Name: Vegan Energy Balls (No Bake & Oil-free)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup dates (pitted); 1 cup raw walnuts; 3 tbsp peanut butter; 1/4 cup shredded coconut (plus more for coating); 2 tbsp water; pinch of salt

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These vegan energy balls are so addicting, simple, and also naturally sweetened. In addition, they are oil-free, easy to make, healthy, quick, gluten-free, and no-bake!

Jump to Recipe

These energy bites are made from just 4 main ingredients and all pantry staples, dates, walnuts, peanut butter, and shredded coconut. Since you do not have to bake them, they come together so fast when you want something sweet.

I always make a big batch of these power balls weekly and keep them in the fridge because they are perfect for a post-workout snack. They are also great as an afternoon snack and breakfast on the go!

Before we jump into the recipe, let’s talk about how you can customize it and learn some tips.

vegan energy balls in a bowl with a bitten one

How to make vegan energy balls

Ingredients

Since you only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe, it comes together so fast. You can also customize the ingredients easily if you have a certain allergy or don’t have the ingredient.

Dates

They are sweetened with Medjool dates so we are keeping this recipe sugar-free and healthy. You can try to swap the dates for another sticky dried fruit but I think dates are perfect for this recipe!

Walnuts

I really love walnuts and dates together so I use it a lot in my recipes like vegan no bake strawberry cheesecake. But if you don’t have walnuts or you can’t have them due to allergies, you can swap for another nut such as almonds, peanuts, or cashews.

Keep in mind, walnuts have some natural oil so I didn’t need to add any oil to this recipe. If you swap the walnuts for another nut, you might need to add some a little bit of coconut oil so they are not dry.

Peanut butter

Creamy peanut butter works great for this recipe but you can easily swap it for almond or cashew butter. To keep this recipe nut-free, you can use sun butter (sunflower seed butter) instead.

Shredded Coconut

Since I love anything coconutty, I added shredded coconut but you can omit if you don’t like coconut flavor. I also use it to coat the vegan energy bites so they taste great and look pretty!

Salt & water

I love putting a little bit of pink Himalayan salt since it brings the sweetness out. I also add a little water because it makes the balls roll a lot easier!

How to make Vegan Energy Balls Step by Step

First, you will need to add the pitted dates into the food processor or blender (I prefer food processor for this recipe). And then blend until a paste is formed.

Now, you can add the rest of the ingredients into the food processor along with water. And then pulse it until you have a crumbly dough consistency but make sure you are not over blending it.

Next, you can use a cookie scoop or your hands and scoop out 1-Tbsp amounts of the mixture to roll into balls between the palms of your hands. Optional: Empty a small amount of shredded coconut into a plate. Roll the energy balls around to coat with shredded coconut.

If you want them to be firmer, place them in the fridge for 30 minutes before enjoying them.

Energy Balls Recipe Variations

Since these vegan energy balls are so versatile, here are some variations you can make:

You can add chocolate chips for a chocolate flavor.
Also, you can add a vanilla bean or vanilla extract for vanilla flavor.
You can also try adding orange zest or lemon zest for a brighter flavor.
Try adding ground flax seeds or chia seeds for an even healthier option.

Why energy balls are good for you

They are usually loaded with healthy fats, fiber, and protein so it makes them great for a quick snack or breakfast. Since we are not using any artificial sweeteners or sugar, it makes them healthy and delicious!

Do Vegan Energy Balls need to be refrigerated

They should be chilled to firm them up but they are fine at room temperature as well for a day or two. These will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

So, it takes less than 10 minutes to make these quick, healthy, and no-bake snacks. They are also:

Customizable
Easy
Oil-free
Naturally sweet
Coconutty
And delicious!

More healthy vegan sweet recipes like this

So, did you make these? I’d love for you to leave a comment and rate the recipe. You can also share your photo of the recipe on Pinterest and tag me on Instagram using @avocadocentric or #avocadocentric! xo, Selin

Vegan Energy Balls (No Bake & Oil-free)

Author: avocadocentric
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 20 balls 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Blend
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan

Description

These vegan energy balls are so addicting, simple, and also naturally sweetened. They are oil-free, easy to make, healthy, quick, gluten-free, and no-bake!

Scale