These energy balls are the perfect healthy treat when you need a kick of energy during a busy day. They require only a few ingredients and are so easy to make. Coming into 3 delicious flavors, there is always a good occasion to make some.

It’s already October, many of you have probably returned to work for now about a month after long summer holiday, and you should start experience fatigue and low energy. The excitement and motivation of the first days has reduced, days are shortening and the cold is slowly approaching and I don’t know for you, but all that tends to impact my mood and energy levels. I often found myself craving something sweet and nourishing in the middle of the morning, or just before my workout. Not really that I am hungry, but I feel my energy levels to be lower than usual and need something to boost myself. At this moment, I want something healthy and natural that will fuel my body, and not an industrial candy bar filled with refined sugars that will give me an instant boost of energy quickly followed by a long period of fatigue. And I still haven’t found a better snack that energy balls!

You can call them different ways: energy balls, bliss balls, date balls … but they all refer to these bite size balls made of raw and natural ingredients, that are so delicious! These are definitely the perfect snack to make as they require a very few ingredients – 4 ingredients are enough to make simple delicious balls, and come together in minutes! They are really easy to make at home, everything you require is a basic food processor and I can promise they will change your life! You can find similar industrial snacks that are also very good, natural and with simple ingredients, and that’s a very good option if you are busy or on the go. But as far as possible, I do prefer to make my own. I like to make batches of energy balls and keep them in my refrigerator in air thigh containers, for the whole week and more!

These energy balls are very easy to make. I love to experiment and find different combinations and flavors. You can really get creative with them! Everything you need is to start from the basic recipe and then replace the ingredients keeping the right proportions, using the dry fruits, nuts and spices of your choice. Here, I have chosen to make 3 different flavors that remind 3 of my favorite traditional cakes: brownie, carrot cake and cinnamon rolls. In these 3 recipes, the base remains the same, then it’s all about spices, variety of nuts and fruits.

The base ingredient of energy balls is the dates. I always recommend using Medjool dates because it is the moister variety of dates that tends to be very smooth and sticky and act as a very good binder when mashed. I also really love their sweet flavor that make them a delicious snack as their own! However Medjool dates are pretty expensive and scarce, so you can also use regular dates for this recipe, but just made sure to soak them in hot warm water for 10 minutes to soften prior to use. In some of the following recipes I have replaced half the date by dry apricots or raisins for my cakes flavors. But you can also use dry figs, dry plumes, cranberries or any other dry fruits.

The second main ingredient is the nuts. The proportions are about 1:1 dates and nuts. Here, you are totally free to use the variety of nuts of your choice. Almond, walnuts, pecan, cashew … they all works! Just make sure not to over blend them. You want them to bring texture and small chunks in the balls, not butter or powder.

The third ingredient that builds energy balls is usually a powder to something to thicken. In fact, after mixing the date paste and the nuts, the dough could be too moist. Adding cocoa powder, shredded coconut, protein powder or oats are good ways to thicken the dough while providing delicious flavors and additional nutritional benefits. But make sure to use high-quality ingredients for these add-ins! While high quality raw cocoa powder is delicious and packed with good nutrients, cheap cocoa powder can be much more bitter and often contains added refined sugar.

And finally, the spices are a very important part of your energy balls as they will give the flavor you are looking for. I love adding cinnamon as it is my favorite spice, but you can also get creative and try ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, turmeric and more. Just make sure to use dry powders that will allow to keep your energy balls for longer -using moist ingredients like fresh ginger or turmeric can make them mold.

Now you have everything to start making your own energy balls! I am sure you will love to enjoy these little treats all along the day, when you need and extra boost of energy.

ENERGY BALLS 3 WAYS

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time:  10 minutes
Serves: about 12 balls each

BROWNIE PROTEIN BALLS:

Ingredients:

– 1 1/2 cups Medjool dates
– 1 cup pecan nuts
– 1/4 cup chocolate plant based protein powder
– 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
– 1/4 tsp sea salt flakes

Instructions:

1. Blend the Medjool dates in a food processor until a sticky paste forms. If your Medjool dates are too dry, you can soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before blending to soften. Transfer the paste to a bowl and set aside.

2. Place the pecan nuts in the food processor and pulse to break them in small pieces, but not powder.

3. Add the date paste, the protein powder, the cocoa powder and the sea salt, and blend until combined and the mixture begins to turn into a dough, about 1 minute. Scrap down the sides if necessary. Your dough should be moist enough that you can form balls with it.

4. Using your hands, roll the dough into bite-sized balls. And if desired, roll the balls into a plate of cocoa powder to coat.

5. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm. Then, store in the fridge in an airtight container.

CARROT CAKE BALLS:

Ingredients:

– 1/2 cup Medjool dates
– 1/2 cup dry apricots
– 1/2 cup shredded carrots
– 1 cup walnuts
– 1 cup shredded coconut flakes
– 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
– 1/2 tsp ginger powder
– 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder

Instructions:

1. Blend the Medjool dates with the dry apricots in a food processor until a sticky paste forms. If your Medjool dates are too dry, you can soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before blending to soften. Transfer the paste to a bowl and set aside.

2. Place the walnuts in the food processor and pulse to break them in small pieces, but not powder.

3. Add the date and apricot paste, the shredded carrots, the coconut flakes, the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, and blend until combined and the mixture begins to turn into a dough, about 1 minute. Scrap down the sides if necessary. Your dough should be moist enough that you can form balls with it.

4. Using your hands, roll the dough into bite-sized balls. And if desired, roll the balls into a plate of shredded coconut to coat.

5. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm. Then, store in the fridge in an airtight container.

CINNAMON ROLLS BALLS:

Ingredients:

– 1/2 cup Medjool dates
– 1/2 cup raisins
– 1 cup almonds
– 1 tsp cinnamon powder
– 1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1. Blend the Medjool dates with the raisins in a food processor until a sticky paste forms. If your Medjool dates are too dry, you can soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before blending to soften. Transfer the paste to a bowl and set aside.

2. Place the almonds in the food processor and pulse to break them in small pieces, but not powder.

3. Add the date and raisins paste, the cinnamon and sea salt, and blend until combined and the mixture begins to turn into a dough, about 1 minute. Scrap down the sides if necessary. Your dough should be moist enough that you can form balls with it.

4. Using your hands, roll the dough into bite-sized balls.

5. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm. Then, store in the fridge in an airtight container.

ENERGY BALLS 3 FACONS

Temps de préparation: 10 minutes
Temps total: 10 minutes
Quantité: environ 12 boules de chaque

BROWNIE PROTEINE BALLS:

Ingrédients:

– 1 1/2 cups de dates Medjool
– 1 cup de noix de pecan
– 1/4 cup de protéines végétales saveur chocolat
– 3 c.à.s de poudre de cacao non sucrée
– 1/4 c.à.c de fleur de sel

Instructions:

1. Dénoyauter les dates. Mixer les dates Medjool dans un mixeur jusqu’à l’obtention d’une pâte collante. Si vos dates sont trop sèches, les faire préalablement tremper 10 minutes dans de l’eau chaude pour les attendrir. Transférer la pate de date dans un bol et réserver.

2. Verser les noix de pecan dans le mixeur et mixer par impulsions pour briser les noix en petits morceaux, sans pour autant les réduire en poudre.

3. Ajouter-y la pate de dates, les protéines en poudre, la poudre de cacao et le sel, en mixer jusqu’à l’obtention d’une pâte homogène et lisse. Cela peut prendre environ 1 minutes. Ne pas hésiter à racler les bords du mixeur de temps en temps si nécessaire. La pâte doit être souple et malleable afin de pouvoir former des boules.

4. Prélever une cuillère à soupe de pâte et la rouler entre vos mains pour former une boule bien lisse. Optionnellement, rouler les boules dans de la poudre de cacao pour les enrober.

5. Mettre les boules au réfrigérateur pendant 10 minutes pour qu’elles durcissent. Les stocker au réfrigérateur dans une boite hermétique.

CARROT CAKE BALLS:

Ingredients:

– 1/2 cup de dates Medjool
– 1/2 cup d’abricots secs
– 1/2 cup de carottes râpées
– 1 cup de noix
– 1 cup de coco râpée
– 1/2 c.à.c de cannelle en poudre
– 1/2 c.à.c de gingembre en poudre
– 1/4 c.à.c de noix de muscade en poudre

Instructions:

1. Dénoyauter les dates. Mixer les dates Medjool avec les abricots secs dans un mixeur jusqu’à l’obtention d’une pâte collante. Si vos dates sont trop sèches, les faire préalablement tremper 10 minutes dans de l’eau chaude pour les attendrir. Transférer la pate de date dans un bol et réserver.

2. Verser les noix dans le mixeur et mixer par impulsions pour briser les noix en petits morceaux, sans pour autant les réduire en poudre.

3. Ajouter-y la pate de dates et apricots, les carottes râpées, la noix de coco, la cannelle, le gingembre et la muscade en poudre, en mixer jusqu’à l’obtention d’une pâte homogène et lisse. Cela peut prendre environ 1 minutes. Ne pas hésiter à racler les bords du mixeur de temps en temps si nécessaire. La pâte doit être souple et malleable afin de pouvoir former des boules.

4. Prélever une cuillère à soupe de pâte et la rouler entre vos mains pour former une boule bien lisse. Optionnellement, rouler les boules dans de la noix de coco râpée pour les enrober.

5. Mettre les boules au réfrigérateur pendant 10 minutes pour qu’elles durcissent. Les stocker au réfrigérateur dans une boite hermétique.

CINNAMON ROLLS BALLS:

Ingredients:

– 1/2 cup de dates Medjool
– 1/2 cup de raisins secs
– 1 cup d’amandes
– 1 c.à.c de cannelle en poudre
– 1/4 c.à.c de sel

Instructions:

1. Dénoyauter les dates. Mixer les dates Medjool avec les raisins secs dans un mixeur jusqu’à l’obtention d’une pâte collante. Si vos dates sont trop sèches, les faire préalablement tremper 10 minutes dans de l’eau chaude pour les attendrir. Transférer la pate de date dans un bol et réserver.

2. Verser les amandes dans le mixeur et mixer par impulsions pour briser les noix en petits morceaux, sans pour autant les réduire en poudre.

3. Ajouter-y la pate de dates et raisins, la cannelle en poudre et le sel, en mixer jusqu’à l’obtention d’une pâte homogène et lisse. Cela peut prendre environ 1 minutes. Ne pas hésiter à racler les bords du mixeur de temps en temps si nécessaire. La pâte doit être souple et malleable afin de pouvoir former des boules.

4. Prélever une cuillère à soupe de pâte et la rouler entre vos mains pour former une boule bien lisse.

5. Mettre les boules au réfrigérateur pendant 10 minutes pour qu’elles durcissent. Les stocker au réfrigérateur dans une boite hermétique.