Say goodbye to that mid-afternoon latte! Instead, reach for these Nut-Free Energy Balls to fill your tummy and give you the boost you need to keep going.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably familiar with the mid-afternoon sleepy-hunger slump. You know—that part of a weekday afternoon when you want to chug three double lattes, take a nap, or eat a whole bag of chips. We all have our various ways of dealing with that awful time of day, and my typical solution is to choose the double latte route. It’s not the best way out of an energy slump, and it’s pretty terrible for my waistline, too.
These energy slumps can happen for a lot of reasons. But sometimes it’s because of our dietary choices. Once a sugary breakfast wears off, or when a high-carb spaghetti lunch hits my digestive system, I can pretty much expect to feel so tired I could fall asleep standing up. It can be hard to feed our bodies in a way that maintains consistent energy levels, but it doesn’t have to elude us forever!
These nut-free energy balls are an easy and convenient solution to my recurring afternoon naptime issue. They’re made with healthy seeds, dates, and just enough white chocolate bits to keep me going until dinner time. And because the balls don’t contain nuts, I can safely share them with my coworker, who has a nut allergy and a similar sleepy afternoon problem.
Are These Nut-Free Energy Balls Healthy?
Nut-free energy balls are a healthy choice for a delicious, nut-free snack that’s full of nutritional value. The mixture of seeds in this recipe—hemp and sunflower seeds—provides enough healthy fats and protein to satisfy us. Hemp seeds are the protein powerhouse in these energy balls and rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. The rolled oats are high in fiber and lend some protein and carbs. Medjool dates give the energy balls a nice natural sweetness along with some fiber and also provide the “glue” that sticks all the ingredients together. There’s a small amount of white chocolate in each energy ball, which does add some sugar. Of course, you can also replace it with sugar-free dark chocolate chips.
Overall, this recipe is nut-free, vegetarian, and gluten-free (as long as the oats are certified as gluten-free). These can easily be made dairy-free/vegan by using vegan chocolate pieces.
A Little Salty, A Chunk Of Sweet
The combination of sweet and salty is loved by many. Just think of salted caramel sauce or salted dark chocolate. I find it’s the best combo to make me feel satisfied with a snack, too. I think energy balls are best when they have both. And to get the best bite each time, I have a few pointers to keep in mind when you’re making these.
- Add a few dashes of salt to the recipe. There’s no other salt included in the recipe, so if you want the sweet-and-salty combo, you’ll need to add salt. Salted sunflower seeds tend to be oversalted for my tastes, but you might choose this route if you enjoy salty flavors. Adding a quarter teaspoon of sea salt to the food processor instead works just right for me!
- Save the white chocolate for last, like the recipe says! The recipe says to process everything else first and to gently pulse the chocolate into the mixture last. If you throw all the ingredients into the processor all at once, you’ll end up with white chocolate crumbs instead of chunks. Just a few pulses to mix in the white chocolate will leave you with energy balls that have perfect chunks of beautiful white chocolate.
Can I Prep These Ahead?
Of course! These energy balls are perfect to make ahead of time. Once you roll them into balls, transfer them to a container with parchment or wax paper between layers, and store it covered in the fridge. They last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag. You can even freeze them for up to 3 months in freezer-safe bags.
Serving Suggestions
Nut-free energy balls are best served alone as a snack. Still, they can make a nice, healthy lunchtime dessert. For example, I enjoy a couple of energy balls after a Broccoli Salad or this Mediterranean Cucumber Salad. The combination fills me up, so I am not looking for a snack in the afternoon. Another light lunch or snack option is a nut-free energy ball with a Salt And Pepita Hard-Boiled Egg Snack. The extra protein and fat from the egg is really satisfying!
If you want to trick the family (or yourself) into eating an after-dinner dessert that isn’t unhealthy, try drizzling a Dairy-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce over two energy balls on a plate, and warming it in the microwave for a few seconds.
Ingredients
- 10 Medjool dates
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the white chocolate chips into the bowl of your food processor. Blend everything until it forms a ball.
- Add the chocolate chips, and pulse to combine it all together.
- Break off about 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time, and roll into balls. Place the balls on sheets of wax paper or parchment as you work. They're ready to eat immediately.
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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