Published April 2026
Energy Balls: Two ways!
These no-bake energy balls use a simple base: dates and nuts. Dates provide structure and sweetness, nut butter binds, and citrus adds acidity and aroma. Put them together, and you get a fudgy and nutritious snack bite.
Chocolate/orange and lemon/coconut are great combinations, but once you’ve got the base, the recipe is flexible: swap the nuts, change the nut butter, or try a different citrus fruit.
All you need is 15 minutes, a food processor, and a few staple ingredients to make them. They’re easy to prep ahead and store well in the fridge or freezer for when you want something quick to snack on.
Method: blend, roll, coat, chill. It doesn’t get much simpler.
Chocolate & Orange Energy Balls
The rich flavours of cacao pair beautifully with tangy orange zest and juice in this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 180 g Medjool dates (packed, pitted)
- 150 g walnuts
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 3 tbsp hemp seeds, divided (reserve 2 tbsp for topping)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 28 g cacao powder
- 15 ml orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange
Preparation:
- Add the 180 g Medjool dates to a food processor and pulse until they form a sticky paste and begin to clump together.
- Add the 150 g walnuts and pulse until fully incorporated. The mixture should form a sticky dough.
- Add the almond butter, 1 tbsp of hemp seeds (save the rest for the topping), vanilla extract, cacao powder and orange juice. Finely grate the zest of 1 orange directly into the mixture.
- Pulse until a rough dough forms. The mixture should be sticky and will firm up once chilled.
- Once the dough is ready, portion into 2.5 cm balls (about 18 pieces).
- Roll each ball lightly in the remaining hemp seeds and place on a plate.
- Refrigerate for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Coconut & Lemon Energy Balls
Want a lighter, zesty flavor? Try these coconut and lemon energy balls!
Ingredients:
- 180 g pitted Medjool dates
- 30 g walnuts
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- ½ tbsp lemon zest (zest of about ½–1 lemon)
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 25 g shredded coconut, divided (reserve ~10 g for topping)
- 2 tbsp almond flour
Preparation:
- Add the dates and walnuts to a food processor and pulse until a sticky paste forms.
- Add the almond butter, lemon zest, cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond flour and ≈15 g of the shredded coconut (save the rest for the topping). Pulse until a rough dough forms. The mixture should be sticky and will firm up once chilled.
- Roll the dough into 2.5 cm balls (makes about 10-12 pieces) and place them on parchment paper.
- Place the remaining ≈10 g shredded coconut in a bowl and roll each energy bite to coat evenly.
- Refrigerate for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Written by Sofia Cadahia
Sofia is part of the Impact and Sustainability team at CrowdFarming, working at the intersection of nutrition, sustainability, and environmental justice. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a background in Digital Marketing, she uses storytelling to explore how food systems shape health, equity, and environmental outcomes, as well as the often unseen forces that determine who benefits, who bears the cost, and what ends up on our plates.
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