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Home Recipes Course Snacks Bars & Balls Dirty Chai Energy Balls
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy Free V Vegan

Dirty Chai Energy Balls

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:9/6/21
Updated:9/6/21
dirty chai energy balls sitting inside coffee mug on top of countertop
Two photos of dirty chai energy balls. Sitting inside of coffee mug placed on table

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.

Dirty Chai Energy Balls sitting inside a coffee mug that says "Rise and Shine"

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!

energy ball with dirty chai flavor in mug

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
dirty chai energy ball ingredients

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.

Dirty Chai Oat Energy Balls on tray

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.

energy ball in mug

More Healthy Energy Ball Recipes

  • Blueberry Coconut Oat Energy Balls
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly Oat Energy Balls
  • Chocolate Espresso Tahini Energy Balls
  • Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

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!

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Dirty Chai Energy Balls

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★★★★★

4.8 from 5 reviews

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.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 18–20 1x
  • Category: Snacks
  • Method: no-bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Energy Balls

  • 1 1/4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
  • 1 TBS espresso powder (use 1/2 TBS for less flavor, or up to 1.5 TBS for stronger taste)
  • 1 TBS chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup creamy natural nut or seed butter (I used homemade)
  • 1/3 cup honey or brown rice syrup
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 TBS cacao nibs (or mini chocolate chips)

homemade chai spice blend

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp all spice
  • 1/8 ground cloves
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl combine oats, chai spice blend, espresso powder, chia seeds and cacao nibs/ mini chocolate chips..
  2. Add in nut butter, honey or brown rice syrup, and vanilla extract. Use sturdy spatula or spoon to combine.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!

Notes

Store balls in container in fridge for about 2-3 weeks. Balls also keep well in freezer in airtight container for about 3-4 months. Nutrition approx, based on 18 servings using cacao nibs.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 ball
  • Calories: 86
  • Sugar: 3
  • Sodium: 31
  • Fat: 5
  • Saturated Fat: 1
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 9
  • Fiber: 2
  • Protein: 2
  • Cholesterol: 0

Keywords: dirty chai recipes, unique energy balls, coffee snacks

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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. Ashley @ The Small Town Foodie says

    9/8/2016 at 1:48 pm

    These look heavenly. I seriously need to try them ASAP. My boyfriend leaves for work at 5am, so I keep getting myself up at that time and doing my workout in the morning! I totally agree.. it makes such a difference in how I feel the rest of the day.

    Reply
  2. Jenn - a traveling Wife says

    9/8/2016 at 6:36 pm

    Yes, please! Chai lattes are my absolute favorite. I used to make my own homemade chai spice and add it to my vanilla protein powder. I haven’t done that in a while and now I’m wondering why?! 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      9/10/2016 at 9:07 am

      Oh I think I need to make a container of homemade chai spices too because I’ve been using it in everything! And I keep having to get out al of my spices and keep putting them back :-p

      Reply
  3. Macy @ Paleo Crumbs says

    9/8/2016 at 9:45 pm

    These look delicious! and that mug is supper cute!

    Reply
    • Macy @ Paleo Crumbs says

      9/8/2016 at 9:46 pm

      * super not supper! haha

      Reply
  4. Ana says

    9/9/2016 at 9:08 am

    I did this recipe and was amazing! energy balls are my fav thing ever.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      9/9/2016 at 9:37 am

      Aw thank you so much for letting me know Ana!! So glad you enjoyed them <3

      Reply
  5. Pal says

    10/2/2016 at 8:19 pm

    You definitely need to like a pretty spicy chai… I may leave out the cloves and allspice next round. I’m glad I used some dark chocolate chips to balance out the flavor! Should I try peanut butter next time instead of almond butter…. would that be weird?! LOVE YOU.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      10/3/2016 at 10:15 am

      Hahaha yes they are kind of spicy… oops! I’ll have to add that to the notes 😉

      PB would probably just as amazing…. LY thanks for the feedback! <3

      Reply
  6. Whittney says

    2/19/2017 at 10:30 pm

    Could I use fresh fine ground coffee?

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      2/20/2017 at 10:43 am

      Hmmm you know I have never tried that. I suppose you could? It might be a touch more bitter though since you’d be eating the actual ground bean. Where espresso powder is actually concentrated coffee crystals that would dissolve in liquid. I’m not sure if that helps you make sure your decision or not. Let me know! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Elyssa says

    6/29/2017 at 1:17 pm

    so excited to make these! it says nutritional info is listed but I don’t see it. mind passing it on?

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      6/30/2017 at 11:24 am

      Hi Elyssa! Sorry about the mix up there – I am now using a new recipe card and that data didn’t transfer over. Approximately the info is as follows: 1 muffin Calories: 170. Fat: 9. Carbohydrates: 16. Sugar: 8. Fiber: 2. Protein: 7

      Let me know if you make them! 🙂

      Reply
      • Elyssa says

        7/7/2017 at 6:46 pm

        I made them and love them! They are perfect for morning gym sessions! thanks so much!

        Reply
        • Ashley says

          7/10/2017 at 9:31 am

          Awesome! I love them as a workout snack as well. Thank you for your comment and letting me know, Elyssa!

          Reply
  8. Carmen says

    11/10/2019 at 7:59 pm

    Delicious, thanks so much! I added 1 tablespoon of soy protein powder and I didn’t find it too dry at all – in fact I skipped the refrigeration step.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      11/10/2019 at 9:07 pm

      Awesome! Thanks so much for your comment and feedback!

      Reply
  9. Sara Swan says

    7/7/2020 at 6:17 pm

    This recipe is amazing! I absolutely love it. I doubled up on it and it worked out great. I also cut the cardamom in half in the chai spice mix because I find cardamom quite strong. My husband ate 5 right away and really liked them. I have a feeling I’ll be making them monthly.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      7/8/2020 at 12:06 pm

      Yay! So glad to hear it 😀 Thanks for sharing, Sara!

      Reply
  10. Melissa says

    3/28/2021 at 5:06 pm

    They are delish!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
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