Have you ever had Energy Balls as a snack? Maybe you wonder what they actually are? This recipe is going to introduce you to bite sized goodness loaded with healthy nut butter, sweet cranberries, decadent white chocolate, alongside healthy fats, rolled oats, and a hint of salt.
One bite of these energy balls with peanut butter or almond butter will show you just why they are such a popular snack food!
The Best Energy Balls for Healthy Snacking
Admittedly, this recipe has some of my favorite foods in them, so I am a bit biased. The combination of white chocolate and cranberries is one I fell in love with a few years ago in cookies. Of course, as I have worked on healthier eating habits, those became few and far between.
This recipe gives me a hint of that favorite flavor, but is also loaded with tons of good healthy fats and fuel for my body. That means I have zero guilt grabbing one as a snack to help me through a busy afternoon slump in energy.
Want something a bit sweeter but still healthy? You’ll love this superfood rich Pomegranate Strawberry Smoothie recipe.
What’s so great about energy balls?
They are typically packed with tons of nutrients and energy boosting foods. This recipe, while including a bit of chocolate, is also packed with healthy fats in the flax seed, chia seeds, and nut butter. These are all needed for brain health, to keep energized, to feel satiated between meals, and to aid in building muscle.
For fast energy, rolled oats and hint of sugar in the chocolate and honey are just what you need. Combining them with the other excellent super foods gives you a great balance that is better for you than a granola bar or candy bar. They are also far healthier than a chemical laden energy drink.
Want a healthier snack that is more on the savory side? Check out my baked spinach chips or my baked zucchini chips for a salty and crunchy treat!
What if I have a peanut butter allergy?
I love that this recipe is so adaptable for this reason! If you can’t have peanut butter, use our suggestions of almond butter or cashew butter. If you have more extensive allergies, you can even look at alternatives like sunflower butter. Allergies don’t have to keep you from taking advantage of this superfood snack.
Can I add different nuts or dried fruits to these power balls?
Of course, you can! My personal favorite combination is this one, but it is so easy to mix and match different combinations. Just replace with your preferences in the same measurements of what you take out.
Some variations on energy balls flavors:
- Chopped pecans, diced dates, and butterscotch chips
- Chopped peanuts and chocolate chips
- Shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and chopped almonds
- Chopped pecans, chocolate chips and caramel chips
- Pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and a dash of pumpkin pie spice
You could even use these different flavor combinations in a slow cooker oats breakfast!
Do I have to refrigerate these no bake energy balls?
No! If you are making a large batch and know you won’t eat them within 2-3 days, then I would put them in the refrigerator. Otherwise, just store them in a quality airtight container and grab as you want or need one.
Note: While these are a great make-ahead snack idea, they are not a good idea for freezing in advance. The texture frozen then thawed is not desirable and loses the ability to hold together in the ball shape that is convenient.
Healthy Energy Balls
Prep Time: 10
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 25-30 balls
Description
Have you ever had Energy Balls as a snack? Maybe you wonder what they actually are? This recipe is going to introduce you to bite sized goodness loaded with healthy nut butter, sweet cranberries, decadent white chocolate, alongside healthy fats, rolled oats, and a hint of salt.
One bite of these energy balls with peanut butter or almond butter will show you just why they are such a popular snack food!
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1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats or Gluten-Free Oats
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½ cup Almond Butter or Cashew Butter
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⅓ cup Honey
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1 teaspoon Vanilla
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¼ teaspoon Salt
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1 cup Dried Cranberries
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1 cup Pistachio Nuts, chopped
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¼ cup White Chocolate Chips
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1 tablespoon ground Flax Seed
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1 tablespoon Chia Seeds
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine oats, almond butter, honey, vanilla, and salt until well combined
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Stir in dried cranberries, nuts, chocolate chips and seeds
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If the mixture is too dry, add a little more honey or almond butter
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Place in refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes
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Remove from refrigerator and form into balls using a cookie dough scoop
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Eat immediately or store in an airtight container
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 37
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
