Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls

Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls are a healthy little snack that is simple to make, requiring just 7 ingredients, 30 minutes and 1 bowl. Nutrient dense to keep you fueled throughout the day and to help fight cravings. #glutenfree #plantbased #vegan #wholefood

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Energy balls loaded with salty – sweet flavors? Tons of nutrients? Tons of protein? Yep, this is right where we want to be.

I am a lover of 2 things:

• Simple
• Packing all the healthy snacks

You guys, I have the feeding schedule of an infant. I do a lot of truth stretching.. but anyone who knows me in real life knows..  this is not an exaggeration.. I snack All. Day. Long. My preference is for these little snacks to be healthy real food, but if I'm not prepared with healthy choices, well.. you never know what might happen?

These peanut butter and jelly energy balls are perfect packable snacks that don't require anything other than removing them from their container to enjoy.  Think Lara bar meets peanut butter sandwich. Cute little round spherical forms that can be devoured in 2-bites flat. They are nutrient and protein dense and pack a caloric punch to ensure that you are satisfied for hours. Dried Strawberries combine with medjool dates for the jelly component while the peanut butter comes from, well.. peanut butter! As for the bread, it's just not necessary.

These Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls are SO simple to make. 7 ingredients, 1 bowl and 30 minutes and snacks for the week are DONE. They don't even require any cooking time.. seriously, does it get any better?

Time Saving Tips and Tricks:

Prep: When the recipe is so simple, there really isn't any reason to spend time prepping! The most time consuming part of this recipe is actually forming the balls, but once that part is finished... you are all done!

Make Ahead: Yes! This is a perfect make-ahead recipe. In fact, I recommend it. When the balls are first rolled, they are a bit oily from the nuts and peanut butter. I like to let them firm up in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving. You could make them up to 5 days in advance though.

Freezer: This is my favorite way to store energy balls. They will keep for several months. To freeze, arrange balls in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for 2-3 hours, or until balls are frozen through. Remove from freezer and store in an airtight ziplock bag. Balls will store for several months. To serve.. remove desired amount of balls from freezer, allow them to thaw for 15-20 minutes on the counter.. enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls

• Author: Bailey Sissom adapted from Lee Hersh's PB and J Swirl Energy Balls
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 34 balls 1x

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Description

Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Balls are a healthy little snack that is simple to make, requiring just 7 ingredients, 30 minutes and 1 bowl. Nutrient dense to keep you fueled throughout the day and to help fight cravings. #glutenfree #plantbased #vegan #wholefood

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup cashews
• 20 medjool dates, pitted
• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter, natural
• 2 TBS honey (sub maple syrup for vegan option)
• ½ tsp water, divided
• 1 cup almonds
• ½ cup dried strawberries
• pinch of sea salt

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Instructions

1. PEANUT BUTTER SIDE: To the base of a food processor, add cashews. Pulse until cashews are the texture of sand. Add 10 dates, peanut butter and honey. Process on high until the ingredients form a dough. You may have to use a rubber spatula to even out dough if it gets stuck in the processor. If dough is too dry, add ¼ teaspoon of water and continue to blend until combined, about 2 minutes. Use a ½ TBS measuring spoon to measure out dough. Roll between palms to form balls, set each formed ball aside on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. JELLY SIDE: To the base of a food processor, add almonds. Pulse until almonds are the texture of sand. Add 10 dates, dried strawberries and pinch of sea salt. Process on high until the ingredients form a dough. If dough is too dry add the remaining ¼ teaspoon of water and continue to blend until combined, about 2 minutes. Use a ½ TBS measuring spoon to measure out dough. Roll between palms to form balls, set each formed ball aside on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. ASSEMBLY. Take 1 peanut butter energy ball and 1 jelly energy ball and smash them together. Use balms to roll them together into 1 ball. Refrigerate at least 1 hour prior to serving.

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Helpful Hints:

1. Make sure to use natural peanut butter that contains only 1 ingredient, peanuts. No added sugar is necessary, these balls are naturally sweetened from the dried fruit and the medjool dates.
2. DO NOT forget to pit the dates! I did once.. Joe almost broke a tooth. Not to mention, it was probably pretty awful or my food processor.
3. If you want to make this recipe vegan, use Maple Syrup in place of honey. You may not have to add the ¼ teaspoon of water since the maple syrup is a bit less dense than honey.
4. The “dough” is oily. Really oily. Don’t panic. You didn’t do anything wrong. Just let the balls firm up a bit in the fridge and the problem will fix itself!
5. You can sub the type of nut that you use depending on what you have available in your pantry. I liked using cashews in place of the peanuts suggested in the original recipe because I found the energy balls to be a bit less oily.
6. The original recipe suggests dried blueberries, I used strawberries… feel free to put your own spin on these little guys depending on what you have available and/or what type of “jelly” that you like.

Note: This recipe was adapted from one of my FAVORITE food bloggers Lee Hersch who is the author of the site, Fit Foodie Finds. You can find her original version for PB and J Swirled Energy Balls HERE.

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Other Whole-Food Snacks You Might Like:

Blueberry Matcha Granola Bars:

Strawberry Dark Chocolate Granola Bars:

Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Granola Bars: