​​I love a nutritious snack and these no-bake chocolate and hazelnut energy chocolate balls are no different. Each bite is packed full of protein, fiber and healthy fats plus they taste exactly like a Ferrero Rocher.  Win-win-win!

A pile of hazelnut, chocolate energy balls sits on a pink plate on a marble counter top.

As a Registered Dietitian, I am always talking about what you can add into your diet so you can feel satiated and full of energy throughout the entire day. Adding a snack in between meals is one of the easiest ways to ensure your body is getting the fuel it needs to feel good. 

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If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I am a huge fan of energy balls, bites, truffles… it’s a snack with many names but each recipe is always packed full of nutrients, keeping you feeling full until your next meal and these  Nourishing Date, Hazelnut & Chocolate Energy Balls are no different. 

  • 4 simple ingredients 
  • Vegan and gluten free
  • Takes less than 10 minutes to make
  • Can be batch prepped and stored in your freezer for months
  • An energy balls recipe that doesn’t have peanut butter (great option for those with peanut allergies!)

I really like this recipe for many reasons!

A single hazelnut energy ball is on a marble counter surrounded by crushed hazelnuts. A plate of energy bits is in the corner.

Meal Prepping Snacks

I am a huge fan of meal prep… so much so that I created meal plans around my signature 3-2-1 method and am currently writing a cookbook about it! 

I believe that if you have enough ingredients to batch meal prep, do it! Not only does it save you stress, money and time, it also ensures you always have quick and easy meals or snacks on hand. 

Snacks, especially energy bites, are typically easy to batch prep. Their recipes can be doubled and they usually have a longer shelf life (or freeze really well). When I make these, I usually double or triple the recipe and store the extra balls in a tupperware in the freezer for a grab-and-go snack option.

I also like to meal prep these snacks:

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Benefits of Adding Snacks to your Day

Did you know that when you eat is just as important as what you eat? Diet culture has been preaching that snacking is bad. I want you to know that adding a snack or two in between meals has multiple benefits like:

  • Fills the hunger gap between meals
  • Helps keep blood sugars balanced throughout the day
  • Improve your energy and mood 
  • Curb cravings

When developing a snack recipe, I like to make sure that they’re not only delicious but will leave you feeling satisfied. Look for snacks that have components of the PFF combo – Protein, Fat and Fiber. This will slow down digestion and keep you feeling full longer. Snacks with this combo will also release sugars into the bloodstream at a steady rate and minimize blood sugar spikes and drops that can lead to cravings. 

These Date, Hazelnut & Chocolate Energy Balls are a perfect example of the PFF combo. They have protein and fat from the hazelnuts and fiber from the dates. Plus the chocolate flavor with hazelnut makes these taste like a nutrient dense Ferrero Rocher – satisfying your mind, body and soul. 

An energy ball sits on a marble counter top. A pile of balls are in the background in a white bowl.

Benefits of Energy Balls

Benefits of Dates: As I mentioned before, dates are a fiber-rich source of natural sweetness that supports healthy digestion. They also contain antioxidants that can help fight off free radicals that cause damage to our cells. 

Benefits of Hazelnuts: Hazelnuts are packed full of protein and healthy fats. A lot of people don’t know that hazelnuts have a high concentration of antioxidants that can help reduce cellular damage and heart disease.

Benefits of Cacao: Besides giving these their chocolate-y flavor, Cacao has been linked to naturally boosting mood. It is also nutrient rich containing iron, magnesium, calcium and antioxidants.

A zoomed in plate of stacked hazelnut, chocolate energy balls is on a pink plate.

How to Store Energy Balls

These no-bake energy bites are the perfect snack to meal prep because of their shelf life. You can store them in an airtight container for up to 7 days. I love to throw a small bag of these into my car or purse to ensure I’m ready if I get hit with emergency hunger.

Alternatively, you can store them for up to 3 months in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy them you can eat them cold or pull them out the night before to defrost at room temperature.

Did you make these delicious Nourishing Date, Hazelnut & Chocolate Energy Balls? If so, be sure to post a photo of how you used it! And feel free to tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot so I can see your creations! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens!

And if you enjoy the recipe, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and star rating below—I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions! xo

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A pile of hazelnut, chocolate energy balls sits on a pink plate on a marble counter top.

Nourishing Date, Hazelnut & Chocolate Energy Balls

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Lindsay Pleskot
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: No Bake
  • Cuisine: North American
Print Recipe

Description

Hazelnut and chocolate, a classic combo. This little snack totally hits the sweet spot while also keeping your blood sugar levels balanced. Vegan.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup medjool dates, pitted and halved
  • 1 cup hazelnuts (½ reserved for middle and to roll the balls in)
  • ¼ cup Cacao 
  • Sprinkle of sea salt

Instructions

  1. Toast ½ cup of your hazelnuts in a toaster oven or oven for 5 minutes at 350F. Watch them carefully as they will burn easily! Set them aside and allow them to cool.
  2. Next, Place all ingredients, except for the toasted hazelnuts, into a high speed blender like a Vitamix or a food processor.
  3. Pulse until a paste is formed with some small pieces of hazelnuts remaining in the mixture. You will need to remove the lid and push down the mixture from the sides of the blender once or twice. If it is too thick, add 1 Tbsp of warm water at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  4. Set aside 12 of the toasted hazelnuts for the center of the truffles. Chop the remaining toasted hazelnuts, into fine pieces (this can also be done in a food processor).
  5. To start rolling your truffles, flatten out your piece of mixture and place 1 toasted hazelnut in the  middle, then roll into a ball with your hands.
  6. Once they’re all rolled, finish them off by rolling them in the chopped pieces of hazelnut (you may have to press them in a bit to get them to stick).

Notes

  • Cacao can be replaced by cocoa powder if you don’t have it! 

 

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