Bursting with rich chocolatey flavour, these No-Bake Double Chocolate Energy Balls are decadent and nutritious - making them the perfect healthy grab-and-go snack that'll satisfy those sweet tooth cravings.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you've ever walked through the snack aisle at your local grocery store, you'll find shelves of pre-packaged snacks that are full of artificial additives and refined sugars. If you're looking for a healthy homemade alternative to these highly processed foods, then give these energy balls a try. They're packed full of nutritious and wholesome ingredients, and so incredibly tasty and addictive. Why are they such a big hit?
- Energy boost - a fantastic pick-me-up for that mid-afternoon slump, or as a pre-workout to fuel your body and kick it into high gear.
- Nourishing with wholesome ingredients - say goodbye to processed snacks loaded with refined sugars and artificial additives. These energy balls nourish your body without compromising on taste.
- Simplicity of no-bake prep - no need to turn on the oven for this one! Perfect for those busy days when you're looking for something super easy to make.
- Convenient meal prep - prepare for the busy week ahead when you know you won't have much time, and need something quick and easy to grab that's ready-to-eat.
- Have a sweet tooth? We all crave something sweet from time to time. Instead of grabbing that highly processed chocolate bar or pack of brownies that are often full of refined sugars and artificial additives, you can indulge in something healthy and delicious.
Ingredients
Please see recipe card below for exact quantities.
- Dates - provide natural sweetness with nutritious goodness, and an easy energy boost when you need it.
- Pecans and cashews - not only adds crunchy texture, but also healthy fats and important nutrients. While I like using pecans and cashews, feel free to use whatever you like. If you've got nut allergies, seeds (like pumpkin, sunflower, or chia) are great substitutes.
- Cocoa powder - provides our rich, chocolatey flavour. I use unsweetened given the natural sweetness already present in the dates.
- Chocolate chips - mini chocolate chips work best for this recipe to add a double layer of decadent chocolatey goodness. I personally like using semi-sweet!
- Vanilla extract - just a splash to add some yummy vanilla flavour.
- Sea salt - to help enhance all of our flavours.
What Type of Dates to Use?
For best results, I recommend using medjool dates in your energy balls. Unlike regular dates, which are often smaller and firmer, medjool dates offer a soft and chewy, caramel-like texture with a naturally delightful sweetness. Their smooth consistency when blended makes them great to use as a base for binding ingredients together.
Before blending, make sure to remove the pits from the dates. You can pop the pits out easily either by hand or with a small knife. You can also buy pre-pitted dates for the added convenience of having the pits already removed.
Instructions
STEP 1: First, let's remove the pits from the dates. If the dates are too firm, soften them by soaking them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes.
STEP 2: In a food processor, add the pecans and cashews and pulse them a few times until they are crushed into small pieces.
STEP 3: Add the other ingredients (except for the chocolate chips) into the food processor.
STEP 4: Blend the ingredients for one minute until it turns into a mouldable, crumbly dough. If it's too dry and falls apart when pressed, add 1 teaspoon of water and blend again. If it seems too wet and loose, add more crushed nuts, seeds, or oats, and blend once more.
STEP 5: Add chocolate chips to the food processor, and give it a few quick pulses just to mix it in (making sure not to over-blend - you don't want to crush the chocolate chips).
STEP 6: Using your hands or a cookie scooper, divide the mixture into roughly 16 portions (or your preferred size), and place them onto a baking tray.
STEP 7: Press and roll each portion between your hands to shape them into balls. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
STEP 8: When they're ready, take them out and enjoy!
Equipment
A good food processor is key to this recipe. My personal favourite is this KitchenAid 3.5 Cup food processor which I use at home - it has a convenient on/off trigger that allows for easy control with just a simple press, making it especially handy for pulsing nuts. I also love its compact size, with a capacity that's perfect for this recipe. It stores away super easily, whether on the countertop or tucked away in a cupboard, without taking up valuable space.
Storage
You can store these energy balls in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze them for up to 2 months. When you're ready to eat them, just thaw them in the refrigerator for a few hours. Making sure to use a sealable container is important to maintaining freshness - I love using these Rubbermaid containers for all of my meal prep, including these energy balls. They're freezer-safe, and their sealable, stackable lids are super convenient for storing away and ensuring freshness.
Toasty's Tips
- For less mess, keep a small bowl of water nearby to wet your hands in before shaping the mixture into balls. This prevents the ingredients from sticking to your hands.
- Utilize a cookie scoop to portion the mixture, which will ensure you create consistent, uniform sizes while speeding up the process.
- Add your favorite superfoods or nutritional supplements for an added boost of health benefits.
- If your dates are firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before blending. This softens them up, resulting in a smoother texture and easier blending for your energy balls.
FAQ
Can I make larger batches of this recipe for meal prep?
Definitely! Scaling up the ingredients for a larger batch is a breeze - just double or triple the quantities as required. Then, store the extra energy balls in the fridge for the week ahead or pop them in the freezer to have them last even longer.
Can I use date paste instead?
Date paste is a fantastic substitute! It's a convenient alternative to whole dates because it's already blended. By using date paste, you can skip the food processor altogether (or reserve it solely for crushing nuts) and mix the ingredients directly in a mixing bowl. This not only simplifies cleanup but also ensures delicious energy balls with minimal effort.
What do I do if the mixture is too wet and loose, or dry and crumbly to mould into balls?
When shaping the mixture into balls, it should hold together without crumbling. If the mixture appears too dry and crumbly, add a splash of water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it becomes easily mouldable. Or if the mixture is too wet and loose, add some dry ingredients such as crushed nuts, seeds, or oats to absorb the excess moisture. Striking the right balance ensures that your energy balls maintain their shape while remaining easy to mold.
I have nut allergies. Do I have to use nuts?
Nope! Although I love using crushed nuts to enhance the texture, you can swap them out with seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, or chia seeds - or even oats for a chewier consistency. The choice is yours!
📖 Recipe
Double Chocolate Energy Balls
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews
- ½ cup pecans
- 10 medjool dates - pitted
- 3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- First, let's remove the pits from the dates. If the dates are too firm, soften them by soaking them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes.
- In a food processor, add the pecans and cashews and pulse them a few times until they are crushed into small pieces.
- Add the other ingredients (except for the chocolate chips) into the food processor.
- Blend the ingredients for one minute until it turns into a mouldable, crumbly dough. If it's too dry and falls apart when pressed, add 1 teaspoon of water and blend again. If it seems too wet and loose, add more crushed nuts, seeds, or oats, and blend once more.
- Add chocolate chips to the food processor, and give it a few quick pulses just to mix it in (making sure not to over-blend - you don't want to crush the chocolate chips).
- Using your hands or a cookie scooper, divide the mixture into roughly 16 portions (or your preferred size), and place them onto a baking tray.
- Press and roll each portion between your hands to shape them into balls. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- When they're ready, take them out and enjoy!
Notes
- Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
- Storage: You can store these in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Make sure to use a sealable container for freshness.
- For less mess, keep a small bowl of water nearby to wet your hands in before shaping the mixture into balls. This prevents the ingredients from sticking to your hands.
- Utilize a cookie scoop to portion the mixture, which will ensure you create consistent, uniform sizes while speeding up the process.
- Add your favorite superfoods or nutritional supplements for an added boost of health benefits.
- If your dates are firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before blending. This softens them up, resulting in a smoother texture and easier blending for your energy balls.
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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