Vegan Paleo No Bake Energy Balls Recipe | Wicked Spatula (2024)

See how to make no bake energy balls with just 5 simple, natural ingredients! This vegan paleo energy balls recipe is loaded with dates, almond butter, and coconut.

by Maya Last Updated on January 14, 2021 2 Comments

Paleo energy balls are sort of a staple in my house… because you never want to be without snacks, especially when kids are involved. 😉 These date energy balls need just 5 simple ingredients, how easy is that? These little vegan no bake energy balls will fill you up just like store bought energy bars would, but without all the junk you’d find in those. No matter what food needs or lifestyle you choose (or none at all), you need these almond butter energy balls on hand to grab-and-go!

What Are Energy Balls?

Energy balls are the perfect combination of healthy fats, proteins, and fiber that make a great snack. They are perfect for a burst of energy, and they help keep you full due to their protein and fiber content.

There are many variations of homemade energy balls. My recipe is for gluten-free energy balls using natural ingredients, which is just how we roll here at Wicked Spatula.

How To Make Energy Balls

Making these healthy energy balls couldn’t be much easier. All you need is about 10 minutes to prep them, and the rest is just waiting for the coconut energy balls to chill.

Let’s get started so you can make your own batch and begin munching on your own energy bites.

• Prep the ingredients. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set out all of the ingredients –Medjool dates, raw cashews, desiccated coconut, almond butter, almond milk, and a dash of maple syrup if you like (optional).

• Place the nuts and dates in the food processor. Pulse a few times to chop them up.

TIP: You want a coarse chop, so pulse. Don’t just run the food processor, or you might make nut flour or nut butter! They should look like this:

• Add in remaining ingredients to the mixture.Add maple syrup, almond butter, almond milk, and coconut into the food processor and process until it forms a ball, or at least it’s uniform, as shown below.

• Using your hands or a cookie scoop, roll the mix into tablespoon-sized balls. Roll them into coconut.

• Chill for at least 30 minutes on parchment paper, to firm up before serving.

What Can I Use Instead Of Almond Butter?

If you don’t have almond butter, you can replace it with any nut butter to make these date energy balls. Here are a few options:

• Cashew butter – another great paleo option
• Peanut butter – fine if you’re not strictly paleo, but avoid for paleo
• Sunflower seed butter – great choice to make nut-free vegan energy balls

Are Energy Balls Good For You?

Yes, these protein balls are good for you!Watch out, though… sometimes store bought energy balls can be loaded with sugar or other junk.

My date energy balls contain only natural ingredients and they are naturally sweetened.

How Do You Store No Bake Energy Balls?

Store almond butter energy balls at room temperature or in the fridge, depending on your texture preference. They will be firmer kept in the fridge.

Energy balls will last 5-7 days.

Can You Freeze Paleo Energy Balls?

Yes, you can freeze these date energy balls for around 2 months. Just lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and put it in the freezer. Wait for them to solidify, then you can transfer them to a freezer bag for long-term storage.

I like to make a few batches of vegan energy ballsat once, and freeze them. Any time you need a quick and easy snack, you can grab a couple and eat once they’ve thawed enough to soften.

More Paleo Snack Recipes

If you can’t get enough of these almond butter energy balls, try some of my other delicious paleo snack ideas.

• Pumpkin Spice Granola – A fall twist on an easy paleo snack.
• Healthy Trail Mix – It takes only five minutes, seriously!
• Plantain Chips – The perfect blend of lightly sweet and savory.