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Add a little crunch to your energy balls with these Peanut Butter Chocolate Energy Balls. Made with just 4 Ingredients, this healthy snack recipe will become a weekly staple!
You didn’t think you were going to make it through Energy Ball Week without a Peanut Butter Chocolate recipe, did you? That would be shameful…
The only thing that might give my love for energy balls a run for its money is peanut butter + chocolate. This is especially true when it’s a double-whammy peanut butter chocolate energy ball and you just so happen to be climbing a mountain, fully proving that they are in fact energy providers.
Watch Sahar and I make these delicious Crunchy Peanut Butter Energy Balls over on YouTube!
Just by chance, energy ball week happened to fall at the same time as my crazy travel schedule began. This meant that before and between trips I was whipping up balls like crazy and snacking on them throughout our trips. Between hiking mountains in Yosemite and surfing in San Diego, energy ball week could not have fallen at a better time.
One of the main complaints I get from people (besides that they don’t have a food processor…get one) is that the sugar content of energy balls is too high. I can totally and completely appreciate this but for me that is a key component of their success.
I am someone who needs a good amount of carbs, and yes sometimes that’s in the form of sugar. Am I gorging on refined table sugar? Absolutely not. Just like how I won’t even come close to any type of sugar alcohol or fake sugar.
I’m not a nutritionist, so I’m going to avoid getting too preachy, but a little bit of sugar is not going to kill you. Quality of sugar is important, as is the amount. For me, having one or two energy balls a day is not an excessive amount of sugar. I love sweets, but just like anything they must be consumed in moderation. And moderation must be consumed in moderation too!
RELATED: No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars
But the reality is that when I’m being highly active (which is a lot of the time), my body is burning a lot of glucose and in order to restore it and avoid entering the HANGRY state, sometimes I need energy, fast. Sugar (in the form of dates) + fat (in the form of nuts) is the ultimate satiator for me. If I were to make my energy balls with stevia and those fake fat-free nut butters (I’m being kind here..) I could guarantee you that I’d be hungry about 10 minutes later.
I 100% empathize and care for those people who need to follow a low-sugar diet and manage their glucose levels closely, but I’m not one of those people. For me, energy requires carbs and fat and protein and dates, peanuts and cocoa powder help me achieve all three.
Are my methods accurate? Maybe not, but when I’m standing at the top of a mountain having hiked 15 miles, it’s the energy balls that I reach for and I have to admit, they always do the trick.
How To Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Energy Balls
- You’ll need a food processor for this recipe – I like this this 14-cup food processor from Cuisinart
- Ingredients: Dates, peanut butter and cocoa powder with the option of adding peanuts for added crunch
- Storage: Be sure to store in the fridge – these are portable out of the fridge for a few hours but to ensure they keep make sure you keep them stored in the fridge
As always, if you make this recipe be sure to tag @thehealthymaven or use the hashtag #thehealthymaven so I can share the love!
PrintPeanut Butter Chocolate Energy Balls
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 14-16 balls 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates (I used honey dates but medjool work too)*
- 1/2 cup unsweetened natural peanut butter
- 2 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- optional: 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts
Instructions
- If peanuts have are not already crushed, add a 1/4 cup to a food processor and process several times until broken down into bits. Remove from processor.
- Add dates and process until broken up into pea-sized bits.
- Add in peanut butter and process to combine.
- Add in cocoa power until mixture comes together.
- Add crushed peanuts back into bowl and pulse several times to bring mixture back together.
- Roll mixture into 14-16 balls (depends on how big you roll them) and the place in freezer for 15 mins.
- Store in fridge for up to one month.
*Make sure your dates are sticky. If not, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes to soften and then drain.
How long do you think these will stay good out of the fridge? In other words, if I wanted to put some in my purse in the morning, are they still okay around 3 or 4pm? Thanks!
Oh, and would the same rules apply to all of your energy ball recipes?
yes they should be good! They may flatten a bit but will still taste delicious!
Could I use chocolate protein powder instead of the cocoa powder?
you can certainly try! Should work out totally fine but may alter the taste. Keep me posted!
It worked for me just fine. I enjoyed the taste! Thanks. 😉
Awesome! Happy to hear it.
I try to avoid peanuts if possible. Would almonds and almond butter work do you think? Thanks
absolutely!
It says 1/2 c peanuts in the ingredients but only 1/4 in the directions. I’m tired so I may be looking at it wrong…but how much should I use?
Thanks!
sorry about that! There’s an option to roll the balls in the other 1/4 cup but opted to leave that step out just to simplify things. Forgot to adjust the recipe. Thanks for the heads up!
Ha! I’ve been googling for energy balls just recently as I stumbled across pics of FFF on Instagram giving me the best news EVER! YOU GUYS TEAMED UP to bring the best ones YET! Then I come to your brand new website and I fall in love again! LOve all you do=) —Love your new website! AND i do see other crazy good energy ball recS!!! I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW! THANKS!!!!
Aw thank you so much Cynthia! Much appreciated <3
To be honest I think if you are worried about the sugar content of the balls then don’t make them! Haha!
Energy balls need their ‘energy’ from somewhere and I love that they come from natural, wholesome sources, like ‘natures candy’ aka dates!
And if someone choses to make these balls instead of chowing down on a processed chocolate bar or one of those dreaded 100 calorie snack bars/ packs then lets spread the ball love! 🙂
You read my mind exactly!!! You need to publish this somewhere because what you just said was spot on!
These balls sound like absolute perfection! As a soon-to-be RD I agree that the sugar content in them should not be a concern – especially if you’re an active individual. And, if you’re hiking 15 miles, you should totally feel justified in eating about 10 of them 🙂
AMEN SISTA!
I feel the same about sugar! You need energy, especially if you’re super active. And using dates is soooo much better than pouring white table sugar into the food processor.
Also, this chocolate PB combo is killing me.
I’m so happy you agree 🙂
I’m on the same page as you on the subject of sugar. I believe in moderation and that one should eat a varied diet. Thanks to this weeks’ recipes my snack ball collection grew with so many great new recipes to try, thank you! 🙂
(ps. the comment fonts are now readable, they aren’t minuscule anymore 🙂
I agree with you on sugar. As long as you practice moderation everything will be ok. And I believe everything that was made by nature can be in certain situations beneficial for us (also sugar!!!). I think you and Lee keeping the best balls for the end, these look delicious and those nutella and sea salt just as well.