Oatmeal Energy Balls
on Dec 20, 2016, Updated Feb 26, 2025
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These no-bake and vegan Oatmeal Energy Balls taste like an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and are easy to make in minutes with just 6 simple ingredients.
About Oatmeal Energy Balls
Quick, easy and delicious, what’s not to love about this recipe! Here’s what you need to know:
- Vegan and gluten-free recipe.
- Oil-free.
- No refined sugar and can be sugar-free.
- No baking needed.
- Perfect for a healthier sweet treat.
- Easy to customize.
- About 100 calories each.
- Makes 20 energy balls.
This is more of a snack recipe, if you’re looking for edible dessert cookie dough, try my Edible Peanut Butter Cookie Dough or Edible Cookie Dough, both are gluten-free and made with almond flour.
For protein “cookie dough” this 2-Ingredient Vegan Protein Cookie Dough made with sweet potato and protein powder is yummy to!
Ingredients
You’ll need just a few ingredients to make there. Here are the ingredients and any possible substitutions.
- Cashews. You’ll want to use “raw” cashews that have not been roasted or have added oil or salt. You can substitute the cashews with walnuts or almonds, or any combination or cashews, almonds and walnuts. I like cashews best for this recipe. For a recipe without nuts, try these No-Bake Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Bites and use sunflower seed butter instead of almond butter.
- Dates. Make sure you dates are soft and moist before using in this recipe as they help hold everything together. If they seem on the dry side, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe. Medjool, sayer or deglect noor dates are all suitable.
- Oats. Since they’ll be blended up, you can use rolled oats, quick oats or minute oats. Make sure you use gluten-free certified oats if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
- Chocolate. Use dairy-free chocolate chips or finely chopped dark chocolate if you want the recipe to be vegan. Otherwise, any chocolate chips work. I like Enjoy Life or Camino chocolate chips.
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.
Variations
- For a lower-sugar energy ball, use sugar-free chocolate chips or cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips.
- Substitute any variety of nuts or a mix of nuts.
- Add up to 3 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax for healthy fats.
- These can also be made as energy bars. Press the dough into an 8×8-inch pan and chill until firm, then cut into bars.
Step-by-Step Instructions
All you need to make these is about 10 minutes and a food processor.
Step 1: Add everything but the chocolate chips to your food processor and blend into a thick dough. If it’s not sticking together, which can happen if your dates were too dry, add 1 tbsp of warm water.
Step 2: Once you have the yummy cookie dough blended up, add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to combine.
Step 3: Use your hands or a small cookie scoop to roll the dough into balls.
Recipe FAQS
Yes. The recipe is gluten-free as written but be sure to use gluten-free certified oats if needed and check the label on the chocolate chips you use.
These are best stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. They’ll last for 2 weeks in the fridge or 3-4 months in the freezer. They’re ok at room temperature if taking to-go (hiking, road trip, etc) but I’d recommend keeping them in the fridge or freezer beforehand.
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
Oatmeal Energy Balls
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place the cashews in a food processor until broken down into a grainy flour-like consistency.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until it forms a thick, sticky dough you can press between your fingers. If it seems to dry or crumbly, add 1 tbsp warm water and process again.
- Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to combine.1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
- Use your hands to roll into approximately 20 balls.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on December 20, 2016.
Have made these many times. My whole family thinks they’re delicious. A perfect little treat.
Just made these and are a delicious snack , love all these great recipes. ????????
Awesome! So happy you liked them.
This looks super tasty, I can’t wait to try! I am also food lover, especially vegan and follow the Detox Cleanse Nourish Program which is amazing start to healthy lifestyle. These recipes offer a uniquely healthy way to lose weight by improving fat metabolism, detoxifying your liver and addressing many of the underlying factors that make you hungry. I love to follow your recipes because the ingredients you use are just those that my body needs! Thank You!
Those look really tasty and addictive … I’ll have to attempt to make them myself this weekend!