Fig and Date Energy Balls

Fig and Date Energy Balls with raw cashews, chia seeds, and hemp seeds are a flavor-packed healthy snack. This easy recipe comes together quickly in a food processor and is customizable.

I first shared this recipe for energy balls back in 2018, and it has been a torrid love affair ever since.

For over a decade, I have been whipping up energy bite recipes like this to serve as a little sweet treat between meals.

It started with my first recipe for Paleo Fat Balls when I discovered how quick, easy, healthful and convenient these little bites of joy could be. 

From there, I started getting frisky with flavors and whipped up Vanilla Chai Fat Balls followed by Carrot Cake Fat Balls, Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Balls, as well as my Cranberry Almond Protein Balls. 

One of the main reasons I adore these fig and date energy balls is they are sweeter than most of my other recipes and have a perfect texture.  They are portable for road trips and hikes and are the ideal natural sugar bombs for those moments you just need to fuel your sweet tooth flame.

The combination of dates and figs makes a taste and texture reminiscent of Fig Newtons, which is by far my favorite part.

I also love the texture that the chia seeds add to these balls. The feel-good ingredients basically create a grain-free Fig Newton rolled up in a baller package.

These fig and date energy balls are made with all natural whole foods, take only a few minutes to prepare and are packed with nutrients. They are also a perfect-sized snack for those times you just need a little bite to tide you over.

The cool part about energy ball recipes is you can use a basic formula to make all sorts of flavors. Here is my basic formula for energy bites.

Formula For Energy Balls:

1. Sticky Sweetener – pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, honey, or medjool dates are amazing natural sweeteners.
2. Nuts and Seeds – raw almonds, pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts and cashews work great in no bake energy bites to add healthy fats.
3. Sticky Nut Butter or Seed Butter – peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, and cashew butter are all great options.
4. Different Flavors (vanilla extract, chocolate chips, orange zest, etc.) – Flavor your power balls to your heart’s delight.
5. Dried Fruit (optional) – raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots, and dried figs all work wonders in healthy snacks.
6. Protein Powder (optional) – Add a boost of protein to make protein bites. 
7. Superfood Ingredients – chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and hemp seeds add antioxidants and healthy fats, boosting the nutrient profile of healthy snack recipes.

​The end goal is to achieve a cookie dough consistency that can easily be pressed together in the shape of a ball. 

Now that we’ve covered the main ingredients that can be used in energy ball recipes, let’s discuss the simple ingredients in this particular recipe.

Ingredients for Fig and Date Energy Balls:

Dried figs, pitted dates, cashews, chia seeds, hemp seeds, shredded coconut, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt is all we need to make this easy energy ball recipe.

Dried Figs and Medjool Dates: The combination of dried figs and pitted medjool dates makes the natural sweetener portion of the recipe.

They both also add stickiness to the ball mixture, which helps bind all of the ingredients together.

Where do you find dried figs and pitted dates? Both can be found at most grocery stores, typically in the bulk food section or near the dried fruit and nuts. 

Just be sure to use medjool dates, not any other kind of dates. Medjool dates are larger, softer, and contain more moisture that other kinds of dates. I buy pitted medjool dates to save time so that I don’t have to pit them myself.

Raw Cashews: The majority of the volume in this no bake energy balls recipe comes from raw cashews. They add creamy, nutty flavor, and blend easily due to their natural softness. 

Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: Adding flaked or shredded coconut brings a naturally sweet and creamy flavor that many of us find so tasty!

Chia Seeds and Hemp Seeds: Adding superfood ingredients like chia seeds and hemp seeds boost the nutrient profile. They contribute healthy omega-3 fatty acids and also bring some fun texture to the balls.

The best part about these grain free energy balls is the recipe is very versatile!

Now that we’ve covered the basic healthy ingredients for this easy snack, here are some ways we can change it up and make different flavors.

Recipe Adaptations:

• Replace the raw cashews with 1 to 1.5 cups of quick oats, instant oats, or old-fashioned oats (depending on consistency).
• Substitute 1/2 cup of oats for the shredded coconut if you aren’t into coconut.
• Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for some warm spices.
• Mix in 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, or cacao nibs.
• Use any of your favorite nuts in place of cashews in this recipe, or mix and match any nut combination. I love using walnuts or almonds for balls!
• Add up to 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, or sunflower seeds.

How to Make Energy Balls:

The recipe for these fig and date energy balls couldn’t be simpler! Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until a thick dough forms.

You may need to stop the food processor a few times to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula in order to help it thoroughly process. 

If the mixture is still fairly dry or crumbly after processing for a couple of minutes, you can add a little bit of water or a liquid sweetener like pure maple syrup to help the mixture blend.

A little liquid goes a long way so start with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water at a time. The end goal is to have a very thick cookie dough-like consistency that easily presses together. You can also add sticky nut butter like natural peanut butter if you’d like.

If the energy ball mixture is very sticky, add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of additional raw cashews, OR add 1/3 cup to 2/3 cup of oats.

Roll the dough into balls using your hands and place them in an airtight container or a zip lock bag for safe keeping.

If you have a small cookie scoop, this is a great way of making equal-sized balls for accurate nutrition information.

Recipe Tips:

Keep in mind that dried figs and medjool dates can vary greatly in their moisture content and stickiness.

For this reason, you may need to add more dry ingredients or add liquid (like water or non-dairy milk) to get the consistency of the mixture to a place where it holds together without being overly sticky.

If the ball mixture is too sticky to form a ball, add more dry ingredients (cashews, seeds, or oats).

If the ball mixture is too dry to form a cohesive ball, add a little water or non-dairy milk (one tablespoon at a time) until the mixture holds together nicely.

When my dough turns out sticky, I like refrigerating the dough for 15-30 minutes before rolling it into balls.

Storage Options:

How do I store energy balls?

1. Room Temperature: Energy balls that are made with pantry ingredients (like this recipe) can be stored on the counter for up to 3 days.
2. Refrigerator: Store fat balls or energy balls in a large zip lock bag or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
3. Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months in a large zip lock bag or freezer-safe container.

The next time you’re craving a small treat that is packed with wholesome ingredients, whip up a batch of these whole food energy balls!

Recipes like this make healthy snacking a true pleasure, as you can use basic pantry ingredients and have them ready in a jiffy.

If you enjoy easy snack recipes like this, also try out some of my other power ball recipes!

More Energy Ball Recipes:

• Chocolate Fat Balls​
• Pumpkin Spice Protein Balls  
• Cranberry Orange Protein Balls  
• Chocolate Date Energy Bites  
• Cinnamon Raisin Protein Energy Balls  
• Vegan Protein Energy Bites

These easy energy balls might just be one of your new favorite snack recipes!

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