Chewy, naturally sweetened and packed with peanut butter flavor and protein! These peanut butter date balls require only 4 simple ingredients and are ready in no time! They store beautifully and make the perfect quick energy boost whenever you need it!
I came up with this recipe after having a baby, when I found myself reaching for store-bought snacks during those middle-of-the-night feeds. After a couple of weeks I quickly realized that I needed something more budget-friendly, nourishing, and easy to grab that also stores well.
I wanted to make peanut butter balls with dates as a natural sweetener. BUT, when working with dates, the end product can sometimes end up a bit too sticky, especially when combined with oats.
However, I found a simple way to keep them from being too chewy, adding a secret ingredient: almond flour! It gives the energy balls a soft, moist texture without being overly sticky and enjoyable to eat!
For more healthy snacks recipes check out my Chocolate Veggie Muffins.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Healthy snack: They are made with wholesome ingredients and naturally sweetened - no sugar, no maple syrup, just dates as a sweetener.
- Great for kids: Perfectly bite-sized for little hands.
- Easy to customize: Add chocolate chips, a scoop of protein powder, shredded coconut or some spices of choice.
- Store and freeze well: Keep them in the fridge for up to a week or stash a batch in the freezer for easy grab-and-go snacks.
Ingredients & substitution notes
- Peanut butter: For the texture to be perfect I recommend using natural, unsweetened peanut butter without any additives. It's quite hard to replace the PB in this recipe because it gives these energy balls their distinct flavor. Using sunflower seed butter also doesn't help because this
- Medjool dates: They have a unique texture and rich, caramel-like flavor, which is why I wouldn’t substitute them with smaller dates like Deglet Noor - they’re drier and less sweet.
- Almond flour: This is the secret ingredient that keeps the texture soft, moist, and easy to eat. It helps absorb some of the stickiness from the dates.
- Oats: Rolled oats add structure and make the energy balls more filling. You can use quick oats too, but I find rolled oats give a better texture.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-step photo instructions
Step 1: Add the pitted Medjool dates to a food processor and blend until a small sticky ball forms.
Step 2: Add the peanut butter, oats and almond flour and blend again.
Step 3: The "dough" will be quite crumbly and not look like regular dough but that's the texture we're looking for.
Step 4: Use a cookie scoop to scoop out individual portions and shape them into balls. Store in an airtight container.
Top tips
- Use Medjool dates: They’re softer, sweeter, and blend much easier than smaller, drier dates.
- Blending dates: Use a smaller food processor bowl so the dates can stick together and form a smooth ball. If the container is too large, the dates might just get tossed around without blending properly.
- Use a cookie scoop: It makes portioning super easy and ensures all your energy balls are the same size.
Variations & add- ins
- Crunchy peanut butter: Choose crunchy PB for some extra texture and crunch. Make sure it's made from 100% peanuts though.
- Different type of nut butter: If you're not a fan of peanuts, you could try using roasted almond butter or hazelnut butter. Just make sure that they are also 100% natural.
- Protein powder: Boost the protein content by adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder. Be aware though that some vegan protein powders like hemp or pea might change the taste quite a bit.
- Chocolate chips: Mix in mini chocolate chips once the dough is ready for some chocolate flavors.
- Chocolate drizzle: Or drizzle with melted dark chocolate of choice once rolled into balls.
- Chia seeds: for a bit of a crunch and omega 3 fatty acids.
- Spices: like cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice (especially during fall) add a warm flavor twist. Cocoa powder also tastes great!
Storage
- To store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- To freeze: Freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 1 month. Let thaw on the counter overnight.
Pairing
These are my favorite drinks to enjoy with these energy balls:
FAQ
I don’t recommend it, since they have a drier texture and less sweetness compared to Medjool dates. If you do want to try it, you’ll likely need to soak them in warm water first to soften them up.
You can try, but a regular blender might struggle since the mixture is quite thick and sticky. A small food processor works best or you could try using a strong high-speed blender with a tamper.
I haven't tried making these without a food processor.
Related recipes
Looking for more peanut butter recipes? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Date Balls
Equipment
- 1 food processor
Ingredients
- 1 tightly packed cup (200 g) pitted Medjool dates *about 10 dates
- ¼ cup (70 g) natural peanut butter, no additives
- ½ cup (50 g) almond flour
- ¼ cup (30 g) rolled oats
Instructions
- Add the dates to a small food processor. Blend until they form a sticky ball (see step-by-step photos).1 tightly packed cup pitted Medjool dates
- Add the peanut butter, almond flour, and oats to the food processor. Blend again until you end up with a crumbly but stick texture (it's not going to look like regular dough).½ cup almond flour, ¼ cup natural peanut butter, no additives, ¼ cup rolled oats
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out the dough, then press and shape the dough together firmly with your hands to form small balls.
- Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
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