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    Home » Adventure Friendly Snacks

    The Best Pistachio Balls (with dates)

    Published: Mar 5, 2023 · Modified: Aug 8, 2023 by Danika Vanderpyl · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    All you need is 3 ingredients (pistachios, oats, and dates) to make the best pistachio balls! These energy bites are super easy to make, they are healthy for you, and they have 2 grams of protein each.

    Chocolate covered pistachio bites.

    I created this nutrient-dense recipe when we were living in Kenya. I didn't have an oven, and since we were only there for a couple of months I didn't want to buy lots of ingredients that I wouldn't end up using. So I created this very simple recipe that you don't need to bake, and you don't need a blender or food processor for (because I didn't have that either).

    Another super simple recipe I created on that trip was these no bake chewy granola bars. So if you are looking for something to make when you do not have access to a lot of ingredients or a fully equipped kitchen these are both healthy recipes to try!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Make it faster tip
    • Dietary Insight
    • Storage
    • Related
    • The Best Pistachio Balls (with dates)

    Ingredients

    All you need is three ingredients to make these pistachio balls, however, there is an optional step to add chocolate (aka a fourth ingredient).

    Ingredients for pistachio power balls.
    • Pistachios are the main source of protein in these energy bites. If you don't have much time it's easier to use pre-shelled pistachios. You can use salted or unsalted nuts. I prefer to use unsalted nuts as I can be aware of how much salt and what quality of salt I am consuming. If you use unsalted pistachios I recommend adding just a tad of salt as it gives a huge flavor boost.
    • The oats in these balls are a great source of fiber and also contain protein. You can use quick oats or rolled oats for this recipe. If you use rolled oats I recommend giving them a little pulse in the food processor to make them smaller which benefits the texture.
    • Dates, I like to use medjool dates which are larger, darker, sweeter, and caramel-like in flavor. However, if you do not have medjool dates any kind will work!
    • Optional: As an extra step, you can melt dark chocolate, and drizzle it over these bites for a delicious treat!

    See recipe card for quantities of the ingredients.

    Instructions

    These photos below will share the simple steps to make this recipe.

    Chopped pistachios on cutting board.

    1.Chop (or pulse in a blender) pistachios until they are small chunks.

    Dates, pistachios, oats, in mixing bowl.

    2.In a medium bowl mix the pistachios and oats together. Add the sea salt (skip this step if you are using salted pistachios). Loosely chop the dates into chunks. Add the dates to the pistachio oat mix.

    Raw energy ball dough in bowl.

    3. Use your hands to knead the dough. There will be crumbs, keep kneading the dough until all the dry nuts and oats are mixed into one dough ball.

    Rolled pistachio dates balls on cutting board.

    4.Using a tablespoon, scoop then roll into about 15 balls.

    Make it faster tip

    Buy shelled pistachios or else you will need 5-10 minutes to remove the shells.

    pistachio-raw-balls-on-cutting-board.

    Dietary Insight

    This recipe for the best pistachio balls are vegan, dairy free, and gluten free (as long as you use gluten free oats; oats are gluten free but often contain gluten because of where they are processed). This recipe includes fiber, healthy fats, and complex carbs, giving you lasting energy.

    Are Pistachio Balls Healthy?

    Yes! They are a combination of 3 unprocessed whole ingredients (pistachios, oats, and dates) that all increase nutrition in the body.

    Storage

    Store these pistachio balls in an airtight container or bag. They will last in the fridge for 2-3 weeks and up to 3 months in the freezer. These are an awesome treat to have in the freezer and have as a quick go-to snack.

    These pistachios balls can be eaten frozen too! Note: if you don't love how sweet dates taste, being frozen reduces the sweet taste!

    Can I double these Pistachio Balls?

    Yes! This is a super easy recipe to double or even triple. This is an awesome recipe to batch prep or make ahead and have in the fridge or freezer as a quick snack or to pack along for school, work, or adventures! These easy energy balls are another great recipe to make ahead in a big batch.

    Are these protein balls good to take hiking? Or do they need to stay refrigerated?

    Yes, these balls are a great source of energy and nutrition for high-energy sports. These balls are a great source of energy and nutrition for high-energy sports.
    I recommend making these without the chocolate if you are packing them with you, so there is no melted chocolate mess on those warm days.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Thick slices of golden banana bread loaf on a cutting board beside bananas.
      Moist Banana Bread (Easy Recipe, Made With Oil)
    • Three brown eggs on the counter with one half peeled.
      Super Simple Boiled Eggs (That Peel Easily)
    • medium boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, and seeds crackers in a bento style box.
      Egg Snack Ideas: Easy, Healthy, & High Protein
    • Water bottle, homemade trail mix, homemade baked snack, and helmet.
      Best Cycling Food: Homemade Snacks for Bike Rides
    pistachio-balls-on-wood-cutting-board

    The Best Pistachio Balls (with dates)

    Danika Vanderpyl
    All you need is 3 ingredients (pistachios, oats, and dates) to make the best pistachio balls! These energy bites are super easy to make, they are healthy for you, and they have 2 grams of protein each.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 balls
    Calories 127 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup pistachios without shells
    • ½ cup quick oats
    • 1 cup pitted dates*
    • ⅛ teaspoon sea salt

    Optional

    • ¼ cup chocolate chips

    Instructions
     

    • Chop (or pulse in a blender) pistachios until they are small chunks.
    • In a medium bowl mix the pistachios and oats together. Add the sea salt (skip adding salt if you are using salted pistachios).
    • Loosely chop the dates into chunks. Add the dates to the pistachio oat mixture. Use your hands knead the dough. There will be crumbs, keep kneading the dough until all the dry nuts and oats are mixed into one dough ball.
    • Using a tablespoon, scoop then roll into about 15 balls.
    • Optional Chocolate Drizzle:
      Put boiling water into a wide bowl, and then place the chocolate chips in a small bowl and put that bowl into the hot water (make sure the water doesn’t go into the chocolate bowl, the purpose is to make the chocolate bowl warm). Stir the chocolate chips until they are fully melted. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate on top of the pistachio balls.
    • Keep the balls in the fridge. In an airtight container in the fridge (for 2-3 weeks) or the freezer (for up to 3 months).

    Notes

    • *I use about 10-13 medjool dates for this recipe, press the dates lightly in to the measuring cup until you get 1 cup.
    • *If your dates are not soft to squish between your fingers, soak the dates in hot water for 5 minutes, drain and then use them.
    • These protein balls will stay together at room temperature and work well to bring along to school, the office, road trips, or hiking. However beware of the chocolate drizzle melting on warm days.
    • Nutritional information is calculated without chocolate on top.
    • Top tip: Buy shelled pistachios, unless you have 5-10 minutes to remove the shells.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 25.2gProtein: 1.9gFat: 2.3g
    Keyword Energy Balls, High Protein, No Bake
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Adventure Friendly Snacks

    • Oatmeal chocolate chip and raisin cookies cooling on a cookie rack with melted chocoalate.
      Easy Oatmeal Cookies (No Eggs)
    • High protein rx bars stacked on top of each other with sea salt and chocolate.
      High Protein Dairy Free Snack Ideas and Recipes
    • No bake high protein bars on platter.
      22 Almond Butter Snack Ideas: Healthy & Easy
    • Dehydrated zucchini chips laying flat over lapping each other.
      How to Make Zucchini Chips in a Dehydrator

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Aileen Davidson

      November 14, 2023 at 8:25 pm

      5 stars
      Just made these tonight - super simple and easy to make - haven't tried them yet, but looking forward to taking them for my mid-morning work snack tomorrow!

      Reply
      • Danika Vanderpyl

        November 14, 2023 at 8:28 pm

        Ooo enjoy for snack tomorrow! You are gonna love the salt, pistachio, and date combo!

        Reply
    2. Mariah

      March 23, 2023 at 3:56 am

      5 stars
      Love how simple and short the ingredients list is. Can’t wait to make them!

      Reply
    3. danikavanderpyl

      March 05, 2023 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      The combination of salty pistachios and dates is honestly a winner. Love the flavor and love making these to share.

      Reply
      • Andrew

        March 18, 2023 at 7:40 pm

        5 stars
        This was maybe the first time I have had pistachios in a snack like this and I loved it! It was sweet and salty, yet nutty in the best way. I hope to have these again.

        Reply

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    Hey hey! I'm Danika! I create snack recipes because unprocessed, wholesome, affordable snacks are hard to find but I want everyone to know they are easy to make!

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