Lauren Kelly Nutrition

Better Health, Better Food, Better You

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
  • Props
  • Wellness
  • Services
  • Contact

Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

February 9, 2016 by lauren.kelly 6 Comments

Pin
Share
Tweet
Share

This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

A quick and easy healthy snack that takes only a few ingredients and is totally portable (plus they are nut free, and can be made gluten free and vegan), you’ll love the indulgent flavor combination in these Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

Hi everyone! For those of you who might not have stumbled across my blog before, I’m Brianne of Cupcakes & Kale Chips. People always ask me about the name of my blog, or come to me looking for me to make cupcakes for their kid’s birthday party, or wanting the best kale chip recipe. To be honest, I don’t eat much of either. I have a wheat allergy, and while I do some gluten free baking (this Banana Snack Cake is a great healthier treat), I haven’t made a ton of gluten free cupcakes. And I am a kale chip hypocrite. In fact, I don’t even like kale much at all, and typically opt for baby spinach in my smoothies. But it reflects my philosophy on balancing a overall healthy lifestyle with some well-deserved occasional indulgences, and Cupcakes & Kale Chips sounds way cuter than my true passions – Cauliflower & Ice Cream.

When I heard that Lauren needed a few people to step in as she recovers from surgery, I was happy to help. She and I actually traveled to a food blogger conference and shared a room a couple years ago, and one thing I was very sad about when I moved from New Jersey to Maryland last year is that she and I only ever got the chance to get together once before I left my home state.

Besides being Jersey girls, Lauren and I are both moms of boys. But even though I only have two, I know as well as she does that these boys just want to eat all the time. So since they are always looking for snacks, I always try to keep plenty of healthy snacks on hand, and energy bites or balls are always a favorite.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

These Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls can be whipped up in no time, and they satisfy the sweet tooth of kids an adults alike without being filled with tons of junk. Yes there’s some chocolate in there, but the best part about mini chips is that a little goes a long way, so you can still get your chocolate fix without devouring an entire candy bar. Other than that, it’s dates, dried cherries, oats, and flax seeds – all good stuff. And as long as you choose the right ingredients, you can make these gluten free and vegan. Some of my other energy balls, like my Funky Monkey Energy Balls, have nuts or peanuts, but these, like my most popular energy bite recipe, my Cinnamon Caramel Apple Energy Balls, are completely nut-free, so perfect if you or your child have an allergy or they attend a nut-free school.

The other fun thing about energy balls is that they are get for getting the kids involved. My boys love rolling the balls almost as much as they love eating them!

I hope you’ll give these a try. With the reddish hue and hint of chocolate, they would even be fun for Valentine’s Day!

Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

Thanks, Lauren, for letting me pinch hit for you while you get back on your feet! Feel better soon!

And if you can also see more of my Yummy Eats and Tasty Sweets, plus all kinds of craziness from my life with my silly boys on cupcakesandkalechips.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

Makes 18

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup ground flax seed
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (gluten free, if necessary)
  • pinch salt
  • 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips (gluten free and vegan, if necessary)

Directions

  1. Combine all of the ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor and process until it forms a paste.
  2. Stir in the chips.
  3. Using about a tablespoon of the mixture at a time, roll into balls.
  4. Store in an airtight container until ready to eat.

 

You might also like

  • Maple Coconut Pistachios with Hemp Seeds {Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Easy}Maple Coconut Pistachios with Hemp Seeds {Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Easy}
  • No Bake White Chocolate Chip Protein Bars {Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free}No Bake White Chocolate Chip Protein Bars {Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free}
  • Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas {Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas {Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}
  • Layered Mango Chia Pudding {Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Easy}Layered Mango Chia Pudding {Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Easy}
Pin
Share
Tweet
Share
Signature

Filed Under: Gluten Free, No Bake Desserts, Recipes, snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free Tagged With: clean eating, Cupcakes and Kale Chips, Gluten free, healthy snack, quick and easy, snack, vegan

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    February 10, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    I really don’t like kale much either, but I DO like energy balls! Love the cherry chocolate flavor combo!

    Reply
  2. Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says

    February 10, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    Easy, look great and good-for-you too! Love them! Thanks Brianne!

    Reply
  3. Danae @ Recipe Runner says

    February 10, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    I think I better tell my husband to skip the chocolates and make me some of these energy balls instead! I think this is a recipe even he could handle!

    Reply
  4. Angie says

    February 11, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    You’re blog name is so cute! And I thought I hated all things kale, then I just realized I hate it cooked more than about 30 seconds 🙂

    Love these energy balls. My son will love them too!

    Reply
  5. Paula - bell'alimento says

    February 11, 2016 at 2:58 pm

    Cherries and Chocolate together are divine!

    Reply
  6. Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says

    February 11, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    These look like the perfect little pick-me-ups (plus, I love anything with dried cherries)!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Lauren Kelly

Lauren Kelly
My Newest Cookbook!
Greek Yogurt Cookbook

Most Popular Recipes

  • Gingerbread Chocolate Overnight Oats make the perfect, healthy breakfast! Gingerbread Chocolate Overnight Oats {Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}
  • Peanut Butter Protein Muffins www.laurenkellynutrition.com Peanut Butter Protein Muffins
  • This Healthy Mexican Casserole is my favorite, easy meal. It's gluten free, delicious and is ready in 30 minutes! Healthy Mexican Casserole
  • This Bulletproof Hot Chocolate will be your favorite winter drink! Low carb, keto, paleo & gluten free too. From Lauren Kelly Nutrition Bulletproof Hot Chocolate {Low Carb, Keto, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan}
  • Matcha Coconut Ice Cream from Lauren Kelly Nutrition #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree Matcha Coconut Ice Cream {4 Ingredients, No Churn, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free}
  • This Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal takes minutes to prepare, is insanely delicious and tastes like a big, oatmeal cookie! #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}
  • Simple to make with all wholesome ingredients, these Cranberry Almond Energy Balls are a must make! No Bake Cranberry Almond Energy Balls {Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Keto, Low Carb, Dairy Free, Vegan}
  • This Spiked Apple Cider from lauren Kelly Nutrition is the cocktail you need this Fall! Spiked Apple Cider
  • Vegetable Parmesan Quinoa made in the Slow Cooker! Lauren Kelly Nutrition Vegetable Parmesan Quinoa in the Slow Cooker
  • The Easiest Baked Ziti Ever! www.laurenkellynutrition.com The Easiest Baked Ziti

Recent Posts

  • No Bake Cranberry Almond Energy Balls {Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Keto, Low Carb, Dairy Free, Vegan}
  • Strawberry Spinach Salad {Gluten Free, Dairy, Free, Keto, Low Carb, Vegan}
  • Creamy Cauliflower Soup {Keto, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Sugar Free}
  • Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookie {Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Low Carb, Keto}
  • No Bake Cookie Dough Bars {Sugar Free, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Keto}
Wheat-Free Cooking!
Everything Wheat Free Book

Categories



Lauren Kelly Nutrition is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program
designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


© 2021 · Lauren Kelly Nutrition • Privacy Policy • Log in
Enter your name and email and get the weekly newsletter... it's FREE!
LAUREN KELLY NUTRITION
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.