Name: Banana Protein Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
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})

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These 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.

a blue dish with 8 banana protein balls on a wooden platter.

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

dried bananas, dates, cashews, and other ingredients on a white board

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.

4 photos showing how to make banana bread energy bites.

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.

banana bread energy bites on a blue plate

5 from 5 ratings