Pistachio Energy Balls

Simple pistachio energy ball with just 3 ingredients (pistachios, oats, and dates)! The perfect recipe to meal prep for snacktime or to make and add to lunch boxes.

Prep Time20

Total Time20

Servings: balls

Author: Danika Vanderpyl

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates (note below)
½ cup shelled pistachios
½ cup quick oats (or pulsed rolled oats)

Optional

⅛ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate so they aren't too sweet!)

Instructions

Start by placing the pitted dates into a bowl, pour hot water over them to soften for at least 10 minutes. Then drain the dates and loosely chop them.
Chop (or pulse in a blender for 10-20 seconds) 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).
Add the dates to the pistachio oat mixture. 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. Using a tablespoon, scoop then roll into about 15 balls.
Optional chocolate drizzle:
Melt chocolate chips on low heat over the stove or in a microwave. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate on top of the pistachio balls. Let them cool in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Keep the balls in the fridge, in an airtight container (for 2 weeks) or in 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.
Top tip: Buy shelled pistachios, unless you have 5-10 minutes to remove the shells.
Nutritional information is calculated without chocolate on top.
To make sure these are gluten-free, use gluten-free oats. (Oats are gluten-free but often contain gluten because of where they are processed.)
These energy 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.
If you like this recipe, I would try these matcha energy balls with oats next!

Nutrition