll them into balls.

Because the energy ball ingredients can vary each time you make them, you may have to adjust this recipe slightly as you go. For example, sometimes I use a nut butter that is freshly opened and very runny in texture, but other times I’ll use an nut butter from the fridge, which typically makes the texture thicker.

As a result, you may need to adjust the ingredients to compensate for those differences. Since this is a no-bake recipe, it’s easy to just keep tasting and adjusting until they are perfect.

How to Make Paleo Energy Balls

These, energy balls are naturally Paleo-friendly when you use almond butter, tahini, or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter. Make sure you use a nut butter with no added sugar or hydrogenated oils for the healthiest results. You’ll also need to omit the oats and use more ground flax or chia seeds, instead. (I usually use 1/4 cup of ground seeds when omitting the oats.)

Benefits of Dates

I love using dates to naturally sweeten these energy balls, because they are loaded with fiber and essential minerals, like calcium and iron. Research even suggests that dates are a low-glycemic food.

A study that tested the effect of eating dates on healthy individuals and on those with diabetes found that dates do not cause significant glucose spikes in the blood, and therefore may be beneficial for diabetics as part of a healthy diet. (source)

Paired with a healthy fat, such as peanut butter or almond butter, these healthy snacks will leave you feeling satisfied– while also tasting like a treat! I hope you’ll enjoy them.

No Bake Energy Balls

4.82 from 11 votes

These No Bake Energy Balls are an easy and healthy snack, naturally sweetened with dates. They are vegan and paleo friendly when you use almond butter, or you can use peanut butter, if you prefer.

prep10 mins total10 mins

Servings:20

Print Save Rate

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
1/4 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free, if needed)
2 tablespoons ground flax or chia seeds
pinch of salt

Instructions

Place the dates in the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S blade. Process until the dates are broken down and form a sticky ball.
To the food processor, add in the nut butter, oats, flax seeds, and salt. Process again until the batter becomes crumbly, which may take up to 2 minutes. Stop and scrape down the processor, if needed.
Press the batter between your fingers to make sure it will easily stick together. If the batter is too moist, add another 1-2 tablespoons of oats for flax seeds. If the batter is too dry, add another 1-2 tablespoons of nut butter, and blend again.
Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough and then roll it between your hands to form balls. Place them on a lined plate or baking sheet, and then transfer the pan to the fridge to help them firm up, about an hour. (Though you can eat them right away if you want to.)
For best shelf life, store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Video

Nutrition

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: no bake energy bites

Per ball: Calories: 65, Fat: 3g, Carbohydrates: 7g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 2g

Recipe Notes:

You can replace the peanut butter with any other nut or seed butter you like. For a nut-free energy ball, try using sunflower seed butter or tahini.
For a grain-free energy ball, omit the oats and use extra ground flax or chia seeds for texture.

—

Reader Feedback: What’s your go-to healthy snack?