Cherry Energy Balls
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Published Jan 07, 2016, Updated Jun 12, 2023
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These cherry energy balls are like little cherry pie bites. They take only 10 mins to whip up and require just five ingredients.
As I’m sure you know, I’m a big fan of Larabars. I like that most of the bars have a simple ingredient list and that they can cure a craving for something sweet with naturally sweetened goodness like dates and dried fruit.
If I’m on the run and need a quick snack I’ll gladly pick up a bar at the store, but I’ve found that homemade Larabars are crazy easy to make at home too.
I’ve made full bars before (see my Coconut Chocolate Chip Larabars and my Key Lime Pie Larabars) but I really like making energy ball versions because they’re not only super easy, but the portion size is better for snacking too.
Anyhow, whether your looking for a sweet treat to satisfy your after-dinner craving or you need a healthy mid-afternoon snack option, these cherry energy balls fit the bill.
Take about 10 minutes on Sunday to make a batch of these balls and you’ll have an energy boosting snack that’s convenient, portable and delicious! The best part — you only need five simple ingredients. And you probably already have most of them in your pantry right now.
Ingredients For Cherry Energy Balls
- almonds – raw or roasted, but look for almonds without salt added.
- cashews – look for raw cashews. And feel free to purchase cashew pieces instead of whole cashews. The pieces are less expensive and it doesn’t matter for this recipe since everything is being processed.
- unsweetened shredded coconut
- Medjool dates – You can buy medjool dates that are already pitted or pit them yourself (it’s super easy). Two brands that I like are Natural Delights and Joolies. You can find Natural Delights in the produce section of most grocery stores (near the bananas) and Joolies are offered on Amazon and Thrive Market.
- dried cherries
The balls are made up of raw almonds, cashews, sweet and caramely dates, slightly tart cherries and shredded coconut. I don’t know what it is about the cherry and coconut combo, but I love it!
These would be awesome with a few mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs thrown in as well. I kept them a tad healthier by leaving the chocolate out this time, but I will certainly be adding it to my next batch. With the chocolate they remind me of my chocolate cherry smoothie or this mocha cherry smoothie.
How to Make These Cherry Energy Balls
Just like all my energy ball recipes, these cherry balls are super easy to whip up! Here’s how:
- Start by adding the almonds and cashews into a food processor and pulsing until the nuts are chopped into small pieces. Place the nut mixture in a bowl and set aside.
- Put the dates into the empty food processor and pulse until a paste forms – usually the mixture will clump up and form a sticky ball.
- Add the nuts back into the processor with the dates and add the blueberries, vanilla extract, lemon juice and sea salt. Pulse until everything is combined.
- Scoop the dough from the food processor using your hands or a small-medium cookie scoop if you want them all to the be the same size and roll them into balls using your hands.
How to Store Energy Balls
You can store your energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. They’ll last up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer. I like using glass storage containers or Stasher bags for storing energy balls.
Love Energy Balls? Try These:
- Protein Balls
- Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Apple Pie Energy Balls
- Gingerbread Energy Balls
- German Chocolate Energy Bites
- Blueberry Muffin Energy Balls
- Pumpkin Pie Energy Balls
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Cherry Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup about 10 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup dried cherries
Instructions
- Process nuts: Place almonds, cashews and coconut into food processor and pulse until they are chopped into small pieces. Place nut mixture in a bowl and set aside.
- Process dates: Put dates into the food processor and pulse until a paste forms (the dates will probably form into a sticky ball).
- Add nuts and remaining ingredients: Add nuts back into the processor with the dates and add in cherries. Pulse until everything is well combined.
- Form balls: Once mixture is combined, use your hands (or a small/medium cookie scoop) to form the dough into balls, using about 1 Tablespoon of dough for each ball. Enjoy right away or store for later.
- To Store: Place balls into a sealed storage container and store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or the freezer for 3 months.
Notes
- Hard/dry dates: If your dates are hard and dry, you can soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften. Just drain them well before using.
- Crumbly dough: If your dough seems too crumbly to stick together after processing even when squeezing it together with your hands, you can try adding a couple more dates or adding 1 teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture starts to hold together well enough to form into balls. See note above.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Easy to prep and delicious! I didn’t have almonds so I swapped pecans. Yum! I had no problems forming the balls. Thank you for the fabulous recipes!
Sounds AMAZING! I am so glad you are loving this recipe and it turned out great for you, Carolyn. Thank you for your review & star rating, I appreciate it!
Not a fan of cashews, what can ai sub for the Lara bites.
Almonds or walnuts work fine with making homemade Lara Bars
I love this delicious recipe! I started making homemade larabars a couple years ago because they’re quite expensive to buy! The ball idea is awesome and gives 2-3 perfect bites. I made a little extra crushed nut & coconut mixture and rolled the balls in it. Thanks for the fantastic idea. YUM!
I tried making these and they will not stick together, despite me following directions to the letter. My mixture is very dry. I’m going to add more dates to try to make it stick, but I’m wondering if for some dates, they may need to be soaked in water prior to adding?
One thing I have noticed is that the dough may seem crumbly but once you pick it up and start forming it together with your hands it will stick together. Have you tried that? If so, you may be right. Your dates may have more dry (or smaller) than mine. I suggesting adding a few teaspoons of water or a couple more dates. Let me know how they turn out.