
Vanilla Cherry Energy Balls – Easy & Healthy
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.

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.

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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Vanilla Cherry Energy Balls – Easy & Healthy
Equipment
- Food processor
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
Instructions
- Process the medjool dates, oats, pecans and vanilla extract in a food processor for few minutes until you reach a smooth crumbly and sticky texture.
- Press 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. Keep going until you use all the dough.
- 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, chopped nuts, hemps seeds or sesame seeds if you prefer.
- Keep the raw bites in the freezer for up to 3 months and thaw them at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.
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8 Comments
Nancy
Another great recipe!
plantbasedjess
Thanks Nancy! š
Nancy
These are so good and easy to make . I used frozen raspberries and that was yummy too.
plantbasedjess
Oh good idea to use the raspberries Nancy, I’ll try it next time! š
Ariel
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!
plantbasedjess
I’m glad you loved them Ariel!
Anonymous
These are delicious!! I’ll be making these again for sure: )
Linda
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!!