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The Recipe · No.1356 · Energy Balls

Energy Balls, and where to source them

Energy Balls — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Energy Balls American 5best2buy.com

Process the dates into a paste first, before anything else goes in, because that sticky paste is what holds the balls together with no baking. Chill the mixture for twenty minutes before rolling so it firms up and stops gluing itself to your palms. Wet hands lightly and the balls come out smooth.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep15 min
Cook0 min
Makes20 balls
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
VegetarianGluten-freeDairy-free
Contains  peanuts
Make it vegan: maple syrup for the honey.
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 20 balls
Medjool dates
Soft, sticky dates are the glue; soak them in warm water if they feel dry.
1 cup pitted
Rolled oats
Old-fashioned oats give body and soak up the peanut butter.
1 cup
Peanut butter
Natural peanut butter binds and carries the flavor.
1/2 cup
Chia and flax
A spoonful of chia and ground flax for texture and staying power.
2 tbsp
Dark chocolate
Chopped chocolate or chips folded in at the end for pockets of sweetness.
1/3 cup
Honey and salt
A drizzle of honey if the dates are lean, and a pinch of salt to balance.
1 tbsp honey
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
No-cook
The Method
  1. Paste the datesPulse the pitted dates in a food processor until they clump into a sticky paste. This paste is what binds everything with no cooking.
  2. Add the dryAdd the oats, peanut butter, chia, flax, honey, and salt and pulse until the mixture holds together when pinched.
  3. Fold in chocolatePulse in the chopped chocolate just briefly so it stays in visible pieces rather than smearing.
  4. Chill then rollChill the mixture 20 minutes so it firms up, then roll into tablespoon balls with lightly wet hands. Store them in the fridge.
The Toolkit

Food processor · Mixing bowl · Tablespoon scoop · Airtight container

Straight Answers
Can you make Energy Balls in an air fryer? — Not needed

No cooking needed here — this one comes together without heat, so the air fryer sits it out.

Can you freeze Energy Balls? — Yes

Yes — cool it, portion into airtight containers, and freeze; thaw in the fridge and reheat.

Can you make Energy Balls ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.

Is Energy Balls gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Energy Balls vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has honey. Make it vegan: maple syrup for the honey.

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