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 have long been a fun trend in recipe making. I mean, it is hard to beat how fast, healthy, convenient, versatile and delicious they are.
And I think combining cherries with vanilla flavor is one of 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 cherry season is finally here, I'll make this 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.
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 by rolling the ball in between your 2 hands.
- Roll the balls: simply roll the ball in chia seeds until completely covered.
Watch how to make them
Tips when making these raw bites
- Choose medjool dates for this recipe. You can find them in 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 delicious 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.
- To reach the perfect soft and sticky texture, you might have to add a few tablespoons of water to the food processor (this will depend on how soft your dates are).
- Leave the frozen cherries in the freezer until ready to stuff in 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.
I eat them straight from the freezer! But, you can also let them rest at room temperature for about 5 minutes before enjoying.
Other energy balls you might like
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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Vanilla Cherry Energy Balls - Easy & Healthy
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 10 medjool dates - pitted and roughly chopped
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup pecans
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 20 frozen cherries
- 1-3 tbsp water - optional
- 4 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- Process the medjool dates, oats, pecans and vanilla extract in a food processor for few minutes until you reach a very smooth and sticky texture. Depending on your dates, you might need to add a few tbsp of water to help process the mixture.
- Press about 2 tsp of the dough in the shape of a circle of about 2 inches, put a frozen cherry in the middle, and wrap the dough around the cherry. Completely cover the fruit with the dough to make sure the ball holds together, pressing the extremities on top of each other. Roll the ball in between your hands and set aside. Keep going until you used all the dough.
- Then, roll the balls in chia seeds while applying a gentle pressure to make them stick to the balls. You could use a different topping, like unsweetened shredded coconut, hemps seeds or sesame seeds, if you prefer. They add a fun crunch!
- Keep the raw bites in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to eat them straight from the freezer, but you can also thaw them at room temperature for 5 minutes before enjoying.
Video
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Another great recipe!
Thanks Nancy! 🙂
These are so good and easy to make . I used frozen raspberries and that was yummy too.
Oh good idea to use the raspberries Nancy, I'll try it next time! 🙂
Made these today, and they are absolutely delicious! Love the flavors of cherry, pecan, and vanilla together. I would have never thought to put fruit in the middle-- great idea. I think my medjool dates were a bit dry, so I added a couple extra, and soaked them in water first to help my dough stick together. Will definitely make them again!
I'm glad you loved them Ariel!
These are delicious!! I'll be making these again for sure: )
These are so good!! I love dates so much and this is such a healthy way to enjoy them. The second batch I made I rolled in coconut flakes and that worked really well too. This recipe is going in my recipe box!!
These energy balls are so delicious and easy to make too! I have made many types of energy balls and these are my favorite tasting (and easiest to make). When I served them at a small gathering, I actually received applause for how tasty they are! Great for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.