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Energy balls are a no-bake powerhouse of nutrients, texture, and flavor. My recipe uses dates, pistachios, flaxseed and oats to makes these easy, fast, and delicious!
If you are looking for the perfect pick for a morning out-the-door bite, mid-afternoon pick-me-up or a pre-workout snack, this recipe is for you! Energy bites have taken the health food world by storm, and my own kitchen too. Why? They are portable, nutrient-dense, and easy to make. While there are thousands of energy ball recipes out there and you can buy them pre-made, my unique and specific combination of sweet Medjool dates and savory pistachios offers a sophisticated flavor profile that we love and that truly stands out from the crowd.
Other good news: these are completely no bake energy bites, meaning you don’t need to turn on the oven or dirty a baking sheet. With just a food processor and a few main ingredients (also do-able by hand in a bowl) you can meal prep healthy snacks for the entire week in under 15 minutes.
Why You Should Make these ASAP!
These energy bites are truly good food. They help us hit our daily values for fiber, calcium, and healthy fats while satisfying that darn sweet tooth, naturally. They come together simply and quickly. Plus, the variations are pretty much endless! Dan likes his with a hit of honey and peanut butter for added sweetness and nuttiness.
Happy Cooking!
– Maureen
Ingredient Notes
Here’s the simple ingredient list. Each one works together to create the perfect texture. Here is why I chose these specific components for our energy bites:
- Medjool Dates: Oh how we love thee! Not only do pitted dates give us the flavor we adore, they are the amazing glue that holds everything together. Unlike dried fruit with added sugar, dates provide natural sweetness and a sticky consistency essential for binding. These powerhouses are rich in fiber and provide a quick energy boost. Tip: If your dates are dry, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain before using.
- Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats here, though quick oats or quick-cooking oats can work fine. Oats act as a binder and provide complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.
- Pistachios (Raw or Roasted): These nuts are packed with healthy fats and protein. Using roasted pistachios adds a deeper, nuttier flavor, while raw pistachios keep the color vibrant green. You will use them both inside the mixture and finely ground on the outside. Try the raw pistachios in my shop!
- Ground Flaxseed: Often referred to as ground flax seeds, this superfood adds a dose of Omega-3 fatty acids without altering the flavor profile. It helps absorb moisture and firm up the balls, too.
How to Make Date Pistachio Energy Balls
Making these energy bites is surprisingly simple. You start by pulsing your pistachios in a food processor until they are finely ground. Remove about a third of them and set them aside on a small plate—this is for rolling later.
Next, add the pitted Medjool dates, oats, flaxseed and spices to the remaining pistachios in the processor. If you’re adding wet mix-ins like nut butters, honey, or orange juice, add them now. Pulse until the energy ball mixture begins to look damp and somewhat clump together.
Now the fun part: shaping! You can use wet hands to avoid sticky hands, roll heaping tablespoon-sized amounts of the mixture into balls. Take each ball and roll it through the reserved ground pistachios for a vibrant finish. Place them on a tray (lined with parchment paper keeps it clean).
Pro Tips for Success
- Check Consistency: Squeeze the mixture in your hand. If the mixture doesn’t hold together, it is too dry and crumbly. Add a teaspoon of water, honey, juice, or maple syrup. If it is too wet, add another tablespoon of oats or nuts.
- Storage: Store your bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. For longer storage, place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag; they freeze beautifully for up to three months.
- Serving: The balls are fine at room temperature, and they hold their shape nicely chilled. They taste great cold, too!
Variations for Energy Balls
Once you master the base recipe, you can experiment with endless variations. Energy balls—sometimes called protein balls or protein bites—are highly customizable. Very fun!
1. Nut Butter Lovers. If you want nuttier flavor with a creamy texture, try adding a tablespoon of natural peanut butter, almond butter, or crunchy peanut butter. Sunflower seed butter or other seed butters work fine here. Making peanut butter energy balls is an easy way to increase the protein content. Add the nut butter along with the other ingredients when processing. Peanut butter balls with chocolate chips are essentially a healthy dessert disguised as a snack, no?! To add the chips, use dark mini chips and stir them in by hand after processing the other ingredients.
2. The Protein Boost. To turn these into true protein bites, incorporate a scoop of your favorite type of protein powder by adding before processing. Whey protein works well, but for a plant-based option, try pea or hemp protein. If the powder dries out the mixture, balance it with a little creamy peanut butter or liquid sweetener or even a splash of water.
3. Flavor Add-Ins. Don’t be afraid to add a variety of flavors to change it up! Cocoa powder, honey, maple syrup, your favorite warm spices (nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, cinnamon) a splash of vanilla extract, orange juice, or chia seeds can change the entire vibe. Add any of these when adding the other ingredients to the processor.
Energy Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup pistachios, raw or roasted
- 15 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Add the pistachios to the food processor and pulverize until finely ground. Carefully scoop out 2 tablespoons and place in a small bowl to roll the balls in later. Set the bowl aside.
- Add all of the ingredients to the remaining pistachios in the processor. Process until everything is finely ground and damp. Squeeze the mixture. It should hold together. If not, add a teaspoon of water, honey, or other liquid and process again.
- Transfer the date mixture to a medium bowl. Shape the balls using about 2 tablespoons of the mixture per ball. Roll each ball in the ground pistachios set aside earlier. Place the finished balls on a sheet pan or plate. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Recipes with similar ingredients
There are many recipes using dates on my site! Try my Stuffed Dates, Date Nut Bread, Sticky Date Cake.
For pistachios goodness, make a batch of homemade Pistachio Cream, Pistachio Gelato or a savory glorious Pistachio Pesto.
