Get in a boost of caffeine with these Dirty Chai Energy Balls. Rolled oats and your favorite nut butter are the primary ingredients, so no food processor needed! Gluten free and vegan friendly.
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Yes, we are going there… chai + espresso= DIRTY CHAI.
And we are making this traditional coffee drink in ENERGY BALL FORM. Because energy balls are one of the best and easiest snacks out there.
So if you love coffee, chai spices and are ready for a delicious snack, let’s put it all together.
An Easy Oat Energy Balls Recipe
No bake energy balls are a great healthy snack for work, picnics, hikes, pre-workout snacks, you name it! This one is easy to make and requires less than 10 ingredients!
Ingredients List
- rolled oats – I prefer using rolled oats for energy ball recipes. If using quick oats, you might need to compensate with some coconut oil or extra nut butter.
- nut butter – chai spiced, for extra credit.
- sticky sweetener – honey, brown rice syrup or similar consistency.
- espresso powder – or instant coffee.
- chai spices – use my homemade DIY spice blend!
- chia seeds – for healthy fats, fiber and it helps keep the energy balls together a bit better.
- cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips – because who doesn’t love a little chocolate in energy bites.
- vanilla extract – for a little flavor.
Tools
- Large bowl
- sturdy spatula or large spoon
- measuring cups and spoons
- parchment paper
- baking sheet
How to Make Chai Energy Balls
First mix together dry ingredients – oats, chai spices, chia seeds, espresso and cacao nibs or chocolate chips if using.
Add in honey and nut butter, using a large spoon or sturdy silicone spatula to combine.
Pop the mixture in the fridge for about 20 minutes for easier ball rolling.
Use a rounded tablespoon or small cookie scoop for size consistency and easier rolling, and place each ball on parchment lined baking sheet.
Tips for Storing
Evenly space out the energy balls on the baking sheet and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes before adding to a storage container or bag. This way the balls are really cold and won’t stick together once you store in the fridge.
Energy balls in the fridge will last a couple of weeks.
You can also keep these chai energy balls in the freezer, up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in fridge before enjoying.
Recipe Notes
ESPRESSO – I’ve made these a couple times now and played around with the amount of espresso powder used. The first time I did 2 TBS, which I thought was a little heavy. But if you LOVE espresso or black coffee, you may want that much. The second time around I did about 1 TBS plus 1 teaspoon and thought that was a good amount. If using instant coffee, you might want a little more.
OR guess what? If you don’t like coffee but really love chai, just leave out the espresso.
CHAI FLAVOR – Same goes for the chai-haters. If you’re not a fan of cardamom and all that jazz, you can leave out a majority of the spices but I would recommend leaving some cinnamon to balance out the bold espresso taste.
PROTEIN BOOST – I opted not to add protein powder to these chai energy balls. If you think you want to add a scoop or two, you will likely need to compensate by adding a couple tablespoons (or possibly more) of liquid, especially if using plant based protein powder. Just keep in mind that you want a consistency of being able to roll and hold the bites together without them being crumbly.
More Healthy Energy Ball Recipes
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review below! It helps others learn about the recipe and I appreciate your feedback!
Dirty Chai Energy Balls
Ingredients
Energy Balls
- 1 & 1/4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder, use 1/2 TBS for less flavor, or up to 1.5 TBS for stronger taste
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 cup creamy natural nut or seed butter, I used homemade cashew almond butter
- 1/3 cup honey or brown rice syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon cacao nibs, or mini chocolate chips
homemade chai spice blend
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon all spice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine oats, chai spice blend, espresso powder, chia seeds and cacao nibs/ mini chocolate chips..
- Add in nut butter, honey or brown rice syrup, and vanilla extract. Use sturdy spatula or spoon to combine.
- Once ingredients have come together, place bowl in freezer for about 10 minutes (or fridge for 20 minutes). The cold mixture will make forming the energy balls a lot easier.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop mixture into rounded balls and roll between palms to shape. You should get roughly 18-20 balls. Enjoy with your morning chai or coffee!
Video
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information
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