by 
Make a batch of these cocoa energy balls and store them in the freezer for an easy grab-and-go snack or lunchbox treat.
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- No-Bake: Throw ingredients into a food processor, blitz and then roll into balls. So easy the kids can do it with little supervision.
- Lunch Box Friendly: These balls are nut-free (which most school settings request) and they won't melt, like other chocolate treats.
- Grab-and-go: Store in the freezer for whenever you are in the need for something sweet.
- Customizable: No need to follow the recipe exactly, as long as the mixture comes together to form a ball then they are good to go. Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness/texture to suit.
Ingredient Information
- DATES - Medjool dates work best. It is important that they are soft and sticky or they won't blend properly. If you feel your dates are on the dry side, soak them in hot water for around 10 minutes to soften. You may find that you need to add a teaspoon or two of water to your ball mixture for extra moisture.
- OATS - Use rolled oats or quick oats, steel-cut oats are not suitable. You can replace with nuts if you prefer.
- COCOA - For that rich chocolate taste. Adjust the amount to suit taste. You may wish to reduce the amount depending on the age of the child.
- CINNAMON - For flavour (optional)
- VANILLA - Adds a lovely sweetness.
- COCONUT OIL - Adds moisture to help with forming into balls and improves mouthfeel. Can be replaced with coconut butter or nut butter.
How to Make (With Process Shots)
There really isn't much to making energy balls, you just need a food processor, the ingredients and five minutes of time.
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor.
- Blitz ingredients together.
- Roll into balls.
Storage Instructions
Add the cocoa energy balls to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze, for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not recommend for babies. If you wish to offer them, as an occasional food, to toddlers reduce the amount of cocoa due to the caffeine content.
Not recommended. If you don't have a food processor, you can try using a blender but dates can be tough for blenders due to their sticky nature. It will depend on the blender, try pulsing instead of blending.
Your dates may have been a little dry. Try adding a teaspoon of water, a little extra coconut oil or a couple more pitted dates (dates should be sticky/soft, or it will only cause the mixture to become more dry.)
If your dates are super fresh the mixture may be a little sticky. If this is the case just add a bit more oats.
More Ball Recipes
Looking for more healthy kid recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more kid-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
Cocoa Energy Balls
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup / 130g Medjool Dates (around 10)
- ¼ cup / 25g Rolled Oats
- ¼ cup /22g Cocoa Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz until the mixture is combined and starts to clump together.
- Scoop out 1tbsp amounts and roll into balls.
- Enjoy immediately or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator (for up to a week) or freezer (for up to two months).
Claire Louise Devlin
Love trying new protein bars
Shannon
These are wonderful! So fudgy but not overly sweet. I can't eat rolled oats, so I subbed 1/2 cup of sliced almonds. The final product was fantastic. Next time I'll have to double the recipe as we're eating them so quickly.
Shannon
Just about to make these delicious treats! Can I sub sliced almonds for the rolled oats?
Amy
Thanks Shannon, I'm so glad the almonds worked and you enjoyed them so much. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
Nadia
So glad I discovered these balls, they are truly delicious and so easy to make… my little guy has just started school and these have been a regular lunchbox request… which is awesome as he refuses to take any fruit to school… but I must admit they do keep disappearing from the fridge for non-lunchbox consumption hahaha so have just tripled and popped some in the freezer… not sure if much point in that they’ll be out of there in no time! Thank you, Amy.
Amy
Excellent! Unfortunately popping them in the freezer doesn't stop me from form eating them all either! Tripple batches are the way to go with this recipe!
Maeve hennessy
Can u make these in a blender
Amy
I've only tested in a regular blender and it didn't work. A high end, powerful blender may work.
Jess D
These balls are truely delicious. There will be non left for the lunchboxes (on my 4th one already!) Thank you.
Amy
They are a little addictive, Jess! Not sure why I bothered with storage instructions!!