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    Home > Recipes > Snacks

    Energy Balls

    Published: Dec 9, 2020 · Modified: Nov 11, 2022 by Iosune · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Photo of a bowl of energy balls with the words energy balls

    Energy balls, a delicious, simple, and naturally sweet snack! They're healthy, perfect to eat on the go, and ready in just 20 minutes with 4 ingredients.

    Side shot of a bowl with some energy balls in it

    These energy balls are the perfect snack! Filling, sweet, easy to make, and absolutely delicious, they are a super healthy treat free from artificial sweeteners, additives, and preservatives.

    It is a great option for those who are looking for a go-to snack but want something good and tasty at the same time. That's why I decided to try this energy balls recipe, and I couldn't be happier!

    Although I made it with hazelnuts, you can use any other kind of nuts. However, I do prefer to use hazelnuts because they have a more intense flavor.

    Energy balls, a great, satisfying, and delicious snack. They are simple and easy to prepare, as well as healthy and naturally sweet. To make them you only need 4 ingredients and just 20 minutes of your time!

    Energy balls recipe - Short video

    How to make energy balls - Step by step

    Step-by-step photos of how to make energy balls
    • Place the hazelnuts in a food processor or a powerful blender (photo 1) and blend until they have a crumbly texture (photo 2).
    • Add the dates, cocoa powder, and coconut oil (photo 3), and blend again (photo 4).
    • Make the balls with your hands (photo 5). I made 18 of them (photo 6).

    Pro tips

    • Use any kind of roasted or raw nuts you want. Roasted nuts are my favorite choice as they have a more intense flavor, but that's up to you.
    • Medjool dates are the best option, but any other type of dates will also work. However, if you use another kind of date, you may need to soak them overnight or for at least 1 hour in hot water.
    • Coconut oil is the best option, but any other oil will do.
    • If you're oil-free, you could omit it and add syrup instead, although I've never tried it myself.
    Close-up shot of a bowl with some energy balls in it

    What are energy balls?

    Energy balls are a super healthy on-the-go snack perfect to give you some energy whenever you need it. They are great to enjoy before or after any physical activity such as a workout, and they are also very convenient for students, as they are portable and can be eaten anywhere.

    How long will these energy balls keep?

    These energy balls will last for quite some time if stored properly. You can store them in a sealed container in the fridge and they will keep in good condition for about 2 weeks.

    Can energy balls be frozen?

    Yes! To do it, just place them in a freezer-friendly container and transfer them into the freezer. They will last for up to 3 months. You can defrost them by transferring them to the fridge until thaw.

    How to eat these energy balls

    Although they are very convenient to eat on the go, you can also have them as a snack at home and serve them with a glass of plant milk, such as oat milk, soy milk, and cashew milk, among others.

    Looking for more vegan snack recipes?

    • Granola Bars
    • Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Overnight Oats
    • Vegan Brownies
    • Vegan Banana Bread
    Photo of a bowl with some energy balls in it

    Did you make this energy balls recipe?

    Please leave a comment below, share it, or rate it. You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I’d love to see what you cook!

    Square photo of a bowl with some energy balls in it

    Energy Balls

    Energy balls, a delicious, simple, and naturally sweet snack! They're healthy, perfect to eat on the go, and ready in just 20 minutes with 4 ingredients.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    PRINT PIN RATE
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 18 balls
    Author: Iosune


    Ingredients 

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1 cup roasted hazelnuts, 140 g
    • 1 and ½ cups Medjool dates, 300 g
    • 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
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    Instructions

    • Place the hazelnuts in a food processor or a powerful blender and blend until they have a crumbly texture.
    • Add the dates, cocoa powder, and coconut oil, and blend again.
    • Make the balls with your hands. I made 18 of them.
    • Serve them with a glass of plant milk, such as oat milk, soy milk, and cashew milk, among others.
    • You can store them in a sealed container in the fridge for about 2 weeks or freeze them for up to 3 months.

    Notes

    • Use any kind of roasted or raw nuts you want. Roasted nuts are my favorite choice as they have a more intense flavor, but that's up to you.
    • Medjool dates are the best option, but any other type of dates will also work. However, if you use another kind of date, you may need to soak them overnight or for at least 1 hour in hot water.
    • Coconut oil is the best option, but any other oil will do.
    • If you're oil-free, you could omit it and add syrup instead, although I've never tried it myself.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ball | Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.1g | Protein: 1.7g | Fat: 5.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.1g | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 10.9g

    Update Notes: This post was originally published in September of 2016, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, and tips in December of 2020.

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    1.0K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sonia says

      April 11, 2021 at 7:20 pm

      I am coming from your coconut milk recipe!! How would you use the coconut pulp in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        April 12, 2021 at 11:29 am

        Hi Sonia! Feel free to add it in the 2nd step 🙂

        Reply
    2. Irena says

      February 25, 2021 at 12:31 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing!

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        February 26, 2021 at 11:51 am

        Hi Irena! Thanks 🙂

        Reply
    3. macy says

      December 09, 2020 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      forgot to rate recipe

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        December 10, 2020 at 12:24 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Julian says

      August 31, 2019 at 11:07 pm

      Congratulations Iosune on presenting us all with possibly the simplest energy ball recipe on the web. And doing it in a clear, neat manner without the usual fluff, flannel, excess photography and superfluous text, which is so common almost everywhere else.
      Keep up the good work and many thank you's for sharing. Good on ya!

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        September 05, 2019 at 11:04 am

        Hi Julian! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂 You made my day!!! <3

        Reply
    5. Anabell says

      April 02, 2018 at 12:41 pm

      Also check my recipe. This the favorite treat in my family=)
      Dates 10 pcs.
      Chia seeds 1 tbsp. l.
      Pistachios 2 handfuls
      Cocoa powder 2 tbsp. l.
      Maple syrup 2 tbsp. l.
      Cooking method:

      Put a handful of pistachios in a blender and grind them to the state of a large crumb. Transfer to a bowl.
      Next, put the remaining pistachios, dates, chia seeds and cocoa powder in the blender. Modify until smooth. If necessary, add 1-2 tablespoons of water.
      From the received mass of hands to blind 12 balls. Dip them in maple syrup, and then roll in crushed pistachios. Keep the balls in the refrigerator.

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        April 03, 2018 at 2:40 am

        Hi Anabell! Thanks a lot for sharing your recipe with us 🙂 Have a nice day!

        Reply
    6. Karen says

      April 20, 2017 at 11:29 pm

      5 stars
      I just made these and they are delicious! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        April 24, 2017 at 5:21 pm

        Hi Karen! I'm so glad you liked them 😀

        Reply
    7. Gigi says

      January 17, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      Do you soak the dates?

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        January 23, 2017 at 12:13 pm

        Hi Gigi! I don't 🙂 Have a nice day!

        Reply
    8. Sarah Lawrence says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:38 am

      I'm wondering if you can do a no oil version of this recipe? Would there be enough stickiness in the dates?

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        November 16, 2016 at 1:10 pm

        Hi Sarah! You could add more syrup instead of the oil, I think it could work 🙂

        Reply
    9. Martín says

      October 21, 2016 at 8:17 am

      5 stars
      Tenes estas recetas en español también?

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        October 24, 2016 at 7:55 pm

        Hola Martín! Sí, tenemos un blog en español: https://danzadefogones.com 🙂 Un saludo!

        Reply
    10. Nandini says

      October 06, 2016 at 1:21 am

      This is a great recipe. Looking forward to trying it out! I bought Medjool date paste. Can i use that instead of using whole dates?

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        October 11, 2016 at 4:51 pm

        Hi Nandini! Thank you 🙂 I haven't tried Medjool date paste, so I don't know if it works, but you could try... Have a nice day!

        Reply
    11. Suzy says

      September 28, 2016 at 7:42 pm

      Almonds are listed in the ingredients, but hazelnuts in the instructions. Does it matter which ones are used?

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        September 28, 2016 at 7:58 pm

        Hi Suzy! It was a mistake! I used hazelnuts, not almonds. Thanks for your comment and have a nice day! <3

        Reply

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