Loaded with protein boosting nuts, heart healthy flaxseed, chia seeds, and sweetened with dried fruit. These little date energy balls are a perfect on-the-go snack!

date energy balls this recipe

Date Energy Balls are great for handling all your sweet cravings while being backed with protein for that afternoon pick-me-up.

With wholesome ingredients, they are the perfect snack between meals. The natural sugars in the dates are all the sweetness you need which means you won’t need to include any added sugar!

What Are Date Energy Balls?

These no-bake little bite-sized snacks are packed with protein and healthy fats from the seeds and nuts. They’re flavored with a touch of vanilla extract and cinnamon which makes them even more delicious.

Serving Tip! Take them with you on road trips, to go hiking or biking, or when you know you’ll be out of the house with your kids for more than a couple of hours.

Kids love this simple snack and it will fill them up between breakfast and lunch while you’re running errands.

fruit protein bites

What Type of Dates to Use  

There are two main types of dates you may find at your local grocery stores, Medjool dates and Deglet Noor dates. Medjool dates are rich, sweet, and have a soft and chewy texture while Deglet dates are sweeter and firmer. The best option for this recipe is to use Medjool dates.

You can find them in the produce section or the dried fruits section of the store. You most likely won’t find them in the baking aisle.

Use whole dates, not cubed and dried dates since they are too hard to blend and don’t taste as good as whole dates in this recipe.

It’s preferable to buy pitted dates so you don’t need to remove the pits yourself which takes time and can be messy. Make sure you check before putting them in the food processor so you don’t accidentally try to blend them.  

Ingredients

This easy snack only has a handful of ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store.

  • Dates 
  • Almonds 
  • Dried fruit 
  • Sunflower seeds 
  • Chia seeds 
  • Flax seeds 
  • Pure vanilla extract 
  • Cinnamon 
ingredients for superfood energy balls

Ingredient Note. White spots on dates are just crystalized sugar, no need to worry or throw them out.  

How to Make Date Energy Balls

This date energy balls recipe makes about 20 energy balls.

  • Combine the ingredients in a food processor until you have a sticky dough.
  • Roll the dough into two-tablespoon balls and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Refrigerate for about an hour or until the balls are firm.
how to make energy balls

Recipe Tips

These tips and tricks will help you make the best energy date balls you’ve ever tried.

  • Use unsalted nuts! Use unsalted nuts rather than salted ones so you can control how much salt is added.  
  • No need to add sweetener. No need to add any additional sugar since the dates will satisfy your sweet tooth.
  • Soak in warm water (if needed). You can find excellent dates at health food stores and some grocery stores.  Fresh dates have a soft and chewy texture but after sitting out they dry out over time. Feel free to soak the dates in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes before using them to ensure they blend easily.
  • Add-ins. Some other flavors include apple pie, pumpkin pie, coconut chocolate, brownie, lemon, or gingerbread. 
  • Avoid over-blending nuts. Try not to over-process the nuts since they’ll start to turn to nut butter and the oils will be released which will make the balls a bit oily. If you accidentally do so, don’t worry, they’ll still taste delicious.

Variations

  • Use different fruit. You can use just about any type of dried fruit. I tested the recipe with dried apricots and dried blueberries. Both were delicious.
  • Try nut butter. Try adding peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.  
  • Add oats. Oats are a filling and tasty addition. Make sure to use quick or instant oats and not old-fashioned oats for the best result.
  • Coconut flakes. Coconut flakes are a natural sweetener and help hold the balls together.  
  • Make it chocolatey. Unsweetened cocoa powder or chocolate chips make this snack chocolatey!
  • Swap out dates. Try using figs instead of dates if you’d like. They aren’t as sweet but are tasty! 
  • Use other nuts. Use other types of nuts like cashews, walnuts, or pecans.  
  • Protein powder. A little bit of protein powder makes these bite-sized treats even more protein-packed.
date power balls

How to Serve 

Fruit protein bites have a natural sweetness and are the perfect healthy snack.

You can eat them on the go, before a workout, or for an afternoon energy boost. They are rich and you will only need to eat a couple before you’re satisfied.

They pair well with other appetizers and snacks like easy kid snacks, avocado toast, or sweet potato bites with guacamole.

Storing Tips 

Refrigerate: Store this sweet treat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for one to two weeks.  

Freeze: These no-bake energy bites can be stored in the freezer for three months. This is a great option if you want to make them in advance and pull them out to munch on at any time.

flaxseed protein balls

FAQs

Are date energy balls baked? 

There’s no need to bake energy balls which means they are incredibly quick and easy to whip up.

Can I make date energy balls without nuts? 

If you’re allergic to nuts or would rather leave them out, you can do that or use seeds instead.  

Can I use a blender to make date energy balls? 

You can use a blender to make these protein balls, but the stickiness of the dates can prevent the blade from spinning properly. It’s best to use a food processor if you have one. The ingredients sit away from the blades (not right on top of them) which allows them to spin without slowing down.

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Superfood Energy Balls - made with nuts, dried fruit, flax, and chia

Date Energy Balls

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 20–23 balls 1x
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: No-Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Loaded with protein boosting nuts, heart healthy flaxseed, chia seeds, and sweetened with dried fruit. These little energy balls are a perfect on-the-go snack!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3/4 cup Medjool dates, pitted (about 7-8)
  • 3/4 cup almonds, preferably raw
  • 3/4 cup dried fruit (see note), chopped if necessary
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 Tbsp. chia seeds
  • 2 Tbsp. ground flaxseeds
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a bowl of a food processor, combine the pitted dates and almonds. Pulse until coarse crumb like consistency.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and process until well combined. The mixture should be sticky and easily stick together between two fingers. If the mixture seems dry, add 1 Tablespoon of water at a time.
  4. Roll a tablespoon of the mixture into approximately 1-inch ball. Transfer to prepared sheet pan and repeat until all of the mixture has been rolled.
  5. Refrigerate for about an hour or until the balls are firm. Store refrigerated in a closed container. Makes 20-23 balls.

Notes

  • You can use just about any type of dried fruit. I tested the recipe with dried apricots and dried blueberries. Both were delicious!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3 balls
  • Calories: 186
  • Sugar: 11.3 g
  • Sodium: 3.4 mg
  • Fat: 11.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18.8 g
  • Protein: 5.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: snack, healthy, on the go