No-Bake Herbal Adaptogen Energy Balls

What could be better than a healthy no-bake treat that’s good for you… and delicious too?

Energy balls fit the bill, with subtle sweetness and power-packed nourishment. No oven required!

Perfect alongside breakfast or lunch, these energy balls are also a great standalone snack in the morning or afternoon.

Positively bursting with nutrition, you’ll find healthy fats in the nuts and coconut oil, powerful antioxidants in the cacao powder, and fiber and omega-3s in the chia seeds.

I’ve also included two wonderful adaptogens: ashwagandha and maca. 

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens, and extremely helpful class of herbs especially for the adrenals, support your body through the demands of everyday life. (Read more about HPA axis dysfunction here.)

Ashwagandha, known as the “soothing adaptogen”, helps reduce inflammation, calm anxiety, and improve memory (source).

It has a fairly strong flavor, which is why I limit it to 2 teaspoons in this recipe (this amount is undetectable to my taste buds). However, you can experiment with adding a little more ashwagandha if desired.

Maca naturally boosts energy. It is generally thought to nourish hormones and is also used to help reduce anxiety and depression (source).

The nutty, malt-like flavor of maca pairs extremely well with cacao too, which makes it the perfect addition to these energy balls.

Healthy Energy Balls That Are Sweet, But Not Too Sweet

When I set out to create a healthy and nutritious energy ball, I wanted something tasty enough to feel like a treat, but not so sweet it would fuel a sugar dragon.

I find the combination of ingredients in the recipe below to be just the right amount of sweetness. However, if the energy bites aren’t sweet enough for you, feel free to add a little more honey or a few drops of stevia.

Make these energy balls in 10 minutes or less, and get the kids involved to make the “ball-rolling” go faster!

While energy bites are extremely easy to prepare, you will need a food processor to achieve the right consistency.

Soak and dehydrate nuts ahead of time to create the most digestible version of this recipe. (Learn how and why to soak and dehydrate nuts and seeds here.)

4.75 from 4 votes

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No-Bake Herbal Adaptogen Energy Balls

There's nothing better than healthy no bake energy bites... unless they're spiked with herbal adaptogens, too! Soothing ashwagandha and energizing maca join coconut oil, cacao powder, dates, and chia seeds to transform these easy clean eating treats into nutritional powerhouses. With subtle sweetness yet no refined sugar, these Paleo energy balls will keep you going all day long, no oven required!

Course Dessert, Snacks

Prep Time 10 minutes

Servings 20 energy balls

Author Stacy Karen

Ingredients

For the energy balls:

• 3/4 cup walnuts soaked and dehydrated
• 3/4 cup almonds soaked and dehydrated
• 8 dates pitted
• 1/8 cup chia seeds
• 1-1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 1-1/2 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons maca powder
• 2 teaspoons ashwagandha powder
• 2 tablespoons cacao nibs optional

For rolling the energy balls:

• berry powder made by grinding freeze-dried berries
• unsweetened shredded coconut
• cacao powder

Instructions

1. Soak dates in warm water for approximately 10 minutes. This will soften them, which helps create a smoother consistency.

2. While dates are soaking, grind almonds and walnuts in a food processor.

   

3. Strain water from the dates and add them to the food processor. Pulse until a “dough-like” consistency forms.

   

4. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until well combined.

   

5. Form into balls.

   

6. Roll in berry powder, shredded coconut, or cacao powder if desired.

   
7. Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Looking for more maca recipes?

• Dairy-Free Hormone-Balancing Chocolate Malt {with maca & collagen!}
• 30 Maca Recipes {so you can get your superfood on!}
• Vanilla Maca Cooler {with vanilla-infused ice cubes!}
• Maca Gingersnap No-Bake Treats
• Black & White Maca Mocha

Looking for more naturally sweetened or sugar free treats?

• Allergy Friendly White Chocolate Peppermint Snowballs
• 4 Ingredient THM Chocolate Coconut Candy
• No Bake Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Cookie Bites
• 3 Ingredient Homemade Honey Candy Recipe
• Hormone-Balancing Bliss Balls for Seed Cycling
• Homemade White Chocolate Candy

Have you ever tried herbal adaptogens? How quickly do you think these healthy Paleo energy bites with dates would disappear if you were to make them? 😉