These no-bake Orange Date Energy Balls are healthy sweet treats with a tasty, hint of orange flavor. They make the perfect grab-and-go vegan snack with only 6 gluten-free ingredients!
Date, orange and vanilla is one of my favorite flavor combinations. As you can see, in this Creamy Cashew Date Spread, and this Vanilla Orange Bread it has been a delicious reality in my life!
I guess my love for this combination must have had something to do with eating Creamsicles (a combination of orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream) when I was growing up![cmtoc_table_of_contents]
About Orange Date Energy Balls
Medjool dates and raw walnuts make up the bulk of these sweet energy balls.
Medjool dates are a “squishy” soft variety of date with a caramel-like flavor. They’re often referred to as the “king of dates” and are high in fiber, minerals and vitamins. They give that healthy natural energy boost from a whole food and not refined sugar.
Raw walnuts with their protein and healthy fats are nutrient dense powerhouses. And they’re a good source of fiber to keep you satisfied longer.
The addition of the nutty hemp hearts and the protein rich chia seeds adds another nutritional boost.
The hint of orange and vanilla takes it over the top for a delicious and healthy snack, special treat or dessert.
Benefits of Hemp Hearts and Chia Seeds
Both hemp hearts and chia seeds are high fiber and high protein foods. They are also very nutritious. That’s why they are both a good addition to these energy balls.
Hemp hearts and Chia seeds are both high in omega 3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are high in calcium and hemp hearts are a good source of vitamin E, magnesium and potassium.
Check out these links if you’d like to read more about Hemp Hearts and Chia Seeds
Simple Ingredients for these Date Energy Balls
- Medjool dates
- Raw walnuts
- Hemp hearts
- Chia seeds
- Orange zest and fresh orange juice (from an organic orange)
- Vanilla extract
- Shredded coconut for rolling the balls in (optional)
2 tools for zesting citrus – a zester and a microplane
Left: Date mixture processed Right: Generous tablespoon of mixture to roll
To Make
- Combine the Medjool dates, raw walnuts, hemp hearts and chia seeds in a food processor and pulse to chop.
- Add the orange zest, orange juice and vanilla extract until combined and forming a sticky dough.
- Scoop out a generous 1 Tablespoon of the mixture at a time and roll into balls with your hands.
- Roll each ball in shredded coconut, hemp hearts or finely chopped walnuts. (optional)
Serving Suggestions
- Pack some in your lunch or a school lunch for your kids.
- Take a couple date balls along when you go out for a healthy grab-n-go snack throughout your day.
- Bring some in a container in the car to prevent a hunger melt down from your kids!
- Serve them with a cup of tea for dessert.
- As a healthy coffee break pick-me-up – skip the donuts! 😉
If you make these Orange Date Energy Balls or would like to, a comment and a rating below would be greatly appreciated.
Follow me on Instagram and tag me @vegeliciouskitchen and use the hashtag #vegeliciouskitchenrecipe. I’d love to see your creation!
Here is the recipe:
Orange Date Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- 1 cup walnuts, raw
- 1/2 cup hemp hearts
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- zest from 2 organic oranges
- 3 Tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut, for rolling (optional)
Instructions
- Add the dates, walnuts, hemp hearts and chia seeds to a food processor and pulse a few times to chop.
- After these are chopped, add the fresh orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract until the mixture forms a sticky paste.
- Scoop out about 1 generous Tablespoon of the mixture and form into balls with your hands.
- Roll each ball in shredded coconut, hemp hearts or finely chopped walnuts. (optional)
- Store the date balls in the refrigerator in a container with a tight fitting lid for up to a week. They can also be frozen to keep longer.
Notes
- This recipe makes about 18 - 1 Tablespoon date balls.
- The balls may seem a little oily at first but there is no added oil - only the healthy oils from the raw walnuts that is released during the processing.
- When making zest from the oranges, only use the orange part of the peel and not the white bitter part below the peel.
- Use organic oranges for your zest.
- The date balls are great plain as they are but they are also delicious rolled in coconut, hemp hearts or finely chopped walnuts.
Nutrition
*Please note that the nutritional information provided is only a close estimate using an online nutrition calculator.*
Other Sweet Treats to try
Mini Chocolate Walnut Freezer Fudge Bites
Thanks for visiting. Hope you enjoy these Date Energy Balls!
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