These no-bake peanut chocolate chip energy balls are easy to make with just 3 simple ingredients and perfect for a sweet snack or dessert.

Overhead image of a plate of no-bake date energy balls with peanuts and chocolate chips.

Features

  • dietary features: vegan and gluten-free
  • quick and easy: you’ll need just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes
  • snacking on-the-go: they travel well so take them along on busy days, road trips and hikes!

Ingredient Notes

Peanuts, chocolate chips and dates in a food processor.

These are some notes on ingredients used. The complete list of ingredients and amounts is located in the recipe card below.

  • peanuts – I used unsalted blanched peanuts but salted blanched, raw peanuts or dry roasted salted or unsalted peanuts all work
  • dates – any variety works as long as they’re soft and moist
  • chocolate chips – I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips but any chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate chocolate works
  • optional sea salt – I added sea salt since my peanuts were unsalted, if you’re using unsalted peanuts, add up to 1/2 tsp salt as an optional ingredient, if you’re using salted peanuts, do not add salt

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1. Add the dates, peanuts and chocolate chips to a food processor and blend into a sticky dough.

Quick Tip: After blending, squeeze some of the dough between your fingers. You should easily be able to roll it into a little ball. If the dough is too crumbly, which can happen if your dates were too dry, add 1-2 tbsp water and blend again. That should do it!

A crumbly dough of dates, chocolate chips and peanuts in a food proccesor.

Step 2. Use your hands to roll the dough into approximately 21 balls.

Quick Tip: I like to use a cookie scoop to help keep the balls roughly the same size. You can make them as big or as small as you like but mine are usually around 1 inch.

Hands rolling energy ball dough into balls and placing them on a plate.

Enjoy the date ball for a sweet snack or dessert any time of day!

Hand picking a chocolate chip energy ball off of a plate.

FAQs


Can I make these without peanuts?

Sure! To make these peanut-free, substitute the peanuts with almonds or cashews.

Do I need to soak the dates?

If your dates are overly dry, I would recommend soaking them in hot water for 15 minutes then draining well before use. If your dates are soft, go ahead without soaking and if needed, you can add 1-2 tbsp of water to the recipe.

How long do these keep?

These can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 3 months. If taking to-go, they’re fine for a day or two but will start to get soft if it’s warm. Keep cool for best results! I like to store them in the freezer.

4 chocolate chip energy balls on a small plate.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Overhead image of a plate of no-bake date energy balls with peanuts and chocolate chips.

Peanut Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 21
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Food Processor
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These homemade date peanut energy balls are so easy to make you’ll want to make a batch every weekend! Try them with the added sea salt for a delicious sweet and salty treat.


Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups packed, soft pitted dates (330 g)
  • 1.5 cups peanuts (225 g)
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (90 g)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt (optional, only use if using unsalted peanuts)

Instructions

  1. Place ingredients in a food processor and mix until it forms a thick dough. You should easily be able to pinch the dough into a little ball. If it seems too crumbly to roll (this can happen if your dates were too dry), add 1-2 tbsp water and blend again. 
  2. Use your hands to roll the dough into approximately 22 balls, about 1-inch each in diameter.

Notes

Storing: Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 3 months. They don’t freeze solid so are yummy straight from the freezer!

Peanuts: Blanched salted or unsalted or dry-roasted salted or unsalted all work. If using salted peanuts, do not add sea salt. If peanuts are unsalted, add up to 1/2 tsp optional sea salt for a yummy, sweet and salty treat!

Energy Bar Option: The dough can also be pressed into a parchment-paper lined 7 or 8 inch square baking pan then sliced into bars if you prefer.

Peanut-Free Option: Substitute the peanuts with almonds or cashews.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 ball
  • Calories: 123
  • Sugar: 13 g
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g

Updated January 2021 with new photos and text.