Sweet and nutty with the perfect chewy texture, these no bake chocolate date peanut butter balls are the most delicious way to get an energy boost before or after a workout! You only need a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients and about 15 minutes to make 18 bites, perfect for stashing in the freezer for later. Great for satisfying a sweet tooth, too!
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The BEST Energy Balls
As a Registered Dietitian, I love helping people learn how to ditch the highly processed, prepackaged snacks and make their own. I know it can seem like a burden at times, but it’s so much easier than you’d expect (and tastier too)!
These chocolate date peanut butter balls really couldn’t get much more simple. You just blend, roll, chill, and go! You’ll be able to avoid the added sweeteners, stabilizers, preservatives, and dyes while still having a totally delicious and convenient snack to tuck in your lunch bag or grab between meals! Doesn’t that sound amazing?
For more peanut butter-infused energy balls, try out these 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls!
Why This Recipe is Dietitian-Approved
- Natural source of fiber: The oats and peanut butter are packed with plenty of fiber to fill you up! Oats are high in a special type of soluble fiber called beta glucan that can help reduce bad cholesterol and improve your heart health, too.
- Contains healthy fats: Peanut butter is a fantastic source of monounsaturated fats, which can help keep you full for longer and support healthy cholesterol levels. Peanuts are also a good source of niacin, vitamin E, folate, and several key vitamins and minerals.
- Naturally sweetened: The goal here is to satisfy your hunger cravings and give you a little energy boost without spiking your blood sugar too much. To do this, I use dates! They’re a terrific natural sweetener with a rich, caramel-like flavor, and they also act like the “glue” to bind these energy balls together. Plus, their high fiber content slows down how quickly your body processes the sugars, making dates a low-medium GI food.
Ingredient Notes
- Pitted dates: You can use any type of dates. I like to use Medjool dates for this, but there are some even lower GI varieties, like khalas and bahri.
- Quick oats: These may also be labeled as instant oats.
- Natural peanut butter: Look for crunchy or creamy peanut butter without added oils or sugar.
- Unsalted peanuts: For extra nutty flavor and crunch.
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt
- Dark chocolate chips: If possible, look for a low sugar option. For a vegan or non-dairy snack, use vegan chocolate chips.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, process the dates until they’re broken down and form a paste-like consistency. Stop the processor a few times to scrape down the sides.
- Add the oats, peanut butter, peanuts, vanilla and salt and to the food processor. Process until well combined. If the dough seems too crumbly, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, blending after each addition, until the mixture is sticky enough to form into balls without crumbling apart (I added 1 tablespoon).
- Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to break down and combine. Place dough mixture in the freezer for about 15 minutes to allow it to firm up slightly.
- Roll the dough into 18 bite-sized balls. Next, flatten each with a fork or the palm of your hand, fixing any larger cracks along the edges with your fingers.
- Store in the fridge for at least an hour before serving to allow the balls to firm up.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- If your dates are extra hard, soak them in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
- Due to the natural peanut butter, the mixture may seem a bit oily when you’re rolling it into balls. Once you store the balls in the fridge or freezer, the oiliness will disappear.
- For equal-sized balls, use a cookie scoop to scoop up the mixture before rolling it into balls.
- It can help to line the container with a little parchment paper to keep the date balls from sticking to the container.
Recipe FAQs
Depending on your storage method, these peanut butter bliss balls will last at least one week in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
Protein balls are intended as a post-workout snack to give you an energy boost, and it does help to have a little sweetness to get your energy back quickly. However, many recipes are way too sweet! This version uses dates, which are naturally sweet, but I find that they’re just sweet enough without going over the top. Plus, they are lower on the glycemic index and won’t spike your blood sugar as much as other sweeteners.
Technically, these chocolate peanut butter protein balls are a healthier option, but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. They have quite a few calories due to the fat, and it’s very easy to overdo it. It’s best to enjoy just 1 or 2 with some fresh veggies or fruits after a workout or between meals.
Storage Guidelines
Store any leftover chocolate peanut butter energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
They have the most flavor at room temperature, so you may want to let a serving sit on the counter for 15-30 minutes first before serving.
Serving Tips
These chocolate peanut butter energy bites are best served as a healthy snack before or after a workout, sports game or as a healthier treat. They are relatively energy-dense, so it’s important to practice portion control. I like to serve 1-2 at a time and often with extra protein like some yogurt or some fresh fruit to make them even more satisfying.
They’re also a nice option for a sweet treat without all the added sugar!
Recipe Variations
- Use a different nut butter: Almond butter or cashew butter will also taste great. You may want to swap out the peanuts for almonds or cashews, too.
- Add more fiber: Add some flaxseed meal, hemp seeds, or chia seeds for extra fiber and essential fatty acids.
- Make them nut free: Replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter and use extra sunflower seeds instead of peanuts for texture.
- Add a drizzle of chocolate: For extra crunch, melt chocolate chips and stir in a little coconut oil. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the energy balls, and let them set up before storing them like normal. Great for getting rid of a sweet craving!
More Energy Ball Recipes
- Lemon Coconut Energy Balls
- No Bake Peanut Butter Balls without Chocolate
- Carrot Cake Energy Balls
- Chocolate Coconut Balls
- Oatmeal Balls without Peanut Butter
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Chocolate Date Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates, packed
- 1/2 cup quick oats
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup peanuts, unsalted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, process the dates until they’re broken down and form a paste-like consistency. Stop the processor a few times to scrape down the sides.
- Add the oats, peanut butter, peanuts, vanilla and salt and to the food processor. Process until well combined. If the dough seems too crumbly, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, blending after each addition, until the mixture is sticky enough to form into balls without crumbling apart (I added 1 tablespoon).
- Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to break down and combine. Place dough mixture in the freezer for about 15 minutes to allow it to firm up slightly.
- Roll the dough into 18 bite-sized balls. Next, flatten each with a fork or the palm of your hand, fixing any larger cracks along the edges with your fingers.
- Store in the fridge for at least an hour before serving to allow the balls to firm up.
Notes
- If your dates are extra hard, soak them in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
- Due to the oil in the natural peanut butter, the mixture may seem a bit oily when you’re rolling it into balls. Once you store the balls in the fridge or freezer, the oiliness will disappear.
- For equal-sized balls, use a cookie scoop to scoop up the mixture before rolling it into balls.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in July 2015. The ingredients and recipe were updated, tips were added and new photos were taken to make the post more helpful.
Yummy! These look fantastic. I am always up for an energy bite recipe and yours looks spot on. Healthy and delicious. Yep, that’ll do it ;)
Thanks Meg! Energy bites do come in handy! This is one of my very favourite energy bite experiments so far :)
These look like a great afternoon snack! Yum:)
Thanks Marly! I actually pop these into my lunch bag all the time for work, or even when I’m running errands. They come in handy, especially since you can make a large batch and freeze them!
perfect recipe for the weather that we have! With this heat turning on the oven is the last thing I want to do
I totally hear ya, Ana! It’s been hot and steamy here too! That’s what I love about no bake recipes!
I have a love affair with peanut butter, too. I keep a jar in my desk at work so I can eat it straight from the jar with a spoon! And I always have it in my pantry because I use it in everything and eat it right from the container at home, too. LOVE these little peanut butter energy bites, Elysia!
Thanks Julie! I would totally keep PB at my desk for a random snack too! I love dipping apple slices in it! YUM! But yeah, if you love PB, you gotta try out these little bites! :)