5 Healthiest and Tastiest Energy Balls
When you look up energy ball recipes, they all talk about being delicious, easy, no-bake snacks with a variety of health benefits. Is this true? Yes! I am happy to say, it is. Here’s the breakdown including recipes for 5 Healthiest and Tastiest Energy Balls.
Energy Balls Defined: Energy balls are packed with many nutrients. A typical energy ball recipe has a good source of carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and protein. This is the best formula for a quick breakfast, snack, pre-workout fueling, or post-workout muscle repair.
The recipes can be catered to you and what you are looking for.
For an on-the-go breakfast or snack, pick a recipe with the above formula including high-fiber carbs, fat, and protein. Our Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls and Banana Nut Energy Balls are fabulous!
Pre-workout fueling needs, ideally eat a carb-heavy ball. Our Dark Chocolate Raspberry Energy Balls will do the trick and provide energy to sustain your workout.
Post-workout, pick an energy ball high in protein and carbs to help with muscle repair and replenish your body’s carb needs. Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Energy Balls and 4-Ingredient Cashew Chocolate Date Protein Balls are powerhouses of this necessary protein/carb combo.
Fun Additions: There are so many fun ingredients that can be added into your energy balls to increase the nutrient density and optimize variety. Chia seeds are commonly added for an excellent source of fiber which helps make you feel satisfied for a longer period of time and can help with improving gut health. They boost the amount of protein in your recipe, too. An alternative to chia seeds is ground flax meal, which also provides fiber, has a little more protein than chia seeds, and has omega 3 fatty acids which are associated with many health benefits. Dates are a great way to add natural sweetness and can be the glue to hold your energy balls together. Nuts are a great way to add in good sources of heart-healthy fats. Diversify the nuts by trying out almonds, walnuts, cashews, or peanuts for a variety of flavors and nutrients.
Pro-Tips: Energy ball recipes are super simple to make for everyone! Get your kids involved. They can help, too. Check out these pro-tips:
Don’t have a food processor? No worries! Use a blender and your energy balls will still turn out amazing.
Does your recipe seem dry and won’t stick together? Add 1-2 Tbsp of water to your recipe.
Want an even easier way to make your mixture into perfect balls? Use a cookie scoop to help you out.
Check out the recipe for Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls (Gluten-Free/Vegan) including the video on how to make them:
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 lemon, use all juice and zest
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1¼ cup Gluten Free Oats
- 2 Tbsp water
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ½ cup dried blueberries
- In a food processor, add almonds, lemon juice and zest, and maple syrup. Process until smooth.
- Add in half of the oats and water. Process again until a smooth consistency.
- Put the mixture into a bowl and add in the rest of the oats, chia seeds and dried blueberries. Stir until combined.
- Scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place onto a baking sheet. You should have around 15 balls.
- Store protein energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for about 3-4 months. Enjoy!
- ¼ cup walnuts
- ½ cup quick oats
- 1 ripe banana
- 4 Medjool dates, soaked for 5 minutes in warm water and pitted
- 1-2 Tbsp of water
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter
- ¼ cup oat flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup ground flax meal
- Use a food processor to pulse walnuts and oats until there are coarse crumbs. Then place into a mixing bowl.
- Place banana, dates, and water into the food processor. Blend until a smooth consistency. Pour into the mixing bowl with walnuts and oat mixture.
- Add peanut butter, oat flour, cinnamon, and ground flax meal into the mixing bowl. Mix all ingredients until well combined.
- Scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place onto a baking sheet. You should have around 20 balls.
- Store protein energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for about 3-4 months. Enjoy!
- ½ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup agave nectar
- 1 cup quick oats
- ¾ cup oat flour
- 2 scoops of almond protein powder – try Bob’s Red Mill Almond Protein Powder
- ½ tsp of ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup raisins
- ¼ cup water
- Mix together almond butter and agave nectar in a mixing bowl.
- Mix oats, oat flour, almond protein powder, cinnamon, and raisins in a separate bowl.
- Combine all ingredients into one bowl and mix.
- Scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place onto a baking sheet. You should have around 15 balls.
- Store protein energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for about 3-4 months. Enjoy!
- 19 pitted medjool dates, soaked for 5 minutes in warm water and pitted
- 1½ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (Mini works better or chop up bigger chocolate chips)
- ⅓ cup fresh raspberries
- ¼ cup almond butter
- Pinch of sea salt
- Place dates, almonds, chocolate, and raspberries into the food processor. Pulse until mixture is thick and crumbly.
- Add the almond butter and sea salt. Then pulse the food processor.
- Scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place onto a baking sheet. You should have around 20 balls.
- Store protein energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for about 3-4 months. Enjoy!
- 1 cup cashews (raw or toasted)
- 1 cup almond protein powder – try Bob’s Red Mill Almond Protein Powder
- ½ cup unsweetened cacao or cocoa powder
- 18 large Medjool dates, soaked for 5 minutes in warm water and pitted (weighed at 10 ounces)
- 2–4 Tbsp water
- In the bowl of your food processor process cashews, protein powder, and cocoa powder until nuts have broken down into small pieces. Don’t process them too much, you still want some chunks remaining.
- Add in pitted dates and process until combined–the mixture will look a little dry. With the motor running, add about 1 Tablespoon of water at a time until mixture is sticky and everything comes together. Depending on if your dates were juicy or dry, you may need less or more water. Careful not to add too much water or mixture will be too sticky.
- Using a Tablespoon, scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place on a baking sheet and continue this process. You should have about 30 energy balls.
- Store protein energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freezer for about 3-4 months. Enjoy!
For more fitness related posts, check out:
- 5 Effective Ways to Stay Motivated to Workout
- 10 Ways to Get a Free Outdoor Workout (with your kids)
By Shaylei Brutger, Dietetic Intern
**There are affiliate links in this post and I will be compensated if you buy the products using these links BUT there is no extra charge to you!
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