Name: Vanilla Cherry Energy Balls - Easy & Healthy
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup medjool dates (pitted and roughly chopped); 1/2 cup rolled oats; 1/4 cup pecans; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 10-12 frozen cherries; 2 tbsp chia seeds

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These no-bake vanilla cherry energy balls are so delicious and easier to make than it seems! They are packed with nutritious ingredients and kept in the freezer, which makes them a fun healthy snack always ready to go. Using frozen cherries also makes these sweet treats accessible all year long!

Energy balls were once a very trendy snack to make. But, looks like it was here to stay and is still very popular these days.

I mean, it is hard to beat how fast, healthy, convenient, versatile and delicious energy balls are!

And it seems like combining cherries with vanilla flavor might be the best thing in the world! The slightly tart and sweet juicy cherries are surrounded by a caramel-like vanilla coating. It is so-so-good.

When the summer is finally here, I’ll stick them in my fridge and make cherry marmalade on repeat or simply eat them just like that covered with whipped cream. But why wait for the summer to enjoy these amazing tiny stone fruits?

What you will need to make these vanilla cherry energy balls

Using frozen cherries are what make this sweet treat so convenient and tasty! The cherry season is so short, but the frozen ones are available all year long.

For the sweet vanilla coating, you will only need 4 ingredients: medjool dates, rolled oats, pecans and vanilla extract.

I also like to roll the energy balls in chia seeds to add texture and bonus nutrients. But you can roll them in sesame seeds, shredded coconut or chopped nuts if you prefer.

Close up on a food processor containing a crumbly mixture of dates and nuts that has just been processed.

How to make these vanilla cherry energy balls

There are 3 easy steps when making these raw bites:

Make the sweet oat base: simply process the ingredients until crumbly and sticky.
Stuff the cherry: mesure about 2 tsp of the mixture and press the dough in the shape of a circle of about 2 inches. Then, put a frozen cherry in the middle, and wrap the dough around the cherry. Make sure it is completely hiding in there.
Roll the balls: simply roll the ball in chia seeds until completely covered.

On a table, there are a blue and white small plate with a crumbly mixture of dates and nuts. Beside, there is another larger white plate with a few frozen cherries and a few energy balls that have been just rolled. On the side of the 2 plates, there is a frozen cherry being rolled into the crumbly mixture (the cherry will be stuffed inside)

Tips when making these raw bites

Choose medjool dates for this recipe. They are a fresh fruit and you can find them at the produce section in your grocery store. They are larger, softer (which helps reach that sticky smooth texture when blended in the food processor) and have a strong caramel taste.
Process the oat base until you reach a sticky and uniform dough. This means you will have to take breaks and stir the mixture in the food processor and then process again. The rolling process will be easier and it will be more pleasant to eat straight from the freezer if the nuts are well processed.
Leave the frozen cherries in the freezer until ready to stuff the dough. It is easier to press the cherry in the middle of the dough if they are still hard from being frozen.

How to store these vanilla cherry energy bites

Store in the freezer in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

When ready to eat, take them out of the freezer and let them rest at room temperature for about 5 minutes before enjoying.

I hope you will love these fruity raw bites as much as we do! If you try them, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let us know how they were.

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There is a small tower of vanilla cherry energy balls on a small white plate with a hand grabbing the top one. A few of the energy balls are cut in half, so you can see the cherry hiding inside the balls. On the side of the plate, there is one energy ball cut in half and a beige hand towel. A few chia seeds are on the table.

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5 from 4 votes