Have you tried an energy ball recipe yet? They’re really popular right now because they’re healthy but taste like dessert.
Most energy ball recipes are made with a base of dates blended in a food processor (similar to Larabars). They’re called energy balls because they’re packed with energizing, protein-packed, and antioxidant-rich ingredients. Energy balls are perfect for afternoon snacking.
Energy balls don’t require any baking and they’re bite-sized. Plus, you can make unlimited varieties by mixing up the ingredients.
I’ve put together my top 15 energy ball recipes for this post. All these recipes are raw, paleo, gluten-free, and vegan.
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Chocolate Coconut Pistachio Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan-friendy)
From Cotter Crunch
Pistachios are the best. This energy ball recipe combines them together with chocolate and coconut.
Ingredients: pistachios, unsweetened coconut, coconut flour, cocoa powder or protein, almond butter, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
PB and J Swirl Energy Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan-friendly)
From Fit Foodie Finds
These are so clever. I love how you can see the separate peanut butter and jelly halves of these energy balls. This is a perfect recipe to try with your kids!
Ingredients: dates, peanuts, peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, dried blueberries, almonds or cashews, and salt.
Key Lime Pie Energy Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From Peas and Crayons
These bring luxury and sunshine to mind. I grew up eating key lime pie on family vacations in Florida. Lime and coconut always make a delicious combination.
Ingredients: almonds, dates, walnuts or pecans, unsweetened coconut, lime, salt, and honey or maple syrup.
Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Healthy Maven
This recipe calls for dried blueberries. You can make dried blueberries yourself or buy on Amazon. Costco sells them too.
Ingredients: nuts, dates, dried blueberries, vanilla, lemon, and sea salt.
Raw Brownie Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From Happy Healthy Motivated
Healthy brownie bites you can eat lots of? Sounds great to me.
Five ingredients: walnuts, almonds, dates, cocoa powder, and almond milk.
Pecan Pie Energy Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Healthy Maven
The pecans are roasted before chopping them up with the dates and spices for this recipe.
Ingredients: dates, pecans, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
Lemon Energy Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Lean Green Bean
This energy ball recipe is citrusy, crunchy, and sweet all in one.
Ingredients: dates, almonds, pepitas, chia seeds, lemon, and vanilla.
Peanut Butter Brownie Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From Fit Foodie Finds
Peanut butter and chocolate is my favorite pairing when it comes to sweets. Don’t these look amazing?
Ingredients: almonds, cocoa, peanut butter, dates, maple syrup, and sea salt.
Peppermint Chocolate Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Lean Green Bean
These are perfect for the holidays, or any time of year! Just leave the candy coating off if you want them to be paleo or free of added sugar.
Ingredients: almonds, pepitas, dates, cocoa, peppermint extract, and milk or non-dairy milk.
Cinnamon California Raisin Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From Hummusapien
This energy ball recipe is similar to oatmeal raisin cookies, but without the oats or the oven!
Ingredients: raisins, almond butter, unsweetened coconut, ground flaxseed, hemp seeds (or more flaxseed), cinnamon, sea salt, vanilla, almonds, and walnuts.
Apple Cashew Coconut Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From Blender Happy
With just four ingredients, this energy ball recipe is super easy to make and love.
Ingredients: unsweetened applesauce, cashews, dates, and unsweetened coconut.
Cherry Larabar Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From Eating Bird Food
These are gooey bite-sized versions of cherry Larabars. Yum. If you love Larabars, also check out my post of favorite homemade Larabar recipes.
Ingredients: almonds, cashews, dates, dried cherries, and unsweetened coconut.
Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Energy Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Healthy Maven
Nutritional yeast is the secret (vegan and paleo) ingredient to making these taste “cheesy!”
Five ingredients: dates, cashews, nutritional yeast, vanilla, and dried strawberries.
Fig Newton Bites
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Lemon Bowl
I fell in love with figs while living in Turkey. I was spoiled with the opportunity to eat as many as I wanted every day. With just five ingredients, these energy balls are a delicious and healthy alternative to fig newton cookies.
Five ingredients: dried figs, walnuts, flaxseed meal, vanilla, and salt.
Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls
(paleo, gluten-free, vegan)
From The Healthy Maven
Matcha is a very trendy food item right now, because it’s an energy and metabolism booster, packed with antioxidants!
Ingredients: dates, almonds, cocoa powder, matcha green tea powder, and almond milk.
4 comments
Great list! I appreciate the diversity of flavors. I need to get some more dates
I know! I would love to have dates on hand at all times for these. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Thanks for the great recipes. I ran out of mine a few months ago and haven’t made time to make them yet. This is motivating me to do it.
Little tip, I press mine into a pan instead of taking time to roll into balls.
That is a great tip! Probably makes it all a bit simpler. 🙂