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Cashew energy balls are a sweet, nutty, kid-friendly snack. It’s a perfect naturally sweet treat, vegan, dairy-free, Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free, and only requires 5 ingredients.
Here is a straightforward recipe that you will want to try. These guilt-free cashew balls will be a great place to start when adding simple snacks to your recipe collection.
These are great energy balls to try if you’re trying to lose weight or just maintain a healthy diet. Each guilt-free cashew ball has only 58 calories.
You could easily enjoy them as a snack or a sweet little addition to any meal! The cashew and date flavor pairs great with coffee or tea. They are also a tasty side to a lunch salad or cozy soup.
You will be able to put these energy balls together in no time at all. They require a simple list of ingredients and just a few short steps.
You definitely don’t need to be a master chef or baker to put these together.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cashews (1 cup) – These nuts are a great source of healthy fats and protein. They are also a terrific source of magnesium.
Their softer texture will be hard to match with other nuts. Try not to substitute another nut for cashews in this recipe.
Soft dates (1 cup) – Dates provide the natural sweetness in this recipe. Dates are packed with health benefits, including being high in fiber and antioxidants.
Shredded coconut (¾ cup) – Adding shredded coconut to energy balls is a great way to add tropical flavor and naturally add sweetness.
You want to use unsweetened coconut like this to keep the sugar content at a low level for this recipe.
Vanilla extract (¼ tsp) – It adds delicious natural flavor without adding any artificial ingredients. You want to use pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla.
Sea salt (1/8 tsp) – Believe it or not, sea salt is an essential ingredient while baking and making sweets. The salt elevates all of the other flavors in the energy balls.
How to Make Cashew Energy Balls
Step 1. Place the cashews in a food processor and blend until they are crumbly.
Step 2. Now, add all of the other ingredients. Pulse the food processor a few times so that everything is equally combined.
Step 3. Next, you’ll need to roll the mixture up into bite-sized balls. You can do this with your hands, or you can use a cookie scoop.
It’s handy to have some cooking oil or non-stick spray around, whether you are using your hands or a scoop. You can spray your hands or the inside of the scoop to help the mixture from getting too sticky.
Step 4. After the balls are rolled, you will need to chill them before eating them. This step helps prevent the energy balls from crumbling when you try to eat them.
Step 5. Let the energy balls chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Then you can take them out and start enjoying these delicious little snacks!
Do Energy Balls Give You Energy?
Energy balls have their name for a reason, right? They are little bites made with whole, healthy ingredients that are meant to fuel your body.
It’s necessary to have the right tools available to help you gain that energy. Sugary energy drinks and candy bars are not the answer.
It’s actually quite simple to choose a healthier option when you have recipes like this. You could make these one time per week and have a stock of energy bites for the next few days.
Why are These Energy Balls Guilt-Free?
Imagine that you only have candy bars and energy drinks available to help you regain that energy? You would likely feel a “crash” soon after and a sense of regret in your choice.
These energy balls are considered “guilt-free” because they will actually help you feel better! Not only will they help you restore your energy, but they will make you feel healthy and full – the right way.
The ingredient list is so small and uncomplicated. Plus, there are no “bad ingredients” listed. There are no added sugars and only healthy fats. There are also no artificial ingredients.
How Long Do Energy Balls Last in the Fridge?
These energy balls will last up to two weeks in the fridge. But I doubt they will last that long! You could also freeze the guilt-free cashew balls for up to 3 months.
For the balls to stay fresh, you have to keep a few things in mind. You will need to choose a good storage container.
Something like this would work really well. A flat container works best because you do not want to stack the balls on top of each other.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Matcha Energy Balls
- Paleo Brownies
- Almond Butter Energy Balls
- Date Energy Balls
- Low-Calorie Apple Snacks
- 200 Calorie Recipes
- 10 Yogurt Bowls
5-Ingredient Cashew Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup soft dates
- ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Add cashews into the processor and pulse until they become flour-like.
- Then, add in the rest of the ingredients and pulse until one smooth texture.
- Roll the dough into small balls. Or use a cookie scoop to just scoop them out.
- Store in a refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
can you add hemp seeds to this?
I think they would work well here and add even more nutritional value to the energy balls!
I thought no vanilla on whole 30 due to alcohol in vanilla then containing sugar-is there a vanilla with no alcohol
Hello Kristin, there has been a change to that:
https://whole30.com/whole30-extracts/
Vanilla extract is Whole30-friendly.
Could you spread them into a pan and cut them into bars……would they hold up?
Hey, I don’t think they would 🙂
Delicious and so easy to make. I added some cocoa nibs for crunch. I only got 15 balls and did them as small as I could without being the size of green peas. But it’s fine. I have 3 for each day of the week to go alongside an apple!
Nice suggestions! Thank you 🙂