Date Energy Balls Recipe

Move over, Larabar. Make your own healthier limited ingredient energy balls.

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Store bought energy bars are mass produced, and can contain genetically modified ingredients and unhealthy sugars such as high fructose corn syrup. They can also be expensive, especially when bought individually from the corner store.

Here we have a super simple energy ball that uses natural ingredients to give you that little pick-me-up when your energy lags during the day.

Sweet and nutty with a long shelf life, these little bundles of energy are a great item to have on your shelf to grab when needed.

Are Date Energy Balls Healthy?

Energy balls are, by design, calorie dense. By using low glycemic index dates and natural cashews, this energy ball is a healthier alternative to the manufactured, packaged ones. We recommend these for those who work out or have an active lifestyle, though they do make a wonderful treat to have with your afternoon tea.

On Glycemic Index

Glycemic Index (GI) is a measure of how quickly the body metabolizes a sugary item, and understanding it is very important in controlling type 2 diabetes and blood sugar spikes. High fructose corn syrup and other manufactured sugar products tend to have a very high glycemic index, causing you blood sugar to soar and subsequently crash. This has been shown to be a diabetic pre-cursor and a major cause of sugar cravings. Several naturally sweet foods such as maple syrup, agave syrup and dates have a low glycemic index, making them a healthier choice, whether you’re pre-diabetic or not. There is plenty of research available on line and we encourage you to read more on the subject or speak to a nutritionist.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dates pitted
1/4 cup shredded coconut flakes
1/4 cup cashew nuts
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Add the dates and cashew nuts to a food processor and process until the mixture is sticking together. Add the shredded coconut flakes and season the mixture with a pinch of salt and cinnamon.
Form the mixture into balls. Scoop the dough with your hands and form into small balls using your hands. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Transfer the date energy balls onto a plate and enjoy with tea or coffee!

Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Date Energy Balls

Making these into balls is the quickest and easiest method, but can yield inconsistent sizing. If you want to control the calories, fats and sugars you’re consuming, weigh the balls to make sure they are a consistent size. You can form them into bars or pucks depending on your desired size.
Rolling the finished product in unsweetened coconut flakes will make them less sticky and easier to store and handle.
Use roasted cashews for a more robust nut flavour or raw cashews for a milder one

Date Energy Balls Recipe side shot close up view

FAQs

how do i FIGURE out how many calories per ball?

The package will tell you the calories in each individual ingredient. Add the totals together to find the total number of calories per batch, and then divide that number by the number of balls or bars you make. That will give you the number of calories per item.

the energy balls are sticky!

They will be when you first make them, but this should go away once they’ve cooled in the fridge for an hour or so. Once cooled they should remain easy to handle at room temperature, though they might get sticky again if left in a hot car. Rolling them in extra crushed nuts will prevent this.

Make Ahead and Storage

One of the great things about these energy balls is that they will keep for a long time at room temperature. Keep them in an air tight container out of direct sunlight, and they should be fine for a month or more. They will keep six months in the freezer.