These nut-free apple energy balls taste like apple pie but are loaded with nutrients and contain no added sugar! Make up a batch ahead of time for a quick and easy snack on the go. They require only five simple ingredients! {nut-free, gluten-free & vegan}
Table of Contents
Why Make this Recipe
There are so many reasons why we’re seriously crushing on these bites. They are:
Easy – Only five basic ingredients are required to make these bites, most of which you probably already have on hand!
No-bake – No oven is required. Enough said!
Free of common allergens – A great option for those with allergies and intolerances since they don’t contain eggs, dairy, wheat or nuts.
Healthy snack – Loaded with fibre, healthy fats, protein, and vitamin C. Also, because they’re naturally sweetened with dates and apples, no added sugar is required!
Make-ahead – These date energy balls make for a super convenient snack option. Make up a batch and store them in the freezer for a quick and easy snack on the go!
Ingredient Notes
Dates – The dates provide natural sweetness so no added sugar is required! Use soft pitted dates for best results.
Apple – Use fresh apple for a juicy crunch in each bite or sub in dried apple if you prefer a more chewy texture.
Oats – Use quick oats for best results. You can also sub in large flake oats if that’s what you have on hand.
Seeds – The use of seeds makes these bites the perfect nut-free snack. Use sunflower seeds or sub in pumpkin seeds or Hemp hearts. You can also use nuts, but keep in mind, the bites won’t be nut-free.
Step by Step Instructions
The very first thing that you’ll want to do is soak the dates if they’re too firm to blend. This will get them nice and soft so that they can be easily combined with the rest of the ingredients.
Next, place the oats, sunflower seeds, and cinnamon in the food processor and blend until finely ground.
Add in the dates and process until the mixture comes together and is sticky enough to roll into balls.
Next, finely chop up some apple. The pieces should be about 1/4 inch in size.
Gently fold the apple chunks into the rest of the mixture.
Roll the mixture up into approximately one inch balls.
Get the full recipe for energy bites below!
Recipe Tips
- If the dates are too hard to blend, soak them in boiling water for five minutes to soften them and make them easier to blend.
- If the energy ball mixture is too wet, add extra oats to the mixture. If it’s too dry add a bit of water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- To prevent the apples from browning, I recommend going for a variety of apple that doesn’t tend to brown quite as easily such as Gala or Cortland. I’ve always had a good experience when incorporating those types of apples into these bites.
- If you’re concerned about the apple browning, you can always spritz the chopped apple with a bit of lemon juice before combining them in with the rest of the mixture.
- Chop the apple into small chunks about 1/4 of an inch. We don’t want overly large chunks of apple as they will overtake the energy ball. Instead, we want small chunks of apple distributed in each bite.
Recipe FAQs
What type of apple should I use?
You can use any type of apple that you’d prefer. If you’d like to use apples with a sweeter flavour, try Gala, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia or Golden Delicious.
Or if you prefer the more tart variety, try Granny Smith, Cortland or MacIntosh.
When I make these energy bites, I tend to use Galas and always get good results.
Will the apples go brown?
At first, I thought the apple might go brown, but I was pleasantly surprised that the apples maintained their regular colour even after a few days of being in the fridge and a couple of weeks being in the freezer.
To prevent the apples from browning, I recommend going for a variety of apple that doesn’t tend to brown quite as easily such as Gala or Cortland.
If you are concerned about the apple browning, you can spritz the chopped apple with a bit of lemon juice before combining them in with the rest of the mixture. That should do the trick!
Storage guidelines
Once you’ve made up a batch of these delicious little bites, it’s important to store them properly so they don’t go to waste.
You can store these energy bites in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to four days.
Can you freeze energy balls?
Yes, these bites are perfect for freezing and can be stored in the freezer for up to three months in a freezer-safe container or ziploc bag. Personally, I like to pack them up in a ziploc bag as soon as I make them and just pop them in the freezer. That way, I know they will stay nice and fresh.
To defrost: Simply leave in the fridge or at room temperature for a few hours or place in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
More similar recipes
- No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls
- Healthy Apple Crumble {No-Bake}
- No-Bake Apple Pie Cups
- Apples on a Stick with Vegan Caramel Sauce
- 4-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Bites
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Nut-Free Apple Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates soaked
- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup very finely diced apple about half a peeled medium-sized apple*
Instructions
- Soak dates in boiling water for about 5 minutes to soften.
- In a food processor, blend the oats, sunflower seeds and cinnamon until finely ground.
- Next, add the soaked dates and blend until incorporated and sticky enough to roll into balls.
- Fold in the diced apple, making sure that it's evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Roll mixture into approximately one-inch balls. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- If the dates are too hard to blend, soak them in boiling water for five minutes to soften them and make them easier to blend.
- If the energy ball mixture is too wet, add extra oats to the mixture. If it's too dry add a bit of water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- To prevent the apples from browning, I recommend going for a variety of apple that doesn't tend to brown quite as easily such as Gala or Cortland. I've always had a good experience when incorporating those into these bites.
- If you are concerned about the apple browning, you can always spritz the chopped apple with a bit of lemon juice before combining them in with the rest of the mixture. That should do the trick!
- Chop the apple into small chunks about 1/4 of an inch. We don't want overly large chunks of apple as they will overtake the energy ball. Instead, we want small chunks of apple distributed in each bite.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in May 2019 and was updated October 2020 to include better tips and photos.
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Can you use medjool dates?
For sure! Just make sure you remove any pits :) Hope you enjoy!!