These EASY Almond Butter Energy Balls are so delicious. Sweet, nutty, perfectly flavored. Made with all healthy but super simple ingredients, sweetened with dates and loaded with ALMONDS. Such a treat! A perfect snack, lunchbox addition, great for camping, and taking outdoors.
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I can't believe Summer is over and school is about to start next week. Man, when that happened!? From being home working and entertaining my son, to taking care of our home and healthy eats, this Summer surely passed quickly. The only part I dislike about this Summer is that all our plans to travel were ruined by Corona. But hey! No room to complain. We are safe, healthy, and reasonably sane. There always be next year. I hope.
Anyways, last week I had a HUGE sweet snack attack. Wasn't in the mood to bake anything, so no-bake treats were the obvious choice. After the huge success I had with Peanut Butter Coconut Balls and Peanut Butter Protein Balls, I decided to make another round. This time, I used almond butter, which is milder in flavor. Not so intense like peanut butter. So I mixed these cute energy balls.
They turned out to be a huge success too. My son liked these energy balls so much, he now wants me to pack them into his lunchbox for school. Win!
No wonder. These Almond Butter Energy Balls are sweet, nutty, and perfectly flavored. Soft, fudgy. Wholesome and seriously delicious. + Super EASY to make. 5 ingredients. 15 minutes. Naturally sweetened. Camping? Lunchbox? Hikes? Road trips? These balls are the right snacks for you.
Ingredients used
To make these almond butter energy balls, you will need ONLY 5 ingredients that are very common in everyone's pantry. I also offer substitutions, so there's no excuse to not make them almost instantly.
- ALMONDS are the superstar in this recipe! I love them because they are full of nutrients good for our health. They are loaded with proteins and healthy monounsaturated fats - omega 3's good for our heart health. Almonds are also packed with other powerful antioxidants, including vitamin E and super important magnesium.
- ALMOND BUTTER is as healthy as almonds itself. I used natural creamy almond butter here without added sugars or salt.
- DATES are a great addition to snacks like energy balls. They bind other ingredients together but also give natural sweetness. Dates also have an excellent nutrition profile. They are packed with many vitamins and minerals, as well as with antioxidants. I used Medjool dates here. Medjool dates have a rich, almost caramel-like taste and a soft, chewy texture. You can substitute them for any regular dates you find in the store.
- FLAX SEEDS added extra superfood superpowers to these almond energy balls. Flax seeds have omega-3s, and consuming these fatty acids improves mood, boost our immunity, and fights inflammation. Also, flax seeds are packed with fibers that aid our digestion. I used ground flax seeds here.
I added a splash of vanilla for extra deliciousness, which made these beauties even more irresistible.
When I'm making energy balls like these ones, I always like to add some more SUPERFOODS like my favorite MACA POWDER. Maca powder is, in one word – amazing! Some dislike its earthy nutty taste, but I love it. It's a superfood known to boost mood, energy, and stamina. If you don't like maca or don't have it in your kitchen cabinet, don't worry. You can easily skip it. But I highly recommend you buy maca powder and start using it.
How to make Almond Butter Energy Balls
To make energy balls, you will need some equipment, a food processor or chopper. But other than that, this recipe is relatively EASY to make.
- Prepare and measure all ingredients using measuring cups.
- Soak pitted Medjool dates in hot water for a few minutes. Drain, and reserve some water.
- Take a high-speed food processor and add dates, almonds, almond butter, ground flax seeds, vanilla, maca powder (if using) and a pinch of salt. Process everything on high speed for about two minutes until the dough is formed.
- Don't worry if the dough seems dry in the beginning. Just continue mixing. Dates will release juices and make it sticky. Scrap down the dough with a spatula if needed.
- After two minutes, stop the processing and check texture by pinching the dough between your fingers. Now it should be sticky and able to keep its shape.
- If the mixture is too dry, add a bit of hot water from soaking dates (just a teaspoon). Mix again and check the texture.
- Make sure you taste the dough. These almond butter energy balls are mildly sweet, so if you feel like you need a bit more sweetness, feel free to add a teaspoon of maple syrup, raw honey, or date syrup.
- If you're adding liquid sweetener, then there's no need to add hot water. Sweetener will bind the dough and make the texture sticky.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the dough and roll between your palms to form a little bite-size ball. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Place balls on a plate, serving tray or in an airtight container and refrigerate to harden.
- Makes 22 bite-sized balls. The recommended serving size is 2 balls.
PRO TIPS:
- If almond butter is too hard, microwave it for a few seconds to soften.
- Use natural soft almond butter. Crunchy won't work well here.
- If you notice that the mixture is to dry and crumbly, add a teaspoon of warm water.
Substitutions
- Substitute ground FLAX SEEDS with ground chia seeds or hemp seeds.
- You can substitute MEDJOOL DATES with regular dates, commonly called Deglet Noor. Regular dates are smaller than Medjool dates, so you might need to use more, 12-14 dates.
- You can substitute almond butter with any nut butter or nut-free butter. BUT keep in mind that these ARE almond butter energy balls and special just because of it.
Tips for storing
- Keep covered in air-tight food container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- HOW TO FREEZE: Place balls in a zip-lock bag. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw for 10 minutes on room temperature.
Almond butter energy balls calories
These Almond Butter Energy Balls are perfectly healthy and low-calorie snacks. From ingredients, you will get around 20-22 bite-sized balls. The recommended serving size is 2-4 balls. One ball has roughly --- calories. They are FREE from refined sugars, loaded with ONLY healthy fats, so you don't need to overthink too much here. Enjoy freely.
Everything about these Almond Butter Energy Balls is absolutely amazing. They are:
- no-bake and made with only few simple pantry ingredients,
- full of high-quality dietary fibers that promote good digestion, weight loss, and a healthy digestive system,
- loaded with protein,
- rich in healthy omega-3s,
- free of refined sugars,
- gluten-free and vegan,
- low in calories, kid-friendly and very satisfying,
- perfect everyday snack for whole family.
Enjoy!
Almond Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 10 Medjool dates
- 1 cup almonds
- ½ cup creamy almond butter
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon maca powder optional
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Soak pitted Medjool dates in hot water for a few minutes. Drain, and reserve some water.
- Take a high-speed food processor and add dates, almonds, almond butter, ground flax seeds, vanilla, maca powder (if using) and a pinch of salt. Process everything on high speed until the dough is formed.
- Check the dough texture by pinching it between your fingers. It should be sticky and able to keep its shape.
- If the mixture is too dry, add a bit of reserved hot water (just a teaspoon). Mix again and check the texture.
- Make sure you taste the dough. These almond butter energy balls are mildly sweet, so if you feel like you need a bit more sweetness, feel free to add a teaspoon of maple syrup, raw honey, or date syrup.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the dough and roll between your palms to form a little bite-size ball. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Place balls on a plate, serving tray or in an airtight container and refrigerate to harden.
Notes
Keep covered in air-tight food container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
HOW TO FREEZE: Place balls in a zip-lock bag. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw for 10 minutes on room temperature. Substitutions
Substitute ground FLAX SEEDS with ground chia seeds or hemp seeds.
You can substitute MEDJOOL DATES with regular dates, commonly called Deglet Noor. Use 12-14 regular dates instead of Medjool dates. Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutrition
More energy balls recipes
- No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
- Hazelnut Chocolate Balls
- Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Chocolate Cinnamon Balls
- Peanut Butter Coconut Balls
- Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Chocolate Maca Balls
SOUNDS DELICIOUS! What can be used as a substitute for maca powder?
Maca has a unique flavor, it's quite hard to find a proper substitute, taste-wise. You can leave it out. Or use cinnamon.
Love these! I didn't realize how yummy dates are. PLUS... no baking to do. :)
These look so good and I love that they are sweetened with dates! I actually pinned to my recipes I want to try board.
We have been enjoying almond butter lately. Great little snack!
These are the perfect pick me up snack! Grab while I'm waiting for dinner to finish and I'm good. Will keep these stocked!
Using dates is such a good idea in energy balls! I will have to try that next time I make them.
I have all of these ingredients just waiting for this recipe! Its perfect, quick, healthy and easy to whip up! Also delicious!
What delicious balls to eat when you're craving something sweet, or just want a bit of extra energy. I love how easy you can prepare them.
Having bariatric surgery I am always looking for good energy balls. Thank you.