These healthy no-bake Banana Protein Balls are so tasty! These easy snacks are loaded with dates, cashews, and dried bananas. Mini chocolate chips are an optional but delicious addition.
These delightful banana protein balls are a riff on my Homemade Lara Bars. I added some dried baby bananas and mini chocolate chips and goodness gracious they turned into what seemed like a naughty and sinful treat.
And without any additional effort or modifications, these banana bread bites are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
Banana Energy Bites Ingredients
We’re rocking:
- Dates, pitted
- Dried baby bananas
- Nuts – cashews, walnuts, almonds, or pecans all work nicely
- Cocoa powder – unsweetened
- Vanilla extract
- Mini chocolate chips, because you’re worth it
You’ll need a food processor or a blender with a pulse function. If you don’t have either of those, a sharp knife, a cutting board, and some patience will work!
Variations
- It’s kinda hard to screw these up, so feel free to experiment at will! Want more nuts? Go for it! A touch fewer dates? This is your world, my friend.
- Roll the energy balls in shredded unsweetened coconut, cocoa (or cacao) powder, chia seeds, freeze-dried fruit, or more crushed nuts.
- If you have a nut allergy, I recommend using sunflower seeds or use old-fashioned rolled oats. If you use oats, you’ll likely need to add additional dates to combat the dryness of the oats.
WHICH DATES ARE BEST FOR Energy Bites?
Dates come in many sizes and types so what you use may dictate how many you need for this recipe. Medjool dates are larger and darker. Deglet noor dates are smaller and lighter with a light honey taste.
You can use either but will need about 50% more deglet noor dates than medjool.
If you are a Costco shopper, the medjool dates are the ones in the produce section in the hard plastic container that has pits. The deglet noor dates are the ones stored by the other dried fruit in a zip pouch and are pitted.
I used deglet noor dates in these banana bites. So, if you use medjool, make sure you a) pit them before adding them to the food processor and b) reduce the overall number of dates. Start with 8-10 and see if the mixture is coming together in the food processor. Add additional dates as needed.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Look for dried baby bananas and NOT banana chips and NOT freeze-dried bananas. Baby bananas are soft and squishy; banana chips are hard and crispy.
- Use your favorite nuts/whatever you have on hand. This is a very forgiving and easily adaptable recipe.
- Make sure you are using the “pulse” function of your food processor instead of the “on” or “blend” when chopping the nuts in the first step. This will make sure they are chopped into pieces instead of becoming nut butter.
- Store banana bites in an air tight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
- If you follow a Whole30 style of eating, leave the mini chocolate chips out to make these compliant.
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving of Banana Bread Bites has 2 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.
Banana Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup nuts {cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, or a mixture}
- 12-15 dates {pitted}
- 1/2 cup dried baby bananas
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder {optional}
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips {optional, omit to make sugar-free}
Equipment
Instructions
- Pulse nuts in a food processor until they are in small pieces. Some larger pieces will remain, and some of the pieces will be very small.1 cup nuts
- Add the pitted dates, bananas, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Process until the mixture comes together in one large ball. Depending on the size of the dates, you may need to add a few more to get the mixture to come together.12-15 dates, 1/2 cup dried baby bananas, 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to incorporate.2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
- Pinch off a small bit of mixture and roll it into a ball about the size of a small ping pong ball.
- Store in an air-tighter container on the counter. They will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Look for dried baby bananas and NOT banana chips and NOT freeze-dried bananas. Baby bananas are soft and squishy; banana chips are hard and crispy.
- Use your favorite nuts/whatever you have on hand. This is a very forgiving and easily adaptable recipe.
Ok. I made these. Seriously yumm.
So glad you liked them Jillian; they’re one of my favorites!
These are awesome! I’m on whole30, so instead of chocolate chips, I threw in a half bar of Montezuma’s Dark Chocolate Absolute Black with Cocoa Nibs (a 100% cocoa solids bar available at Trader Joe’s) to get the melty chocolate feel without the sugar. I’ll definitely make these again!Â
*i only used 12 dates this time, but might up it to 15 to get them to hold together better next time.Â
So glad you liked them, Ashley! I love the addition of the Cocoa Nibs. I’m heading to Trader Joes on Thursday and will try to find some at my store.
Got these in the mail today and they travel very well. They tasted fantastic and are actually good for you! Can’t argue with that. Thanks Sarah, much appreciated!
Glad you enjoyed them, Casey. They’re a favorite of ours around here!
I used almonds and a pinch more vanilla. So yummy!
I am going to try to make these for the boys when they are begging for a “snack” I love that idea
The ingredients are very similar to a copycat smoothie (Tropical Smoothie Cafe) I make. Instead of chocolate chips or cocoa powder though, it calls for peanut butter. You also add chia seed and a little bit of almond milk. So good.
Yum! I recently found a container of PB2 (powdered peanut butter) in my pantry. Have you ever used that in smoothies? It’s wonderful.