Banana Bread Energy Balls

A pile of banana bread protein balls on a wooden table next to dried banana chips.

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These no-bake Banana Bread Energy Balls combine dates, oats, walnuts and banana chips into a naturally sweet snack with the flavours of banana bread. A quick and easy snack or breakfast.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 108kcal

Author: Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts

Equipment

food processor

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates 175g
1 cup oats 90g
1 cup walnuts 100g
½ cup dried banana chips 40g
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

If your dates are hard, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes first.
Tip: save the soaking water in case you need it when processing.
Add the dates, oats, walnuts, banana chips, cinnamon, vanilla and sea salt to a food processor and pulse briefly.
Process until sticky, adding a splash of water (or date soaking water) if needed to bring it all together.
Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, portion the mixture into even pieces.
Roll each portion gently between your hands until smooth.
If the mixture starts sticking to your palms, lightly dampen your hands with water.
Store in the fridge for up to x days. They’re also freezer-friendly.

Notes

TIP: Swap the banana chips for ½ small ripe banana (about 50g), adding a little extra oats if the mixture feels too soft, then store the energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3 to 4 days.

1. Judge the dates before adding water

Dates vary enormously in moisture. Some are almost jammy straight from the packet, while others are surprisingly firm. I always process the mixture before deciding whether it needs extra liquid. With very soft dates, adding soaking water automatically can leave the mixture too sticky to roll.

2. Add extra liquid a teaspoon at a time

If the mixture won't hold together when squeezed, add water or reserved date soaking water gradually. A teaspoon can make more difference than you'd expect. Once too much liquid has gone in, you'll need extra oats to compensate, which can dilute the banana and walnut flavours.

3. Don't process the walnuts completely smooth

I prefer these Banana Bread Energy Balls with tiny pieces of walnut remaining. They give the bites a little texture and make them feel more substantial. Stop processing once the mixture clumps together rather than waiting for it to become a completely smooth paste.

4. Check your banana chips

Banana chips differ considerably between brands. Some are crisp and lightly sweetened, while others contain quite a lot of added sugar. Either will work, but I prefer banana chips with a straightforward ingredient list because the dates already provide plenty of sweetness.

5. Damp hands work better than more oats

When the mixture sticks to my palms, I wet my hands very lightly before rolling the next few balls. Adding more oats simply to make rolling easier can result in dry energy balls once they've been refrigerated.

6. Let them chill

Freshly rolled energy balls are softer than they will eventually become. Give them at least 30 minutes in the fridge before deciding whether the texture is right. The oats absorb a little moisture as they sit and the balls become noticeably firmer.

7. Keep the portions fairly small

A tablespoon-sized portion works well here. Dates, walnuts and oats make these quite satisfying, so there's no need to make oversized balls. Smaller portions also hold their shape better when packed for travelling.

Nutrition