These date and nut energy balls are the BEST healthy snack! Sticky, sweet, and studded with chocolate chips, they taste like little balls of cookie dough.

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These no-bake energy balls are my favorite healthy snack. Sticky, sweet, and studded with chocolate chips, they taste like little balls of cookie dough, but they’re made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Dates bind them together, oats add fiber, and walnuts and almond butter pack them with protein and healthy fats.

They’re quick and easy to make in the food processor, and they keep for weeks in the freezer or fridge.

At least they do in theory. If you love these energy balls as much as we do, there’s no way they’ll stick around that long. Between speedy breakfasts and on-the-go snacks, you’ll polish them off in a few days flat!

No-Bake Energy Balls Ingredients

This energy bites recipe calls for 8 basic ingredients:

Medjool dates – They make these energy balls deliciously sweet without using a sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Their sticky texture also helps bind the balls together.
Oat flour – For fiber and protein. I like to make homemade oat flour out of old-fashioned or whole rolled oats. Store-bought oat flour works here too. Make sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour if you need these energy balls to be gluten-free.
Walnuts – They add rich, earthy flavor and healthy fats.
Almond butter – Like the dates, the almond butter helps bind these energy bites together. Make sure to use really smooth, well-stirred almond butter for this recipe. The dry, stiff stuff at the bottom of the jar won’t work well here.
Vanilla extract – For warm, cookie-like depth of flavor.
Water – For extra moisture. A few tablespoons make these date energy balls perfectly cohesive.
Mini chocolate chips – Use dairy-free chips to make this recipe vegan. I like the Enjoy Life brand.
And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Energy Balls

These yummy date balls are SO easy to make! Here’s what you need to do:

First, check the dates. They should be soft, sticky, and pliable. If they feel stiff or dry, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes.

Next, pulse the ingredients together. Place the soft, pitted dates in a food processor along with the oat flour, almond butter, walnuts, vanilla, water, and salt. Pulse until the mixture sticks together when pinched.

If it feels dry, pulse a bit longer, until the mixture starts to form a ball in the food processor. If it still feels dry, pulse in more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it feels cohesive and sticky.

Then, form the balls. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the chocolate chips. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out the dough. Roll the scoops into balls…and that’s it!

How to Store Energy Balls

These no-bake energy balls keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

They also freeze well for up to 3 months. They thaw quickly at room temperature. Grab one when you need an easy, on-the-go breakfast or quick healthy snack. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

In my second cookbook, I shared a chart of six different energy ball recipes and variations! So while this recipe is delicious, it’s not the only way to make energy bites. Here are a few fun ways to change them up:

Use a different nut butter. Try peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
Skip the chocolate chips. Dried fruit is a nice alternative! I like to add dried currants, chopped dried cranberries, or chopped raisins.
Make them grain-free. Replace the oat flour with almond flour or shredded coconut.

Let me know what variations you try!

More Favorite Healthy Snacks

If you love these no-bake energy balls, try one of these healthy snack recipes next:

Energy Balls

rate this recipe:

4.87 from 36 votes

Prep Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Serves 18 balls

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These no-bake energy balls are one of our favorite healthy snacks! Use dairy-free chocolate chips to make them vegan, and use certified gluten-free oat flour to make them gluten-free.

Ingredients

1½ cups oat flour
1 cup walnuts
⅓ cup creamy natural almond butter*, well-stirred
10 soft Medjool dates**
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

In a food processor, place the oat flour, walnuts, almond butter, dates, vanilla, water, and salt. Pulse until the mixture sticks together when pinched. If it’s too crumbly, pulse in more water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the chocolate chips. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop and roll into balls.
Store extra energy balls in the fridge. They also freeze well. To thaw, leave them at room temperature until soft.