No-Bake Banana Bread Balls
on Feb 06, 2021, Updated Aug 27, 2024
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Enjoy these no-bake banana bread balls for a quick, healthy and yummy snack that tastes like dessert and you can whip them up in 10 minutes with just 6 ingredients.
Craving banana bread but don’t feel like baking? These sweet little banana treats are your answer! They’re vegan, gluten-free, perfect for kids and adults and make a great snack on-the-go.
For more no-bake snacks like these, these Lime Coconut Energy Bites, Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Energy Balls are all super yummy too.
Ingredients
- Nuts: I recommend walnuts or pecans but almonds also work, feel free to mix and match as needed for 1 cup total
- Oats: Rolled oats or quick oats both work, use gluten-free certified if needed
- Dates: Any variety works as long as they’re fairly soft and moist and not overly dry. If you only have dry dates, you’ll have to soak them before use.
- Banana: Just ripe or slightly overripe is best, do not use an under-ripe banana
- Chocolate Chips: I like Camino or Enjoy Life for a dairy-free and vegan option, if that’s not a concern, any chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate works, the chocolate chips are optional but obviously recommended!
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.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Add the nuts and oats to a food processor and process until broken down into a grainy consistency. A few larger bites of pecan left behind are ok but they should be mostly broken down.
Step 2. Add everything but the chocolate chips and blend into a thick, sticky dough you can press between your fingers. Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to mix them throughout.
If the mixture seems too crumbly (this can happen if the dates were too dry), add 1-2 tbsp warm water and process again.
Step 3. Use your hands to roll the dough into about 20 balls. You can enjoy right away or firm up in the fridge for about 30 minutes. To smooth out the bites after you’ve rolled them all, wet your hands and give each one another quick roll to smooth.
FAQs
Yes! To make these without oats, replace them with an additional 1 cup of nuts (2 cups nuts total).
I haven’t tested it but I think you could use 2.5 cups rolled oats instead of 1 cup oats and 1 cup nuts, or try using sunflower seeds instead of nuts.
If you have a specific nut allergy, almonds, cashews, walnuts and pecans all work for the 1 cup of nuts, so choose whichever one works for you.
To make these sugar-free, use sugar-free chocolate chips such as stevia-sweetened Lily’s chocolate chips or omit the chocolate chips entirely. To reduce the sugar content, use a high-cocoa content dark chocolate.
Storing Instructions
- Fridge: Store in a sealed container for up to 1 weeks.
- Freezer: Store in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
- Room Temperature: Okay at room temperature if taking to-go but they’ll get soft it’s warm. Keep cool if possible!
More Energy Balls
- Raw Gingerbread Bites
- No-Bake Pumpkin Pecan Balls
- Chocolate Superfood Energy Balls
- No-Bake Pecan Pie Balls
- Chocolate Date Balls
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to comment section below to leave your star rating and review.
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No-Bake Banana Bread Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnut pieces or pecans, 150 g
- 1 cup rolled oats, 100 g
- 1 cup packed soft pitted dates, 220 g
- 1 medium ripe banana, 1/2 cup, 120 g
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
- 1/2 cup mini or regular chocolate chips, 90 g
Instructions
- Add the nuts and oats to a food processor and blend until broken down and grainy.
- Add everything but the chocolate chips and blend into a thick, sticky dough you can press together between your fingers.
- Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to mix throughout.
- Use your hands to roll the dough into 20 balls. To smooth out the balls after rolling, wet hands and roll each ball a few times to smooth. It's okay to enjoy them right away, they'll just be a little soft, otherwise, firm in the fridge for 30 minutes then enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published February 9, 2015.
You should really specify the type of dates used. Megdol Dates are the moist more expensive type. The deglet dates are cheaper and pitted and need to be soaked prior to processing.
Hi Heidi, you can use any variety of dates in this recipe as long as they’re not overly dry. I usually use sayer dates. Both medjool or deglect noor dates could be soft enough or too dry, depending on the brand. If they’re quite dry or you’re unsure, you can soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe. Thanks!
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but no harm in trying. Could you sub prunes for the dates instead?
I haven’t tried it in this recipe but yes, you should be able to. If they are very dry, I’d recommend soaking them first and of course, the flavour will be different. Thanks!
My whole family loved these. My kids didn’t even realize they liked dates. These are so good to keep in the fridge for a quick go to snack. I have 3 kids and they all loved them. I stored some in the freezer too. Just pulled them out this morning. Just as tasty as when I first made them. Totally recommend this recipe.
I’m going to make these today! They look great! Keep those raw recipes coming – especially ones without need of dehydrating. Thank you!
1, 3, 7 please 🙂
Oh and macro counting I love that!!!!
I make your food everyday!!!!!
Hello,
Don’t suppose you have rough nutritional information/calories for these? I made them yesterday and they turned out great! So yummy 🙂 I’m just worried that they are going to push me over my calorie/sugar intake….
Thanks for the recipe! I’m new to raw foods and appreciate you sharing your experience.
I am most interested in Recipes, Product Reviews and Wellness
Hi! I’d choose:
1) WELLNESS – because i’m suffering from a rare autoimmune disease and so i’m very interested in everything about health and AIP ;
2) beauty and self-care tips;
3) blogging;
I’d like much Products Reviews too, but i’m from Italy (rome) and i’m afraid american products would not be available in italian shops;
Thank you for all you do!
I love your workout posts!
This looks awesome. I often make chocolate balls made of dates, coconut oil, chia seeds and nuts, but this is a good variation 🙂
And of course also cacao! 😉