Healthy never tasted so good with these No-Bake Date Energy Balls. Naturally nutty and sweet with a slight bit of crunch, these energy bites move from the snack to the treat-snack category while maintaining their impressive nutritional benefits.

I’ve been on a roll lately. I’ve been so lucky to find healthy treats that are surprisingly healthy for how delicious and satisfying they are. These No-Bake Date Energy Balls are another such example. Full of nut butter, flax meal, chia seed, dates and other nutritious ingredients, they provide clean energy while also providing flavor that keeps on bringing me back for more.

The first mock-treat that got me hooked was Joy Food Sunshine’s No-Bake Oatmeal Bars. One look at those beauties and I knew it would be love. And it was: within 24 hours of making, them I was calling friends asking if they would like to try some-please-before-i-eat-them-all-thank-you.

Next, it was Ambitious Kitchen’s Chickpea Blondies – full of an addicting texture but somehow without any processed sugar. And really– garbanzo beans? Mind blown. How inspiring to think of all the ways we can re-purpose ingredients we already have on hand for healthier sweet treats.

And most recently it was Kale Junkie’s Life-Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies. I know I’ve written about these before… and I guess that’s a testament to how life changing they are. The texture they have without any flour is something that should be recorded in the Guiness book of world records. And something I’ve continued to think about since.

With such inspiration on my plate, my gears have been turning on how to think more outside of the box with my own recipes. Can I do something more surprising with tahini? Can I incorporate more omega-3s into snacks? Develop healthy treats that I can eat on hungry training days that are also replenishing my body?

These energy balls scream yes! With any nut or seed butter you have on hand — peanut, almond, sunflower seed butter, or tahini, dates, flax meal, chia seed, oatmeal, and a few seasonings, they’re full of healthy and whole ingredients but naturally sweet in a way that moves the energy balls from the snack category to the treat-snack category.

Experiment with which nut butter you like the best: I love the tahini energy balls, but Chris loves the peanut butter energy balls. Either way, I hope they inspire you to think about snacking — and treating — in a new, inspiring, and energizing way.

7 Reasons To Make These Date Energy Balls:

They…

• Are quick and easy to make.
• Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!
• Are perfect as an on-the-go post-workout snack.
• Make an energizing at-work snack.
• Can be made with whatever nut butter you have on hand.
• Have absolutely no processed sugar!

And most importantly… they’re delicious and filling without being overwhelming!

In fact, this afternoon I was lagging around three. Hungry and tired, I grabbed two of these guys and within 20 minutes of eating them, my focus and energy had returned. Not only that, but I felt good about reaching for a healthy and good-for-me snack!

Popular Questions About Making Date Energy Balls:

Why are energy balls good for you?

These date and oatmeal energy balls are good for you because they are full of healthy fats from nut or seed butters, fiber, protein, and have no processed sugar. Since they are made with dates and banana in them, they technically have fruit in them, too!

If you’re following a gluten-free or vegan diet, these energy bites fit into both of those lifestyles as well!

Can you eat raw oats in energy balls?

Yep! It is safe to eat raw oats in any form. Here, the oats are blended down into the energy balls so they mix into the rest of the batter nicely so there aren’t many big flakes of oatmeal to chew.

How long do protein or energy balls last in the refrigerator?

Protein or energy balls should last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Just make sure they’re in an airtight container, otherwise they will dry out and not last the full two weeks.

Can I freeze protein balls?

I don’t usually freeze my protein or energy balls since they don’t last that long around here, but you can do it. Just seal them up in an airtight freezer-safe Ziploc bag and then defrost at room temperature for about an hour.

How do you use medjool dates?

Pretty simple! Just slice the date from top to bottom, open them up and remove the seed from the middle. You can also push down on the end with the “navel” and peel it open (like you would an orange) to get the seed out.

Medjool dates are great in smoothies, as a natural sweetener in an energy bar or bite, on salads, wrapped with bacon and grilled, and they’re also amazing just on their own!

Are medjool dates vegan?

Yes! They are a fruit so they are vegan. If you’re using dates that are chopped and tossed in sugar, however, they will likely not be vegan unless that sugar is vegan.

How to make these date energy bites– a quick overview:

1. Combine the nut or seed butter, banana, dates, almond meal, salt, cinnamon, and flax meal in a food processor or blender and blend until no chunks of banana or dates remain.
2. Pulse in the chia seeds and oatmeal until the oats are pretty well combined into the batter and there are no big flakes remaining.
3. Dump the batter out of the food processor into a bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber scraper until they are pretty evenly distributed throughout.
4. Cover the mixing bowl and refrigerate for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the batter starts to firm up.
5. Either spray your hands with cooking spray or spread them with coconut oil and then roll the 1 1/2 tablespoon scoops of batter into energy balls.
6. Serve the balls immediately or move to an airtight container in the refrigerator and store for up to 2 weeks.

If you make and like this recipe, please rate it by clicking on the 5-star rating on the recipe card. I appreciate it so much! <3

Yield: 18 energy balls

No Bake Date Energy Balls

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Easy and energizing No bake Date Balls! All you need is a food processor, bowl, and 30 minutes of chilling time.

Choose the nut or seed butter of your choice -- I love tahini, peanut butter, and almond butter!

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup tahini (or almond butter or peanut butter)
• 1 large, ripe banana
• 8 Medjool dates, pitted
• Pinch salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 2 tablespoons flax meal
• 1 1/2 cup oats
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Add the tahini through flax meal to a food processor high speed blender and blend until the batter is smooth and there are no more chunks of banana or date left, about 45 seconds- 1 minute.
2. Scrape down the sides of the blender and then pulse in the oats and chia seeds until just combined, about 15 or so pulses.
3. Dump the batter into a medium size mixing bowl and then mix in the chocolate chips with a rubber scraper. The batter will be soft and doughy, but that's ok.
4. Cover the mixing bowl and chill for 30-45 minutes, or until the batter firms up.
5. Spray or spread cooking spray or coconut oil on your hands (this will help keep the dough from sticking to you)and roll the batter into balls by the 1 1/2 tablespoon.
6. Chill the energy balls covered in the fridge until serving, or enjoy right away!

Notes

- These will store in the fridge covered for 1.5-2 weeks. They will store well in the freezer for 1-2 months in an airtight Ziploc freezer bag.

- Moderately ripe bananas are best for this-- you don't need an overly ripe and brown banana.

- For certified gluten-free energy balls, make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.

Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

1 ball
Amount Per Serving Calories 147Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 0mgSodium 11mgCarbohydrates 19gFiber 3gSugar 11gProtein 3g

This nutrition breakdown is just an estimate of the nutritional value of this recipe and cannot be taken as facts. The owners of Mae's Menu are not nutritionists or dieticians and therefore cannot be held accountable for this nutrition estimate. Please contact your nutritionist or medical professional for a nutritional breakdown of this food. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Other healthy and energizing snack recipes:

• Peanut Butter & Jelly Larabars – bring it back to childhood with ingredients you can feel good about enjoying as an adult! Dates, peanuts, and raisins come together for a quick and healthy energy bar you can enjoy any time of day.
• Mae’s Mean Green Smoothie – enjoy a green smoothie with bright and light flavors of pineapple, coconut, and kombucha! Delivering in healthy greens and probiotics, this is a smoothie or smoothie bowl that delivers on flavor and nutrition.
• Cranberry & White Chocolate Chip Larabars – Flavors of white chocolate and cranberry can now be enjoyed in a healthier format! With just dates, peanuts, dried cranberries, and white chocolate, these are whole-foods based energy bars that are better for you.
• Vegan Chia Pudding Parfaits – chia pudding is back, but this time with even more flavor! Warming spices, bright pops of golden raisins, and crunchy granola clusters combine for a healthy and heartwarming snack!
• Vanilla Spiced Coconut Granola – crunchy and clustery granola that is oh-so-perfect on yogurt for breakfast or an afternoon snack!
• Protein Breakfast Cookies – you will never guess these cookies have no processed sugar (except for the chocolate chips!) or butter! They are nutty, just-sweet-enough-for-breakfast, and chock-full of satisfying nuts, raisins, and chocolate.

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