We all love a good energy ball snack to grab on the go. They are a great healthy snack, but I have a friend who really doesn’t like dates, so today I’m sharing an energy balls recipe, with no dates!
The trick to making energy balls is that you need something sticky to hold everything together. Typically, dates are a great option, but honey and peanut butter serve as a great binding option too.
What ingredients do you need for energy balls without dates?
- Oats – you could use old fashioned or instant oats. I like to grind them so you don’t have any large chunks of oats.
- Peanut butter – or any other nut butter. I like to use Justin’s peanut butter with honey (the same one Starbucks uses in their protein snack packs*) for a little extra sweetness.
- Honey – you could also use maple syrup
- Vanilla -I like to use a good quality vanilla extract
- Chocolate chips – you can get creative with your mix-ins, but the key is to make sure you have 1/2 cup of total mix-ins. This includes the flaxseed.
- Flaxseed – I love adding this in as one of my mix-ins because there are great health benefits to flaxseed (high in protein, fiber, potassium and more)
*if you’re looking for another great protein snack, give these bread rounds a try.
One of the best parts of making these energy balls without dates is that they are flexible so you can use your favorite ingredients.
- If you don’t want to use chocolate chips, add mini m&ms or chocolate chunks or white chocolate or dried fruit
- Think about adding your favorite nut – cashews, peanuts, walnuts etc.
- Put a pinch of sea salt on top…Maldon sea salt flakes are my favorite!
If I could give you one tip for making these energy balls, I would make sure you take the time to refrigerate your mixture before mixing in your chocolate. This will do two things:
- Ensure your chocolate doesn’t melt too much and you still have some nice chunks of chocolate to bite in to.
- Chilling the mixture ensures that it isn’t quite so messy and sticky when you go to roll the balls.
If you like dates and want to try out a few other recipes, give these a try:
- No bake coconut date energy bites
- 3 ingredient chocolate hazelnut date energy bites
- 5 ingredient peanut butter pretzel energy bites
When you have all of your energy balls made, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, although I doubt they’ll last too long! And you can also double or triple the batch and keep these in the freezer for a great lunchtime snack (perfect for kids going back to school!) 
When you’re looking for a great, healthy snack to enjoy on the go, give these energy balls without dates a try! And if you get creative with your mix-ins, I’d love to hear how you like it. Leave a comment below and let me know.
Energy Balls without Dates
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Mix-Ins
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 2 Tbs. flax seed
Instructions
- Grind up oats in small food processor. If you don't mind larger chunks of oats, then skip this step!
- Put honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Melt on the stovetop until combined (soft and east to stir). Or microwave for 30 seconds.
- Pour honey and peanut butter mixture into a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and oats. Wait for mixture to cool before adding chocolate chips so they don't melt. I suggest putting the mixture in the refrigerator to cool the mixture down and to make the balls easier to mix (less sticky).
- Using a 1" cookie scoop, scoop mixture into hands and roll into balls.
- Balls can be stored in refrigerator or freezer to keep longer.
Notes
- I like to use chocolate chips and flaxseed, but the key is making sure you use a total of 1/2 cup of whatever mix-ins you choose.
- You can use various nuts, mini m&ms etc.
Nutrition
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