Sink your teeth into these vegan chocolate chip energy balls, and you'll discover a delectable sphere of irresistible sweetness. These no-bake treats are brimming with plant-based goodness and boast a flavor reminiscent of cookie dough. They are great for indulging those sweet cravings.
There is a vast sea of recipes for energy bites on the internet, but you've just stumbled upon my go-to favorite. It's delightfully simple, easy, quick, sweet, and the best part? I always have these seven ingredients tucked away in my cupboard.
To be honest, you really don't need a "recipe" or to sift through countless recipes online because most of them contain the same ingredients. These are so super easy and quick to make that even my college kids make them while away at school.
For more sweet treats, try Vegan Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies and Vegan Coffee Cake Cookies.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Perfect for when you need a fast, no-bake snack.
- Healthy: Packed with wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, and seeds for a nutrient-dense treat.
- Naturally sweetened: Sweetened with maple syrup, they are free of refined sugars.
- Portable: Great for on-the-go snacking or a post-workout energy boost.
- Customizable: You can easily swap in your favorite mix-ins.
- Kid-friendly: A perfect healthy snack that kids will love.
- Deliciously satisfying: The chocolate chips add just the right amount of sweetness and indulgence.
Ingredients
Here is what you'll need to make this easy recipe, along with some notes. For quantities, see the recipe card.
- Use rolled oats or old fashioned oats.
- Use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter.
- Substitute maple syrup with agave nectar or date syrup.
Variations
Energy balls are super customizable. As I mentioned before, there are a million different recipes you can search for. But here are some variations and add-ins you can incorporate to create your favorite version right from this post:
Instructions
Take a look at what you'll be doing in the pictures below. For full instructions, see the recipe card.
Step 1: Combine the ingredients. You can incorporate the coconut shreds, too, but I use them to coat the balls. It helps reduce stickiness while adding texture to the outside of the balls.
Step 2: Mix everything until well combined. It should be a moist mixture, tacky to the touch. Place the mixture in the freezer for 15-30 minutes to make it easier to work with.
Step 3: Make small balls by rolling a piece of the mixture between the palms of your hand and then dip them in coconut shreds.
Step 4: Place the balls on a baking sheet or plate with some room. Place them in the freezer for 30 minutes or longer to firm up. Then, they are ready to enjoy or store in an air-tight container in the freezer for the closest flavor to cookie dough.
Top Tips
- Consistency is Key: Achieving the right consistency is important. You want the mixture to be sticky enough to hold together but not overly wet. Adjust the wet and dry ingredients as needed.
- Chill Before Rolling: Freeze the mixture for 15-20 minutes before rolling into balls. This makes it easier to handle and shape.
- Proper Storage: Store your energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. I eat them straight out of the freezer. They are firmer and get a nice cookie dough consistency that my whole family loves.
- Portion Control: Use a measuring spoon or scale to ensure consistent sizing for each energy ball. This makes them easier to serve and keeps portion sizes consistent.
- Flatten and Shape: Instead of rolling, you can also flatten the mixture into a small rectangle and then cut it into bite-sized squares or bars. This can be less sticky and provide a different presentation.
- Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the mixture, or coat the outside with cocoa powder for an intense chocolate taste.
- Use chopped dates or date syrup instead of maple syrup or agave.
- For variation, use rum or almond extract instead of vanilla.
- Add a tablespoon of matcha powder.
- Incorporate a couple of tablespoons of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chopped pecans for fall flavors.
- Add about a tablespoon of lemon zest.
- Use a few tablespoons of nuts like chopped cashews, walnuts, or pistachios.
- Add a tablespoon of espresso powder.
- Add ginger, cinnamon, and molasses (instead of maple syrup) to the mixture for a gingerbread cookie flavor.
- Use a variety of dried mixed fruit or dried apples.
- Substitute the flaxseed for chia or hemp seeds.
- Add sunflower, sesame, or pumpkin seeds.
Energy Balls FAQS
I would suggest enjoying it in moderation. While energy balls are a nutritious snack, they can be calorie-dense due to the nuts and sweeteners. Enjoy them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
This recipe is gluten-free, so buy certified gluten-free oats.
Store these energy balls in an airtight container in the freezer. They can typically last up to two weeks when refrigerated and 2-3 months when you freeze them.
I have not tried the recipe with quick oats, but that should work fine. Quick oats are essentially rolled oats that have been cut into smaller pieces and partially cooked during processing, so they have a finer texture and cook more quickly. This will probably result in a smoother texture. Just keep in mind that the texture and binding will be slightly different compared to using rolled oats.
Energy bites travel well, but I suggest putting them in a container instead of a plastic bag where they can potentially be squished. They make for a convenient and portable snack option for both adults and kids, whether you're on the go or just need a quick "keep-hunger-at-bay" snack.
Got a minute? I'd love for you to dive into the comments and rate these Vegan Chocolate Chip Energy Balls. Your feedback is invaluable—did you love it? Did you make any fun twists? Let me know how my directions worked for you so I can keep improving my recipes. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Energy Balls
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 20 balls 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Bite into a delectable sphere of goodness that's irresistibly sweet and a no-bake treat packed with plant-based nourishment. Vegan chocolate chip energy balls are not just snacks - they're perfect for fueling your day but, most importantly, satisfying your sweet cravings with a flavor and consistency reminiscent of cookie dough.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ peanut butter (or any nut butter)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (substitute with agave)
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- ¼ vegan chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup shredded coconut, optional
Instructions
- Combine: Combine the rolled oats, almond butter, maple syrup (or agave), ground flaxseed, vegan chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl.
- Mix: Blend the mixture until it comes together into a sticky dough-like consistency. It should be tacky to the touch.
- Chill: Place in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to make handling and rolling the balls easier.
- Roll: Using your hands, roll small portions of the mixture into bite-sized balls. You can adjust the size based on your preference.
- Coat: Roll the balls in the coconut shred if using.
- Arrange: Place the energy balls on a parchment paper-lined tray or plate.
- Chill: Refrigerate or freeze the energy balls for at least 30 minutes to firm them up.
- Serve: After chilling, they are ready to enjoy.
Notes
The shredded coconut is optional. You can also consider incorporating it into the mixture instead of coating the outside of the energy ball.
For faster coating of the energy balls, place the shreds and rolled balls together in a container and shake them around gently until the balls are well coated. Work in batches for best results.
Store your energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. I eat them straight out of the freezer. They are firmer and get a nice cookie dough consistency that my whole family loves.
Instead of rolling, you can flatten the mixture into a small rectangle and cut it into bite-sized squares or bars. This can be less sticky and provide a different presentation.
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: snack
- Cuisine: Amercian
Rob says
These were fantastic and tasted just like cookie dough balls!!
Regi Pearce says
Thanks, Rob! Luke loves these so much, I made it for him for his hike up Manitou incline. Everyone loved them!