These delightful little vegan treats are packed with protein, sweetened with dates, and caffeinated with green tea powder. Did I mention they’re covered in chocolate?
Years ago, I joined a friend on a river paddling trip in South Louisiana. When we were planning the trip, we aimed to avoid building fires or boiling water, for simplicity’s sake. He suddenly spoke up: “But what will we do about caffeine in the morning?” Oh no.
Neither of us had considered the caffeine plan. Both of us were hopelessly addicted to our morning cup of Joe, and with only a few days left until we launched our boats on this multiple-day kayaking trip, there was no real hope of kicking the habit before launch. And neither of us was interested in dealing with relentless headaches during what was supposed to be an incredible camping trip. But then, I had an idea.
Matcha is green tea powder, and it doesn’t require any hot water steeping to wake you up. We could bring a tub of matcha and put it in our water bottles in the morning, shake it up, and enjoy the calm, theanine-infused energy of green tea caffeine. And that’s what we did. It worked, but the flavor? Less than ideal, to say the least.
I wish we’d had this recipe for vegan no-bake energy balls. It uses matcha as a pick-me-up, and instead of tasting like bitter plant matter, it tastes like chocolate and dates. It’s the perfect snack for any dull afternoon slump, camping trip, or road trip, and it delivers both that clean green tea caffeine boost and the nutritional benefits of a protein shake. Make a batch for your next study session—your friends will thank you, especially the vegan ones!
Are These Vegan No-Bake Energy Protein Balls With Matcha Healthy?
Yes! These energy balls contain a bit of protein from the protein powder and a small amount of fat from the coconut oil, plus some fiber. That’s all you need to satisfy a pang of hunger! The dates provide a natural sweetness. Matcha contains L-theanine, which is a naturally occurring amino acid in green tea that is believed to have many health benefits. Each ball contains a small amount of caffeine, so be careful if you’re snacking on these in the late afternoon—they could end up keeping you awake.
Overall, these balls are vegan and gluten-free, so they can be a healthy part of many different diets.
Add More Power To Your Energy Balls
Are a dash of protein, fat, and caffeine not enough for you? Lucky for you, there are plenty of ways to pack these energy balls with a little more oomph. Here are some fun additions to this recipe that improve the flavor, protein, and/or energy boost.
- Add nuts: If you don’t have any nut allergies, adding pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, or pistachios can give these balls extra protein and flavor.
- Swap matcha for instant coffee: Not a fan of matcha’s grassy flavor? Swap it out for instant coffee or espresso powder. You can even add some coffee granules to the chocolate coating for a deeper chocolate flavor.
- Add dried tart cherries to the date mixture: A small handful of dried tart cherries gives these energy balls a sour contrasting flavor to balance out the dense sweetness of the dates. For maximum contrast, add the dried cherries after you’ve processed the dates for a bit but before they’ve turned into a ball in the food processor. This will leave little chunks of tart cherry throughout!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
These energy balls will keep for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can freeze them, too! Just transfer them to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag with the air squeezed out and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you want to eat some, pull them out and let them thaw in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these energy balls as a snack alongside walnuts, fresh fruit, or a cup of (herbal) tea. I think they’re great for breakfast with a few other breakfast items to round out the meal. Pair them with a slice of Breakfast Quiche, a plate of Soft Scrambled Eggs, or some Baked Maple Bacon. Whatever you do, don’t eat them as a late-night snack, unless you have a meeting that starts at 3 a.m.!
Ingredients
- 260 grams dates about 2 cups, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons matcha powder ceremonial-grade
- 6 tablespoons vegan chocolate protein powder of choice
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted and divided
- 5 ounces dairy-free chocolate
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Transfer the roughly chopped dates to a food processor and process until the dates break down and begin to form a ball.
- Using a spatula, break the date ball up a little bit. Add the matcha powder, chocolate protein powder, and 2 teaspoons of the melted coconut oil to the food processor. Process until a ball forms.
- Carefully remove the ball from the food processor. If you see any unincorporated powder, knead the ball around with your hands. Wrap it with plastic wrap and place the ball in the refrigerator.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and remaining coconut oil together in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until smooth and melted.
- Take the date ball out of the refrigerator. Take tablespoon-sized pieces of the date mixture and roll each into a ball. Place each ball into the melted chocolate, using a spoon to drizzle chocolate over the top until it is coated. Use a fork to remove the ball from the chocolate, and lightly shake to remove any excess chocolate. Transfer the balls to the prepared baking sheet as you go. It can be helpful to use a toothpick to remove the ball from the fork.
- Transfer the chocolate-covered energy balls to the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens, about 20 minutes. Store energy balls in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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