Apple Pie Energy Balls
on Mar 29, 2014, Updated Feb 21, 2025
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These no-bake apple pie energy balls are easy to make in minutes with 6 simple ingredients like nuts, apple, dates and cinnamon for the perfect apple pie flavour.
About the Recipe
These are perfect for dessert, snacking, hiking, camping, before or after workouts or as part of a balanced breakfast.
They’re fun to make too and a great recipe to make with kids. Simply toss everything in a food processor until you have a sticky dough, then roll into balls and enjoy! Here’s a few reasons to love them:
- Apple pie flavour without the baking!
- Perfect for a sweet snack or treat on-the-go.
- Kid-friendly!
- Super easy to make with just 6 pantry ingredients.
- Taste like Apple Pie Larabars.
- Vegan, gluten-free, no added sugar, high in fiber.
No-bake energy balls are so fun to make! If you love these, you might like these No-Bake Pecan Pie Balls Recipe, Easy Goji Berry Balls Recipe, 3-Ingredient Chocolate Date Balls and Sunflower Seed Energy Balls too.
Ingredient Notes
This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.
- Nuts: You can use raw pecans, walnuts, almonds or a mixture of the 3. For a nut-free recipe, you can substitute sunflower seeds or half sunflower seeds, half pumpkin seeds.
- Dried Apple: You can use soft or crunchy apple chips or rings.
- Dates: Any variety of date works. You’ll need to use soft, moist dates, if not, you can soak them before use.
- Spices: You’ll need ground cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. If you don’t have nutmeg and ginger on hand, 1/2 tsp allspice works as a substitute.
Variation & Additions
Customize apple pie balls to make them your own! They’re yummy with oats, coconut, chocolate chips, chia seeds, raisins or flax.
- For healthy fats, add up to 2 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax.
- Add up to 1/2 cup rolled oats.
- Add up to 1/2 cup shredded coconut.
- Add up to 1/2 cup raisins, chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs.
- If you want the balls sweeter, you can add 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or honey.
How to Make Apple Energy Balls
Step 1: Soaking the dates isn’t totally necessary but I like to include it as a step just to be on the safe side in case your dates are overly dry. If your dates are nice and moist, you can skip the soaking.
To Soak Dates: Place pitted dates in a bowl, cover with hot water and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain them well and then proceed with the recipe.
Step 2: Add the pecans or walnuts to a food processor and blend to break down.
It’s ok if there are a few larger pieces left behind but overall they should resembled a grainy, coarse flour.
Step 3: Add the dried apple and spices and blend until the apple is broken down and incorporated into the nuts.
Step 4: Add the drained dates and the spices and blend into a thick, sticky dough.
Quick Tip: It’s ok if the dates are wet when you add them just make sure they’re well-drained. Press them into the bowl or strainer when you drain them to help squeeze out excess water.
Finally, use your hands to roll the dough into balls. For an extra treat, give them a dusting of cinnamon and coconut sugar.
Recipe FAQs
Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months. They’re ok out of the fridge for a day if you’re taking them to-go but they’ll get soft if warm.
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. You don’t need to make any changes.
Yes. For the nuts, you can use cashews, almonds, pecans or walnuts though I’d suggest pecans or walnuts for the best apple pie flavour.
If the dough is too dry and crumbly to roll into balls, add 1 teaspoon of water, blend and check it again. You could also try 1 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter.
Continue until it reaches the right consistency to roll. This shouldn’t be an issue if you soaked the dates though.
More Recipes to Try!
Energy Balls
No-Bake Cashew Coconut Balls
Energy Balls
No-Bake Cinnamon Energy Balls
Energy Balls
No-Bake Pecan Pie Balls
Energy Balls
No-Bake Banana Bread Balls
No-Bake Apple Pie Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1.25 cup pecans or walnuts, 187 g
- 1 cup packed dried soft unsweetened apple rings , 90 g
- 1 cup tightly packed soft pitted dates, 220 g
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ginger
Instructions
- Place the pitted dates in a bowl, cover with hot water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain well, squeezing or pressing the dates to remove excess water. It’s ok if they’re wet when you add them to the recipe, just make sure any excess water has been drained off.1 cup tightly packed soft pitted dates
- Add the nuts to a food processor and blend for 30-45 seconds on high until broken down into a coarse, grainy flour. If there are a few large pieces left behind that’s ok.1.25 cup pecans or walnuts
- Add the apple rings and blend until they’re broken down and incorporated into the nuts.1 cup packed dried soft unsweetened apple rings
- Add the soaked dates and the rest of the ingredients and process into a thick, sticky dough.1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1 cup tightly packed soft pitted dates
- Use your hands to roll the dough into 15 balls. Option to combine equal parts coconut sugar and cinnamon and either roll the balls in it or give them a light dusting.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on March 28, 2014.
I made these today and they are wonderful! Instead of rolling them into balls, I pressed them into a pan, froze for a bit, then cut into bite sized squares. I’m storing them in the freezer as the dates don’t completely freeze. Such a delicious treat!!
This recipe sounds great, but I can’t have nuts. Is there a substitution you can recommend? Thanks!
I haven’t tested anything but nuts in this recipe but you could possibly try rolled oats, hemp seeds or sunflower seeds. I can’t guarantee how they’ll work though since I haven’t tried it.
In a word…AWESOMEAZING !
NOTES TO SHARE: Dried fruit is full of added sugar and preservatives…so easy to make your own.
Preheat oven to 225°
Peel and quarter apples cutting out core, slice quarters into even pieces (rings are irrelevant as they just go in food processor)
Place pieces in bowl with juice of fresh lemon just enough to lightly coat for a few minutes, drain off and pat apples dry
Place around evenly spaced not touching on parchment lined baking sheet
Bake with oven door cracked entire cooking time of 1hr 30min *cracking door allows steam to escape which best enables apples to dry out during
Remove from oven and allow to air dry for about an hour before using, apples should have a soft dried texture as opposed to crispy, you don’t want crispy for recipe
That’s it ! they’re ready for this recipe and you know exactly what you’re using being just apples !
How many protein balls does this recipe yield?
These sound great! I have been trying to find a recipe that uses dates. I will definitely be making these soon.
These look great. How long will they stay fresh? Thanks.
They should keep in the fridge for 5-6 days no problem. Mine never last that long though, so I can’t be sure!
You go girl! Burpees are not my friend!
Can’t wait to try this latest version – and who doesn’t love apple pie?! The dried apples are so smart! I was wondering how the fresh would work! 🙂
I LOVE apple pie 🙂 I think I’m going to need to make these soon!
Oh yummy! I’m going to have to make these as soon as my husband gets some apple rings dehydrated! These would be yummy and healthy on hikes and longer runs.
As usual, so much yum! I have been working on my toes to bar too – I think the key is getting the hip-swing part of the kip down. Very excited to be on Running on Real Food in April 🙂