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Date Energy Balls

These date energy balls are naturally sweet, no-bake, and nutritious snacks. It’s a great pre-workout or post-workout treat when you need that extra boost in energy.

Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30 – friendly.

Have you made your own energy balls yet? If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat.

date energy balls

Energy balls are so easy to make! You usually need only a few ingredients.

Plus, there is very little prep involved, and you can make them in just a few minutes.

There are all different kinds of energy balls. And you can add all sorts of ingredients to these snacks, too.

For example, these date energy balls are a great starter recipe. They have very easy-to-find ingredients and are straightforward, filling, and taste delicious.

bowl of date balls

These date energy balls would make a great addition to your meal plan. They taste great any time of the day!

In fact, with only 79 calories per ball, they are relatively easy to implement into your diet.

For example, you could add them to your breakfast routine. The energy balls would definitely taste great with a cup of tea or coffee.

They would also taste great as a little sweet treat after lunch or dinner.

Additionally, they are great snack options. Because they are filled with energy-providing protein and filling fiber, they will help you stay energized and curb hunger between meals.

Dates, pecans, and walnuts are just a few of the ingredients that make these excellent snacks.

Here is some additional knowledge as to why these ingredients are healthy and beneficial for your diet.

holding date ball

Ingredient for These Energy Bites

Soft dates – The main ingredient in this recipe and provide natural sweetness. Dates are full of health benefits, including being high in fiber and antioxidants.

Aside from this recipe, dates are a great way to add sweetness to any flavor. They are delicious in smoothies and oatmeal.

Pecans – These are also incredibly good for you. They are a healthy source of magnesium, calcium, and potassium.

Nuts tend to be considered fatty, but they contain the healthy kind of fat called monosaturated fats.

Walnuts – Adding walnuts to the recipe increases the health benefits of these energy balls. In fact, walnuts promote weight loss, lower blood pressure, and promote a healthy gut.

Shredded coconut – Adding coconut to energy balls is a fun way to add a distinct flavor and naturally add sweetness. You want to use unsweetened coconut like this to keep the sugar content low for this recipe.

Almond butter –It helps bind the recipe together. The butter enhances the protein and fiber amount to the recipe, as well.

You can find almond butter in your local grocery store or online.

Vanilla extract – It adds flavor naturally, without adding any artificial ingredients. You want to use pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla.

Sea salt – It’s a great ingredient to keep handy when making sweet treats. Believe me when I say it boosts the flavor, and you won’t want to skip out on it!

bowls of ingredients

How to Make Date Energy Balls

The first step to making the energy balls is to grab a good food processor like this. This is a beneficial kitchen tool to have around!

It’s well worth the investment.

Put the walnuts, pecans, and coconut in the food processor first. Then pulse them until they are crumbly.

ingredients in food processor

Then, add the other ingredients. You’ll want to pulse a few times until everything is combined.

Don’t’ overdo it, though! If you mix too much, the blend will become too oily.

blended ingredients in food processor

Now that everything is combined, you can make the energy balls. You can do this by using your hands to roll into even shapes.

If the mixture is too tacky, you can rub a little coconut oil on your hands. This will help things roll smoothly and keep your hands a bit cleaner.

Alternatively, you could use a cookie scoop if you have one. Cookie scoops are a really great kitchen tool to have around.

You can easily find cookie scoops here, and they will make some tasks in the kitchen much easier!

It’s time to chill the energy balls once they are all shaped. Simply put them in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

This is an important step! It allows the energy balls to really stick together so that they don’t crumble when you eat them.

completed date protein balls

When Should You Eat Energy Balls?

Energy balls are great little bites to have any time of the day. They are very easy to pack up and store if you need a snack on the go.

You can add them to your breakfast routine pretty easily! They would be delicious with a cup of coffee or tea.

You could also add them as a side option for breakfast or lunch. It’s delicious to have the energy balls as a side with breakfast eggs or a toasty soup for lunch.

Additionally, they make a great snack to have before or after a workout.

bowl of energy balls with dates

Benefits of Eating Dates

We learned a little bit about the benefits of dates above, but let’s dig a little deeper. What other reasons should you eat dates?

Dates contain little fat and do not have any cholesterol. So they are good to eat a few times a day to keep your cholesterol in check.

They also have healthy levels of protein. It’s common for those who work out regularly to add a few dates to their diet to promote strong muscle recovery.

date energy balls in bowl

Additionally, dates are full of vitamins. In fact, they contain at least six different kinds of vitamins, including vitamins B and C.

Dates are also rich in iron. This makes a date a great option for those who have an iron deficiency.

One last really great thing about dates is that they are great for healthy skin. They even have some anti-aging properties that keep skin fresh and glowing as we grow older.

date energy balls

Other Recipes You Might Like

date energy balls
date ball recipe

Date Energy Balls

These date energy balls are naturally sweet, nutty, and yummy. They're no-bake, vegan, gluten-free, Paleo and Whole30-friendly. A perfect healthy snack or sweet treat.
4.36 from 42 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 35 energy balls
Calories 79 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 2 cups soft dates pitted
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Add pecans, walnut, and shredded coconut into a food processor. Process until the mixture is crumbly.
  • Now, add in the rest of the ingredients. Process until the mixture is sticky and crumbly but make sure to not overprocess. Otherwise, it will become too oily.
  • Scoop out the dough and form balls with your hands.
  • Place in a fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
RECIPE VIDEO

Nutrition

Serving: 1energy ballCalories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.9gFat: 4.3gSaturated Fat: 1.6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2.4gSodium: 34mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 9g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below with your rating! I love the feedback and respond to every comment!
Recipe Rating




Becky

Saturday 20th of January 2024

Great recipe. Can you freeze them?

Karo @ AllNutritious

Sunday 21st of January 2024

Yes, certainly! They will last in the freezer up to 3 months! Defrost before eating, and do freeze them in a dry sealed container.

Michelle

Thursday 18th of May 2023

Do these need to continue to be refrigerated after the 30 minutes?

Karo @ AllNutritious

Friday 19th of May 2023

Not necessarily. Although, if it's summer and it's a little warm at home, you might want to keep them in the fridge. :)

Bay

Wednesday 26th of October 2022

These are so delicious! I added a little honey as well and my boyfriend loved them so much too :D thanks!

Karo @ AllNutritious

Wednesday 26th of October 2022

I am so glad!

Hannah

Sunday 18th of September 2022

You must exclude vanilla for them to be Whole30 compatible.

Karo @ AllNutritious

Friday 23rd of September 2022

vanilla extract should be ok for the updated Whole30 programme.