Healthy Almond, Oat & Date Balls

Name: Healthy Almond, Oat & Date Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 110 g (1 cup) roasted almonds (roughly chopped ); 135 g (1 1/2 cups) rolled oats (or quick oats); 200 g (1 cup) medjool dates (pitted ); 2 tsp vanilla extract; pinch sea salt; 85 g (1/4 cup) honey; 65 g (1/4 cup) peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)

Jump to Recipe

These deliciously healthy Almond, Oat & Date Balls are the perfect mid-afternoon 'pick-me-up' or post-workout energy boost. No-bake, 10 minutes prep time and just 6 ingredients!

Energy balls served on a white cake stand.

Full of healthy ingredients such as almonds, oats and dates, these energy boosting bites are just what you need after a gym workout, pilates session or a long walk!

And if nuts aren't a problem, then almond, oat & date balls tick all the boxes for a healthy treat in lunch boxes, or to satisfy hungry tummies after school.

There's simply an endless variety of bliss balls, energy balls and protein balls. Generally made with a combination of dates for sweetness and binding power, nuts, and any combination of other flavours, such as peanut butter, coconut, cocoa (or cacao), apricots and seeds.

Nutella Protein Balls are made with only 3 ingredients, Double Chocolate Protein Balls are always a popular choice too, as well as my heavenly healthy Coconut, Chia and Apricot Bliss Balls. And they can all be made in 10 minutes or less!

There's also nut free options such as Salted Caramel Protein Balls!

See my collection of healthy bliss balls here.

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

When you want a raw and guilt free snack, I'm sure you'll find these almond, oat & date balls tick all the boxes!

Quick & easy - no baking required, just process, mix and roll! 10 minutes is all it takes.
Healthy - sweetened with the natural goodness of dates and honey, these energy balls are packed with fibre and healthy natural ingredients.
Great for a lunch box or post workout snack - rather than a quick sugar fix, these date balls give slow release energy to keep you going for longer.
Freezer friendly - make a double batch, freeze one lot, and then you have a supply of healthy bites for 'on the go' snacking. Pop in to lunch boxes in the morning and they'll be thawed in time for lunch break.
Food processor or Thermomix- date balls can be made in a food processor or in a Thermomix. You will find both methods in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Rolled oats, chopped nuts and dates, rolled into little balls.

What You Need

Natural ingredients, full of fibre, make these almond and date balls a guilt free snack for anytime!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method!

Roasted almonds - buy almonds that are already roasted, not raw. Roasting brings out the nutty flavour even more and adds to the crunch factor. You can also substitute the almonds for another type of roasted nut, or use a combination.
Rolled oats - or you can use quick oats.
Medjool dates - pitted. Medjool dates are fresh dates, and available at most supermarkets these days. They're larger, darker, chewier and more caramel-like in taste than the more regular dates that are commonly used in baking.
Vanilla extract.
Sea salt - just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
Honey - choose a good quality honey so that you know it's all natural sweetness.
Peanut butter - smooth or crunchy, the choice is yours. In other words, use whichever you have! You can even make your own peanut butter.

Ingredients placed on a marble bench top.

Equipment Required

Blender, food processor or Thermomix - to chop the roasted almonds and the medjool dates.
Microwave or stove top - to heat the honey and peanut butter mixture.

A healthy almond, oat & date ball on a cake stand.

Step By Step Instructions

If you've got a spare 10 minutes, this is the recipe for you!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method!

Step 1 - Prepare The Dry Ingredients

Chop the roasted almonds into small chunks, and place in a bowl with the rolled oats.

Rolled oats and chopped almonds in a clear glass bowl.

Make sure your medjool dates are pitted, and then process in a blender or food processor for about 30 seconds until small chunks remain.

Pitted dates processed into small chunks in a Thermomix jug.

Add the chopped dates to the oats and almonds.

Chopped dates added to rolled oats and chopped almonds in a bowl.

Thermomix: Place the roasted almonds into the Thermomix bowl and roughly chop by pressing Turbo 3-4 times. Set aside in a bowl. Place the medjool dates into the Thermomix bowl and chop by pressing Turbo 8-10 times or until the dates resemble small chunks. Add the chopped dates to the almonds.

Step 2 - Mix The Wet Ingredients

Place the vanilla extract, sea salt, honey and peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl.

Melt together in 30 second bursts on 50% power for 2-3 minutes (stirring between each interval).

Honey, peant butter and vanilla extract placed in a bowl.

Pour the peanut butter and honey mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix all together until completely combined.

Peanut butter and honey added to a bowl of dry ingredients.

Thermomix: Place the vanilla extract, sea salt, honey and peanut butter into the Thermomix bowl. Melt together for 3 minutes, 80 degrees, Speed 2. Add the rolled oats, dates and almonds to the Thermomix bowl and mix for 10 seconds on Reverse, Speed 3, or until completely combined (use the spatula to help).

A crumbly mixture of oats, dates and almonds in a bowl.

Step 3 - Roll Into Balls

Using heaped teaspoonfuls of mixture, roll into balls and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Place the baking tray in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to allow the date balls to firm.

Looking down on a plate of rolled protein balls.

Expert Tips

I'm sure you'll find that these almond, oat & date balls are just so quick and easy to make!

Use roasted almonds rather than raw almonds for a more nutty flavour and added crunch.
You can substitute the almonds with a different type of roasted nut, such as hazelnuts, pecans or peanuts. Or use a combination of roasted nuts.
Medjool dates are much softer and chewier than the dried dates usually used in baking. They give these oat & almond balls a delicious, almost caramel-like flavour.
Make sure that the medjool dates are pitted, or pitt them before processing!
They are often found in the fresh fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket.
Either crunchy or smooth peanut butter is fine to use. You can even make your own.
Use a quality brand of honey for natural goodness and sweetness. Some have many more additives than needed!
Double the batch and freeze some date balls for up to 3 months - the perfect 'grab and go' snack!

An overhead shot looking down on energy balls.

FAQs

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

Yes, I use plain rolled oats as they give the almond, oat & date balls more of a nutty, chewy texture. Quick oats are much finer, however they can be used as a substitute as the almonds give plenty of nutty flavour, and the medjool dates add the chewy factor. So use whichever oats you have on hand!

What's the difference between medjool dates and the dates I normally use for baking?

Medjool dates are a 'fresh' date, picked early in the ripening season when they are soft, whereas regular dates, commonly known as Deglet Noor, are a semi-dried dates.
Medjool dates are larger, darker, chewier and more caramel-like in taste than regular dates, and you can often find them in the fresh fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket rather than the baking section.

How long do date balls keep for?

Store almond, date & oat balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

A close up showing oats and chopped almonds rolled into a ball.

If you're a fan of energy balls, then make sure you check out my collection of the very best bliss balls! There's one to suit every taste and craving!

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