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These no bake energy balls are the best on-the-go energy boost! They’re easy to make and packed full of juicy dates, raw almonds, chocolate, and nut butter, without oats.
I’m always finding tasty ways to fuel up on busy days, and it’s even better when the snacks are homemade, like 10-minute smoothie bowl recipes or these 5-ingredient energy bites.
My eyes start watering whenever I see the price of grocery store energy balls (not to mention, store-bought granola). They’re charging how much for ground nuts and dates now?! This is why, come Sunday, I’ve started making my own honey roasted almonds, homemade banana chips, and these homemade no-bake energy balls to prep for the week.
Why You Need These No-Bake Energy Bites In Your Life
- Simple ingredients. With room to make them your own! I use only 5 ingredients in my energy balls recipe, and they’re easy to find in just about any grocery store.
- Functional (and flavorful!). I coat these energy balls in wheat germ or flaxmeal for an extra texture boost and to make them a bit less sticky.
- Ready in 10 minutes. These energy bites come together in minutes in the food processor, then it’s a matter of shaping the mixture into balls or bars.
- The perfect energy boost. I make my energy balls without oats, so they’re a bit lower in carbs, and since I’m a big fan of almonds, I doubled down on the almond flavor with ground raw almonds and almond butter.
Gather Your Ingredients
My favorite energy ball recipe is a shopping list of my go-to snacks mashed together into a bite-sized treat.
- Raw Almonds – I’m partial to almonds, but you can use walnuts, pecans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, etc. I recommend using raw nuts rather than roasted and salted ones.
- Chocolate Chips – These can be semi-sweet, dark chocolate chips, or even cacao nibs. You could also use an equal amount of chopped chocolate.
- Pitted Dates – Medjool dates are juicier and sweeter. Deglet Noor is another common type that’s smaller and nuttier. Both work to help bind the ingredients.
- Vanilla Extract – Feel free to use another extract, such as orange, almond, or peppermint.
- Almond Butter – You can easily use another nut or seed butter, like peanut butter, cashew butter, or sun butter.
- Wheat Germ – Or ground flax meal, to coat the outside of the energy balls.
Easy Variations
- Make bars instead. It’s as easy as pressing the energy ball mixture into a lined pan, then chilling the bars before slicing.
- Use different nut butters. Make peanut butter energy balls with peanut butter instead of almond butter, or swap in cashew butter or any nut or seed butter you prefer.
- Protein energy balls. For a protein boost, add a spoonful of your favorite protein or whey powder to the mix. You may need to add a bit more water to compensate for the dryness.
- Mix-ins. Feel free to add oats, shredded coconut, chopped dried fruit, and mini chocolate chips. Add more flavor with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Be careful not to overload the energy balls, though, or you may have trouble keeping them held together.
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Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole, raw almonds
- 3 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup pitted dates
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup almond butter
- 1 to 3 tablespoons water
- 3 to 4 tablespoons wheat germ, or ground flax meal
Instructions
Make the Energy Ball Mixture
- Process the almonds and chocolate chips. In a food processor, grind the almonds and chocolate chips until they resemble coarse bread crumbs.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Add the dates, vanilla, and almond butter, then process until combined. Now add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture has the consistency of dough and holds its shape when pressed into a ball.
To Make Energy Balls
- Roll into balls. Scoop a generous tablespoon of the mixture and roll into a ball. Proceed with the rest of the mix until you have 14-16 bites.
- Roll in wheat germ. Place the wheat germ on a plate, then roll each bite in the wheat germ to coat.
To Make Energy Bars
- Prepare your pan. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the mixture into the pan. Transfer the energy-ball mixture to the prepared pan. Spread and flatten it evenly, using your hands or the back of a spoon coated with baking spray. If using your hands, wet them with water first to prevent the mixture from sticking to your skin.
- Chill and cut the bars. Fold the excess plastic wrap over to cover the mix and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Using the plastic wrap liner, lift the mixture from the pan and transfer it to a cutting board. Uncover and cut into 12-14 bars, depending on size. Coat with wheat germ if desired.
Equipment
Notes
- Storage: Transfer the energy balls or bars to a storage container and refrigerate.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
FAQs
If your energy balls aren’t holding together, the mixture could be too dry. Add a little more nut butter to make it a bit stickier. If all else fails, you can always press the mixture into a pan to make bars!
On the flip side, if your energy ball mixture seems too wet, consider grinding extra almonds or adding a small amount of wheat germ at a time to thicken it.
Energy balls, or energy bites, can definitely be a healthy snack since they’re usually made with whole ingredients and pack fiber, protein, and good fats to help keep you full and energized. That said, some versions can be high in added sugars or calories, so portion size and ingredients matter. Stick with simple whole-food ingredients and enjoy them as a snack, not a meal.
How to Make Energy Balls
Convenience has a price, but I’m all about convenience that’s also budget-friendly! Here’s how to make your own energy balls from scratch that taste better and fresher than anything you’ll buy in stores:
- First, process the ingredients. Grind the almonds and chocolate chips in a food processor. Next, blend in the dates, vanilla, and almond butter.
- Add water. Then add water, 1 spoonful at a time, to bring the mixture together. It should hold its shape when you form it into a ball, like cookie dough.
- Roll into balls. Now, divide the mixture and roll it into balls. I usually aim for a heaping tablespoon per energy ball, ending up with 14-16 bites.
- Roll in wheat germ. Lastly, add the wheat germ to a shallow dish or plate, and roll each energy ball to coat before storing the balls airtight.
Make Energy Bars Instead
I always use a loaf pan, since it’s easy to slice the loaf into bars afterward.
- Prepare a baking pan. Start by lining a 9×5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap. I like to coat it lightly with non-stick baking spray as extra insurance against sticking.
- Spread the mixture into the pan. Next, scoop the energy ball mixture into the pan and press it evenly into the bottom. You can do this by hand if you don’t mind getting sticky. Otherwise, coat a spoon or spatula with cooking spray and use that to flatten the mixture in the pan.
- Chill and cut the bars. Cover the bars with plastic wrap and pop the whole pan into the fridge for 30 minutes. Afterward, use the plastic lining to lift the energy bars from the pan. Transfer the bars to a cutting board, slice into 12-14 bars, and coat with wheat germ if you’d like.
Storage and Freezing
- Refrigerate. Keep your homemade energy balls in an airtight storage container in the fridge. They’ll last for about 2 weeks (mine are often gone way before that, though!).
- Freeze. You can make these in bulk and freeze the energy balls for up to 2 months. They thaw quickly at room temperature, perfect for satisfying a mid-afternoon craving.
I’m having fun experimenting with different things to roll them in, any ideas that would up the protein but not the calories too much?
Hi!
I do this too! 😁 A few ideas you might like: try unsweetened protein powder mixed with a little cocoa powder, or go for cocoa powder and cinnamon, it’s not super high in protein, but still flavorful and low-cal. You could also use PB2 or powdered peanut butter for a nutty, protein-rich option. Another fun one is crushed high-protein cereal like Kashi, which adds crunch and protein! Crushed chia seeds or hemp seeds can also work. Let me know what you try! 😊
I have used hemp hulls or powder to add protein without the calories.
I don’t have a food processor. What can I use instead?
Hi!
You can use a blender. I suggest using the pulse setting to avoid over-processing.
Heerlijke energie snacks
Dankjewel
Thank you so much! I’m very happy you like them! ☺️
I love dates and almonds.
But I can’t do nut or seed butters.
Any suggestions?
Hi!
If you’re avoiding nut or seed butters, you could try using mashed banana. Or even a few soaked, blended dates to help everything stick together. Another option is oat flour or coconut flour with a splash of water or maple syrup to bind it. Let me know if you give it a try! 😊