Energy balls are a healthy snack that’s full of flavor! This ultimate energy balls guide will walk you through everything you need to know in order to make six different flavors from one base recipe.
No-Bake Energy Balls Recipe
Need an easy healthy snack idea? Look no further – these energy balls are delicious and so easy to make! I was able to create all six flavors from one base recipe in one day. Whether you’d like to create a variety of different flavors or choose just one, this post will walk you through how to make the best energy balls.
These are energy balls with dates, rolled oats, nut butter, chia seeds and cinnamon as the base of each recipe. Nut butter and dates help to hold the power balls together. Dates also add sweetness along with maple syrup.
What I personally love about energy balls is that they help to avoid a poorer snack choice. When you prepare them in advance, you have a snack that’s ready to go. These are easy to grab as you head out the door. They’re great as an afternoon pick me up, or to add to kids lunches. The fiber and protein in them help you to feel satisfied longer. So if you’re used to eating sugary snacks, or a pastry mid-afternoon, then substituting for energy balls is a good upgrade.
Free Energy Balls Cookbook
Make sure you grab my free energy balls recipe cookbook. Inside you’ll get the six delicious flavors you see here plus all the best tips and tricks for making this easy snack.
**Get My FREE Energy Balls Recipes Guide: All six healthy energy balls in one easy-to-print format – sign up here to get it
Ingredients Shopping List For Base Recipe
Here are the ingredients for the base of the recipe. After you create the base, you can add other ingredients to create different flavors.
- ½ cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats – Whole rolled oats will give you the best results. I love these sprouted rolled oats. They’re gluten-free, non-gmo and made with whole grains. > Buy Sprouted Rolled Oats Here.
- ¼ cup Nut Butter or Seed Butter – This acts like a glue to keep the energy balls together. You can use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, tahini or Sunbutter (it’s a sunflower seed butter and is nut-free for anyone with allergies). I used Sunbutter. > Buy Sunbutter Here.
- 3 Pitted Dates – Dates are sticky and sweet. They help to glue everything together, but also give sweetness to the energy balls. > Buy Pitted Dates Here.
- 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup – You can use maple syrup, honey, or monkfruit sweetener to sweeten the energy balls. This is optional. > Buy Real Maple Syrup Here.
- ½ Tbsp Chia Seeds – I love to add a bit of chia seeds to each recipe, but this ingredient can be skipped if you don’t want to add them. > Buy Chia Seeds Here.
- ½ Tbsp Water – A little bit of water helps to blend all the ingredients together in the food processor.
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon – Adds a bit of extra flavor. > Buy Cinnamon Here.
Energy Balls Base Recipe = ½ cup Rolled Oats + ¼ cup Nut Butter + 3 Pitted Dates + 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup (optional) + ½ Tbsp Chia Seeds + ½ Tbsp Water + ¼ tsp Cinnamon
**Get My FREE Energy Balls Recipes Guide: All six healthy energy balls in one easy-to-print format – sign up here to get it
Flavor Additions
I’ve created six different flavor combinations you can see at the bottom of this post (just keep scrolling down). But you can also easily make your own flavors!
Here are a few ingredients that taste great in energy balls:
- Pumpkin Seeds – I used pumpkin seeds in the carrot cake energy balls recipe. Raw unsalted pumpkin seeds taste great in energy balls. > Buy Raw Pumpkin Seeds Here.
- Sunflower Seeds – You can also use sunflower seeds instead of pumpkin seeds. Typically, they’re also cheaper. Look for unshelled raw unsalted sunflower seeds. > Buy Raw Sunflower Seeds Here.
- Hemp Seeds – Another great superfood to add to energy balls. > Buy Hemp Seeds Here.
- Nuts – Add any of your favorite nuts for extra crunch, including almonds, walnuts, peanuts, etc.
- Cocoa Powder – Look for an unsweetened cacao powder which is naturally full of antioxidants and magnesium. > Buy Organic Cocoa Powder Here.
- Chocolate Chips – For a healthier option, choose 70% dark chocolate chips that are sweetened with stevia. > Buy Dark Chocolate Chips (Sugar Free) Here.
- White Chocolate Chips > Buy Organic White Chocolate Chips Here.
- Raisins – An easy ingredient to add to energy balls. Look for unsweetened raisins. > Buy Unsweetened Organic Raisins Here.
- Dried Cranberries – These taste delicious when added with another ingredient like shredded coconut. They would also taste great with citrus zest. > Buy Dried Cranberries Here.
- Ground Flaxseed – A great source of added fiber. > Buy Ground Flaxseed Here.
- Chia Seeds – Feel free to add more chia seeds to your energy balls. From my experience, black chia seeds tend to be cheaper than white chia seeds, so I stick with those. > Buy Chia Seeds Here.
- Shredded Coconut – A good source of fiber. Adds great texture when combined with other toppings like fresh fruit or chocolate chips. > Buy Organic Shredded Coconut Here.
Recipe Cost = $3
Each batch of flavored energy balls cost me about $3-$4 for seven energy bites. That’s a pretty good deal for a healthy snack that usually costs $12 for four when you buy them at the store! (prices will vary slightly depending on where you live).
Grocery Shopping Tip: If you like to save money at the store, here are my 7 ways to save money on your grocery bill and still eat healthily.
Kitchen Equipment I Used
- Food Processor – Used to blend all the ingredients together to create the perfect energy balls consistency. > Buy Food Processor Here.
- Cookie Scoop: The best and easiest way to roll even energy balls. > Buy Cookie Scoop Here.
- Grater – Used to create zest from citrus fruits and carrots. > Buy Grater Here.
- Silicone Spatula – My go-to for baking. These are handy to scrape down the sides of the bowl so you get every last bit of that batter to make your energy balls. > Buy Silicone Spatula Here.
Need more inspiration? Grab my Easy Healthy Meals Success Kit! It’s filled to the brim with healthy eating resources. >> Learn More Here.
How To Make Energy Balls
Here’s an overview of how to make the energy balls with the full recipe instructions at the bottom of this blog post.
- Food Processor – Add ingredients to the food processor with blade at smallest setting. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until dates have been chopped small.
- Cookie Scoop – Use a cookie scoop to grab the batter. Squeeze out and roll between your hands into a ball.
- Repeat – Repeat the scoop and roll process until all batter is used up. Each recipe will make about 7-8 energy balls (see full recipes at the bottom of blog post).
How To Store Energy Balls
You can store these energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Personally, I like to freeze them!
Energy Balls Recipe Variations
Energy Balls Without Peanut Butter – These energy balls can be made with seed butter including tahini (made with sesame seeds) and Sunbutter (made with sunflower seeds and is 100% nut-free).
Energy Balls Without Dates – Dates help to sweeten and make everything stick together so they can be rolled into balls. You can also try raisins or dried cranberries in substitution. If you don’t want to use any dried fruits, see my pumpkin oat energy balls as an example (they’re made without any dates).
Energy Balls FAQs
Yes, oats can be eaten raw, but it’s recommended that they’re soaked beforehand. Adding them to the other energy ball ingredients does just that. You can also eat raw oats (that are soaked) in my six overnight oats recipes.
You can eat protein balls (aka. energy balls or energy bites) as a quick snack – they’re great as an afternoon pick me up. You can have them as an after-meal “dessert” – I like to add them to my daughter’s lunchbox for her school treats. You can also have one or two right before a workout.
Yes! This is my personal favorite way to store them. I like to make a big batch, add them all to a freezer bag, and store them in the freezer for later. This frees up fridge space and family members can grab one or two for a quick snack – they thaw pretty quickly… after about 10 minutes or so.
Yes, you can, but I prefer to use rolled oats. Here’s why… instant pack oats are quite different from the whole grain rolled oat version and will provide a different “mushier” consistency. They’re usually not the only thing included in the pack either – many have added salt, sugar and preservatives. For more energy whole rolled oats are a better option.
>> Need more inspiration? Grab my Easy Healthy Meals Success Kit! This kit includes 12 healthy eating guides, including meal plans and recipes done for you!
More Healthy Recipes
Here are some more healthy energy snacks to try:
- Six Easy Overnight Oats Recipes – This ultimate overnight oats guide will walk you through everything you need to know in order to make the best overnight oats!
- Baked Oatmeal Cups (6 Flavors) – These are grab-and-go muffins that are easy and delicious.
- No Bake Pumpkin Oat Energy Balls – This quick snack uses rolled oats, tahini and pumpkin puree as the base of the recipe.
- Raspberry Coconut Energy Balls – Made with fresh raspberries, shredded coconut, coconut flour, sunflower seeds, rolled oats, and protein powder.
- Cookie Dough Energy Bites – There’s an unusual secret ingredient in these energy bites that you probably wouldn’t guess… it’s chickpeas!
- Chocolate Quinoa Energy Balls – A rich and decadent dessert made with quinoa! These are really yummy.
Did you love this energy balls recipe? Be sure to leave a rating below!
Energy Balls Recipe
Ingredients
Oatmeal Raisin Energy Balls:
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup nut butter or seed butter - peanut butter, sunflower seed butter etc.
- ¼ cup raisins
- 3 pitted dates
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey - optional
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ Tbsp water
Double Chocolate Energy Balls:
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup nut butter or seed butter - peanut butter, sunflower seed butter etc.
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- 3 pitted dates
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
- ½ Tbsp water
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
Carrot Cake Energy Balls:
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup grated carrots
- ¼ cup nut butter or seed butter - peanut butter, sunflower seed butter etc.
- ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup shredded coconut - plus extra for rolling
- 3 pitted dates
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey - optional
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ Tbsp water
Lemon Zest Energy Balls:
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup nut butter or seed butter - peanut butter, sunflower seed butter etc.
- 3 pitted dates
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey - optional
- ½ Tbsp lemon juice
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- zest from a fresh lemon
Cranberry Coconut Energy Balls:
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup nut butter or sed butter - peanut butter, sunflower seed butter etc.
- 3 pitted dates
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey - optional
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ Tbsp water
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip:
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- 3 pitted dates
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey - optional
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds
- ½ Tbsp water
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Oatmeal Raisin, Double Chocolate, Cranberry Coconut, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a food processor. Blend for 1-2 minutes, or until dates are broken down and ingredients are fully mixed.
- Use a cookie scoop or 1 Tbsp to measure and roll into balls.
- Store in fridge or freezer until ready to eat.
Carrot Cake Energy Balls Instructions:
- Use grater to shred ¼ cup of carrot.
- Add all carrot cake balls ingredients to a food processor. Blend for 1-2 minutes, or until dates are broken down and ingredients are fully mixed. Use a cookie scoop or 1 Tbsp to measure and roll into balls.
- Roll each ball in extra shredded coconut.
- Store in fridge or freezer until ready to eat.
Lemon Zest Energy Balls Instructions:
- Grate the peel of one lemon to create zest.
- Add all ingredients for lemon zest balls to a food processor. Blend for 1-2 minutes, or until dates are broken down and ingredients are fully mixed. Use a cookie scoop or 1 Tbsp to measure and roll into balls.
- Roll in extra lemon zest.
- Store in fridge or freezer until ready to eat.
Recipe Notes:
Please note these nutritional values provided above are just an estimate. Actual numbers will vary based on brands and ingredients you choose, and your preferred portion sizes.