These Vegan Energy Balls are fudgy, chewy and super satisfying! They're really easy to make, requiring just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes. They're no-bake, healthy and nutritious, and a good source of protein and fibre. They're easily transportable, easily customisable, and are gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, refined sugar free, date-sweetened and nut-free optional too!
Energy Balls are generally made from a mixture of any of the following ingredients: dried fruits, nuts, seeds, nut butter, coconut, oats. The ingredients can easily be adapted depending on your dietary requirements, taste preferences and budget.
I decided to make this recipe as simple as possible by using just 3 ingredients: walnuts, dates and almond butter. I love this combination as the earthy flavour of the slightly bitter walnuts is nicely counteracted by the caramel-like sweetness of the dates and the creamy almond butter.
How to make this recipe
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the full recipe.
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor.
- Whizz until smooth but still retaining some texture.
Tip: It needs to be sticky enough to be able to easily mould into balls. However, be careful not to over-blend, as the mixture will become very greasy as the oils will be released from the nuts.
- Use your hands to roll the mixture into little balls - you should be able to make 14.
How long do these keep for?
They keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a good few days.
Substitutions you can make
- You can replace the walnuts with any other nuts or seeds: almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds etc.
- You can replace the almond butter with peanut butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter or tahini.
- You can replace the dates with raisins, prunes or dried apricots.
- For a nut-free version, use sunflower seeds instead of walnuts, and use tahini instead of almond butter.
Flavour alternatives
- You can add a pinch of salt for a salty-sweet flavour.
- You can add 1 tablespoon of desiccated coconut for coconut flavour.
- You can add cocoa powder or matcha powder.
More vegan no-bake treats
- Chocolate Pudding Pots
- Chocolate Truffles
- Fudge
- Brownie Bites
- Chocolate Cookies
- Strawberry Trifle
- Key Lime Pie
- Protein Bars
- Blueberry Cheesecake
- Energy Bars
- Energy Bites
- Protein Balls
If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I’d really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.
Watch how to make it
Vegan Energy Balls (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 90 g (½ cup) pitted dates
- 95 g (¾ cup) walnuts
- 1 tablespoon smooth almond butter (or sub peanut butter or tahini)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor.
- Blend until combined but still retaining some texture - it needs to be sticky enough to be able to easily mould into balls. However, be careful not to over-blend, as the mixture will become very greasy as the oils will be released from the nuts.
- Use your hands to roll the mixture into little balls - you should be able to make 14.
- Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for a good few days.
Video
Notes
Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.
Susan Shaw
On the vegan energy balls, how many balls per serving? Thank you.
Rhian Williams
One ball per serving - the recipe makes 14 balls.