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Home Recipes Course Snacks Chocolate Cashew Protein Energy Balls
P Paleo GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy Free 30 Whole30

Chocolate Cashew Protein Energy Balls

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:7/6/21
Updated:1/18/23

These Cashew Chocolate Date Energy Balls require just four ingredients, a food processor or heavy duty blender and a little bit of ball rolling time! A great paleo snack.

The Perfect Healthy Treat

I made these on a whim because I was craving chocolate, but wanted something on the healthier side.

I love that simple and nutritious foods can come together for a healthy treat.

This recipe is quick, easy and you only need four ingredients!

energy balls with dates and nuts

Four Healthy Ingredients

  • Medjool dates – I love Medjool dates because they’re juicy and blend up really well with nuts. They’ve got potassium and fiber too!
  • cashews – cashews are a great source of healthy fats.
  • cocoa powder – or use cacao powder.
  • egg white protein powder – this is where most of the protein in this recipe comes from. If you’re looking for a plant based option, you can sub in your favorite, but will likely have to compensate with some extra liquid.

Looking for more recipes like this?

These date energy balls are actually a rendition of my 4-ingredient Homemade Protein Bars – an RXBAR copycat.

cashews, medjool dates, cocoa powder in measuring cup and egg white protein powder in bowl

How to Make Protein Balls with Dates

Protein energy balls are easily one of my favorite snacks. I love them as a little pre-workout boost. Plus they’re quick, no-bake, made with simple ingredients and taste awesome.

rounded tablespoon with energy ball mix made in food processor

Use a Food Processor

A food processor is one of my most used kitchen tools. It makes date energy balls so easy! If you have a high powered blender, that works too.

Here’s how quick and easy this recipe is:

  1. In the bowl of your food processor process cashews, egg white protein, and cocoa powder until nuts have broken down into small pieces. Don’t process them too much, you still want pieces remaining.
  2. Add in pitted dates and process until combined–the mixture will look a little dry. With the motor running about 1 tablespoon of water at a time until mixture is sticky and everything comes together. Depending on if your dates were juicy or dry, you may need less or more water. Careful not to add too much water or mixture will be too sticky. If this happens, add about 1 tablespoon of coconut flour to absorb some of the moisture.
  3. Using a round tablespoon, scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place on a lined baking sheet and continue this process. You should have about 30 energy balls.

Protein Powder Options

I used egg white protein powder but you can also use collagen peptides like I did with these bars.

If you’re vegan, you can try subbing your favorite plant-based protein powder. You just may need to add a little bit more water for the mixture to come together and stick. Plant protein powders will absorb the wet ingredients differently so just watch for that.

energy balls on baking sheet

Storing Energy Balls

These protein energy balls keep really well in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

Energy balls with dates store well in the freezer for a few months, as long as they’re in an airtight container.

You can enjoy them frozen, or thaw them out (at room temperature or in the fridge).

More Energy Balls Recipes

  • Easy Dirty Chai Energy Balls
  • Chocolate Hazelnut Energy Balls
  • Peanut Butter Energy Balls
  • Blueberry Coconut Oat Energy Balls

If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment and review below. I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too.


Chocolate Cashew Energy Balls
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Cashew Chocolate Protein Energy Balls

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

These Chocolate Cashew Protein Energy Balls require just four ingredients, a food processor (or heavy duty blender) and a little bit of ball rolling time! They are paleo and whole30 compliant. You can even leave out the protein if looking for a vegan friendly option. The perfect healthy snack that doubles as a treat.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: About 30 balls 1x
  • Category: snacks
  • Method: food processor
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups cashews (raw or toasted)
  • 1 cup pure egg white protein
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocao powder (or cacao, or carob)
  • 18 large Medjool dates, soaked for 5 minutes in warm water and pitted (weighed at 10 ounces)
  • 2–4 TBS water

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of your food processor process cashews, egg white protein, and cocoa powder until nuts have broken down into small pieces. Don’t process them too much, you still want pieces remaining.
  2. Add in pitted dates and process until combined–the mixture will look a little dry. With the motor running about 1 tablespoon of water at a time until mixture is sticky and everything comes together. Depending on if your dates were juicy or dry, you may need less or more water. Careful not to add too much water or mixture will be too sticky. If this happens, add about 1 tablespoon of coconut flour to absorb some of the moisture.
  3. Remove S blade from bowl of processor. Using a round tablespoon, scoop mixture and roll into balls between the palms of your hand. Place on a lined baking sheet and continue this process. You should have about 30 energy balls.
  4. Store protein energy balls in airtight container in fridge up to two weeks, or freezer about 3-4 months. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 ball
  • Calories: 137
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 54mg
  • Fat: 6g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 16g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: chocolate energy balls, energy balls recipe, date energy balls

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @fitmittenkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #fitmittenkitchen

Tools Used for This Recipe

breville food processor

food processor

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egg white protein

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terrasoul cashews package

cashews

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cocoa

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About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Aimee says

    8/7/2017 at 10:28 am

    Man, I am on my phone too much. I’m constantly scrolling through that instagram feed. We have phone free weekends every once in a while over here and it is so refreshing.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/7/2017 at 4:55 pm

      SAME. I love the idea of phone-free weekends though!

      Reply
  2. Sam @ Bites of Wellness says

    8/7/2017 at 11:02 am

    Ok this recipe has convinced me to try egg white protein again. I had a VERY bad experience with it back when I first started “eating healthy” – very very bad! But using it in energy bites might be the perfect solution! I’m all about cashews and cacao!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/7/2017 at 4:54 pm

      Oh yikes! Do I even want to know? 😉 The powder is great for recipes like this though!

      Reply
  3. Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. says

    8/7/2017 at 4:48 pm

    I love easy, minimal ingredient recipes – and anything with chocolate 😉 These sound delicious!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/7/2017 at 4:54 pm

      Always chocolate! Glad we’re on the same page 😀

      Reply
  4. Cassie Autumn Tran says

    8/7/2017 at 5:19 pm

    How delicious! I’ll have to replace the egg white protein with a vegan protein powder, but I hope it turns out well!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:33 am

      Yes it should be okay! I would suggest starting with half the amount of plant protein powder and seeing how it comes together. You may have to adjust liquid ratios too. Let me know if you try!

      Reply
  5. Jessica @Small Bites by Jessica says

    8/7/2017 at 6:27 pm

    These sound like such a great quick and easy snack to make AND eat! My favorite kind of snack! 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:32 am

      Yes they are one of my favorites!

      Reply
  6. Deryn | Running on Real Food says

    8/7/2017 at 7:07 pm

    These sound awesome! I’ve never tried an egg white protein or see it in stores around me, so I’d probably just use a plant-based protein…it should work ok, hey? I just got back from a camping trip and didn’t have my phone for 4 days. IT WAS AWESOME. The best part about not having your phone for a while..even 1/2 a day, is all the notifications you get when you look at it again! hahaha…it’s like, ooooh..I’m so popular! lol. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:32 am

      Lol on the phone notifications. That is funny but true 😀

      And yes I think a plant protein would work out okay, but maybe only using 1/2 the amount and you may need to adjust liquid too! Plant protein powders tend to absorb those ingredients differently, as I am sure you might suspect!

      Reply
  7. Laura says

    8/7/2017 at 7:29 pm

    Yes!!! I remember my dad forcing me to get a phone when I turned 16 and got my llicense. I didn’t want one bc I didn’t want people to be able to get a hold of me all the time! How things change! Lol

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:30 am

      lol that is funny.

      Reply
  8. Christine - Jar Of Lemons says

    8/8/2017 at 10:20 am

    These look SO delicious! Love that they only have 4 ingredients. Also, love the reminder to be present! Always a challenging but great reminder 😉

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:29 am

      Challenging but fulfilling when you can do it!

      Reply
  9. Alisa Fleming says

    8/8/2017 at 11:11 am

    I LOVE snack ball recipes like these. We used to buy egg protein all the time, but haven’t in ages. I think I’ll pick some up soon as it works so well in bites like these.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:28 am

      It really is the best to throw into recipes like this. Makes for a great workout snack

      Reply
  10. Lorie says

    8/8/2017 at 12:36 pm

    I live on all things Energy Bites and cashews are my favorite base as well. I’m going to need to give this egg white protein!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/11/2017 at 11:27 am

      The egg white protein is perfect for energy ball recipes like these!

      Reply
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