Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe (Vegan & Paleo) (2024)

By Laura

Posted Jan 26, 2020, Updated Sep 03, 2021

4.98 from 43 votes

52 Comments

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No-Bake Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe! These healthy energy balls are made in 5 minutes with 8 ingredients and they taste like brownie bites! They are vegan, Paleo gluten-free and have no refined sugar, but you’d never know it! They’re also freezer-friendly!

Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe (Vegan & Paleo) (2)

These chocolate date energy bites are a snack time staple in our house. Skip the pre-packaged snacks and make these energy balls full of wholesome ingredients!

My kids L-O-V-E to eat these because they taste like little brownie bites, and I love that they’re fueling their cute little bodies with lots of healthy fats, protein and fiber. They’re also great for pregnant women who are trying to eat dates to prepare for labor (which has been me the majority of the last 9 years)! 😉

This energy balls recipe is a step above the rest for many reasons:

  1. It’s easy to make – these energy balls come together in 5 minutes with 8 ingredients.
  2. No added sugar – these chocolate energy bites are only sweetened with dates.
  3. They’re healthy! These energy balls are paleo, vegan, gluten/grain-free and have no refined sugar!
  4. Freezer friendly – I love prepping a large batch of these energy balls and storing them in the freezer for a quick and easy snack on busy days!
  5. They taste amazing – these vegan energy balls taste like a decadent treat, but they’re really nutritious.
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Date Energy Balls: Ingredients & Substitutions

As always, let’s chat about the ingredients in this paleo energy balls recipe, as well as possible substitutions.

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  • Pecans/Cashews.I have included my absolute favorite combination of nuts that make these energy balls legitimately taste like brownies! However, you can substitute your favorite nuts. Just be sure to use a total of 1 cup of nuts. I prefer softer nuts (pecans, cashews, walnuts) in this recipe over almonds for a soft and brownie-like texture.
  • Almond butter.Any nut butter works great in this recipe! My top recommendations are almond butter and cashew butter!
  • Almond milk. Use your favorite non-dairy milk in this recipe!
  • Sea salt.If you use salted nuts, you will want to omit or decrease the amount of sea salt!
Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe (Vegan & Paleo) (5)

How to make Date Energy Balls

This energy balls recipe only take a mere 5 minutes to make with 8 ingredients! It’s super easy, but I have some tips to help ensure your e energy-bite-making success! Don’t forget to watch the video too!

Process nuts & dates

The first step in this recipe is to process the dates and nuts together until a crumbly meal forms. This ensures that there won’t be any large chunks of dates in the final product!

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Add ingredients & process again

Add the rest of the ingredients to the date/nut mixture in the food processor and process until mixture just starts to clump together and easily holds together when squeezed.

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Form into balls

Measure out 1 TBS portions of the date energy balls mixture, and roll them into balls. Repeat until all the mixture has been used.

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Chill & Enjoy

Place rolled energy bites in a storage container with a lid, and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. These chocolate energy balls are best served cold.

We actually store ours in the freezer! We usually eat them frozen, but sometimes let them thaw a little bit before enjoying them!

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FAQs about Date Energy Balls

Here are some commonly asked questions about making energy bites.

How do you store energy balls?

Store these date energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

How long do energy balls last?

These vegan energy balls last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and 3 months in the freezer if stored properly.

More healthy snack recipes

If you’re looking for some more healthy snack recipes, check these out!

  • We adore these peanut butter oatmeal balls!
  • These coconut energy balls are another great paleo and vegan recipe!
  • If you love almonds, then these almond butter energy balls are for you!
  • Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks have sneaky veggies and lots of real fruit!
  • Love savory snacks? Try these crunchy roasted chickpeas or these baked kale chips!
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Chocolate Date Energy Balls (Vegan & Paleo)

Laura

Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe! These healthy energy balls are made in 5 minutes with 8 ingredients and they taste brownie bites! They are vegan, Paleo gluten-free and have no refined sugar, but you'd never know it! They're also freezer-friendly!

4.98 from 43 votes

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 20 Energy Bites

Calories 56.1

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Chill time10 minutes minutes

Total Time15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Line a baking pan with wax paper, set aside. (You will not be baking these, you just need a place to set your rolled bites as you make them).

  • Put dates, pecans and cashews in your food processor fitted with an “S” blade or in your Vitamix. Process until mixture is fine and hom*ogeneous.

  • Add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed (cocoa powder, salt, almond butter, almond milk, & vanilla) to your food processor and process until mixture just starts to clump together.

  • Roll 1 TBS portions of your “dough” into balls and place them on your prepared baking sheet.

  • Put them in the fridge or freezer until they harden.

  • Transfer to an airtight container to save for later! These can be stored at room temperature, but will last longer when kept in the fridge or freezer! I think they taste the best cold/frozen!

Video

Notes

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Pecans/Cashews. You can substitute your favorite nuts for the pecans/cashews. Just be sure to use a total of 1 cup of nuts. I prefer softer nuts (pecans, cashews, walnuts, peanuts) in this recipe over almonds for a soft, brownie-like texture.
  • Almond butter.Any nut butter works great in this recipe! My top recommendations are almond butter and cashew butter!
  • Almond milk. Use your favorite non-dairy milk in this energy balls recipe!
  • Sea salt.If you use salted nuts, you will want to omit or decrease the amount of sea salt!

To store/freeze

Store these chocolate energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1energy bite | Calories: 56.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.8g | Protein: 1.2g | Fat: 3.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Sodium: 32.1mg | Potassium: 33.1mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 3.4g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

The photos in this post were taken by Jamie from Dishing Out Health! Check her out for delicious, plant-based healthy recipes!

The links in this post are affiliate links, thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine.

Chocolate Date Energy Balls Recipe (Vegan & Paleo) (2024)

FAQs

Is chocolate OK on Paleo diet? ›

Cocoa, and even chocolate, definitely fit within the bounds of paleo. The tricky part is processed sugars and milk do not. And the majority of commercial chocolate, including micro-batch craft chocolate, contains processed sugars. A general rule of thumb among Paleo dieters is the darker the chocolate, the better.

How many calories in a date energy ball? ›

Nutritional Summary

There are 116 calories in 1 serving of Date Balls. Calorie Breakdown: 48% fat, 40% carbs, 12% prot.

Are dates paleo-friendly? ›

Yes, dates are paleo. To sum it up, even though dates do contain a relatively high amount of sugar, they are a fruit and the positive aspects of fruit (vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, etc.) outweigh the bad. Watch how many dates you eat to avoid consuming too much sugar.

Is any cheese allowed on paleo? ›

A Paleo-diet purist will tell you no, all cheese should be avoided on a Paleo lifestyle. Paleolithic humans didn't milk cows or process dairy. This is one case in which keto diet rules are much more lax than paleo.

How many energy balls can you eat a day? ›

These 4-ingredient protein balls have about 128 calories so you should only eat 2 of these as part of a healthy amount of calories and fat. Keep in mind that you need to consider all the foods consumed in a day and keep it within the acceptable range for your height and weight.

How healthy are energy balls? ›

No bake energy balls are a perfect healthy snack, treat, and breakfast on the go. They are balanced with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Energy balls for runners, kids, grandma, and anyone between!

How many energy balls should you eat a day? ›

Protein or energy balls are a great snack to enjoy between meals, as they contain ample amounts of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. One or two balls will keep you satisfied and energised between your main meals.

What candy can you eat on paleo? ›

16 Candy Bars That Paleo Followers Can Chow
  • Bounty Bars, AKA Mounds. ...
  • Paleo Mars Bars. ...
  • Sugar Free Bounty Bars. ...
  • Chocolate Sunbutter Bars. ...
  • Bounty Bars, Take Three. ...
  • Almond Butter Cups. ...
  • Vanilla Bean Crunch Almond Butter Bark. ...
  • White Chocolate Strawberry Cups.

What dairy products are paleo friendly? ›

Many people on a paleo diet today also include some sources of full-fat dairy, such as butter, cream, yogurt or whole milk. It's ideal if the dairy you eat or drink is from grass-fed cows. People who have dairy allergies or sensitivities don't need to include it in their diet.

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