Name: Almond Butter Balls - No Bake Paleo and Whole30 Bites
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: Paleo, Gluten free, Raw, Whole30 adjustments
Ingredients: 2 cups of pitted medjool dates; 1 cup of cashews; 2 tablespoons of almond butter; 1 tablespoon of unsweetened coconut milk; 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (Use 100% cacao for Whole30); ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract (omit for Whole30); ¼ teaspoon of sea salt; 2 tablespoons of coconut butter, to drizzle

Jump to Recipe

Loaded with almond butter, dates, cashews, and cocoa powder, these healthy almond butter balls are easy to make, no-bake, and nutritious.

The energy bites have a lovely sweet taste, but contain no refined sugar. They are gluten-free, Paleo, and fit into a Whole30 diet plan with some simple adjustments.

The bite-sized bites are the perfect way to add a protein boost to any meal and are ideal as a post-workout snack.

Keep reading to learn how to make these easy Paleo protein balls.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through an affiliate link.

Ingredients for the almond butter protein bites

To make these Paleo energy bites, you will need these ingredients:

2 cups of pitted medjool dates
1 cup of cashews
2 tablespoons of almond butter
1 tablespoon of unsweetened coconut milk
2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (Use 100% cacao for Whole30)
½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract (omit for Whole30)
¼ teaspoon of sea salt
2 tablespoons of coconut butter, to drizzle

You’ll also need a food processorhttps://amzn.to/4bX36AD.

How to make these almond butter energy balls

This recipe could not be easier to make! One of the nice things about this recipe is that it is no-bake. That means no heating up your kitchen.

The entire process takes just a few ingredients and minutes from start to finish, and then you can relax while they set in the fridge or freezer.

Line your pan

Start by lining a baking pan with parchment paper. Set it aside while you make the energy bites.

Making the energy bite mixture

Place the dates and cashews in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Add the almond butter, almond milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, and sea salt to the food processor and process until the mixture forms clumps

Note: Be very careful not to over-process the mixture, or the finished almond butter bites will become oily and too mushy.

Roll out the energy balls

Take 1 tablespoon-sized pieces of the batter, roll them out into balls, and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator or freezer for 30-60 minutes or until they become firm.

Make the coconut drizzle

Heat the coconut butter in the microwave. Place it into an icing bag and drizzle itover the cooled energy bites.

Place in the fridge

Allow the balls to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store the energy bites in the refrigerator. These bites also freeze well.

Tasting these almond butter balls

Honestly, there is so much flavor packed into one seriously chocolaty, deliciously fudgy, cashew-infused bite that I could go on and on about them, but it really is time to taste one!

I love the crunchy, sweet taste of these delicious, healthy energy bites.

The Medjool dates give a nice touch of sweetness, and the coconut butter adds another sweet drizzle over the top of the bars that seems as though you are eating a truffle.

Granted, this is a no-sugar truffle, but these things make a difference when you are trying to follow a healthy eating plan! You will be amazed at the sweet taste that dates can give to a recipe!

Variations on the energy bites

One thing I like most about these date energy bites is that the recipe is very flexible.

I chose cashews since I had them on hand, but any nut variety that you have in the pantry will work.
The type of nut butter is also interchangeable. You can use any nut butter or seed butter in the recipe.
You can mix and match or pair the nutbutter to the nut that you choose.
In addition to coconut milk, cashew milk, and almond milk will also work.

Note: To make sure that the bites are compliant with Paleo and Whole30, don’t use peanut butter or peanuts in the bites.

My husband is a big fan of energy bites. Now all I have to do is get the bowl away from him! He saw them and said, “They are mine!”

Calories in energy bites

The recipe makes 24 energy bites, each with 136 calories. The balls are high in fiber and have no cholesterol.

This recipe is Paleo and Whole30 compliant (with the adjustments shown on the recipe card) and is also gluten-free and fits a raw diet.

A note on Whole30

The official rules of the Whole30 plan state that followers should not consume baked goods, junk foods, or treats with “approved” ingredients. However, they allow Lara Bars as part of the program. I will leave it to you to decide whether these energy bites, with the adjustments for Whole30, are strictly compliant.

I believe they are as long as you don’t use them as a protein supplement rather than a snack, which defeats the purpose of the program. Generally, I use them as a part of a meal rather than between meals.

Almond butter vs peanut butter

One of the questions I am often asked is, “Is almond butter healthier than peanut butter?” It does appear that using almond butter has significant advantages over peanut butter.

One tablespoon of almond nut butter has 100 calories, with 9 grams of fat (only 1 gram of saturated fat), no cholesterol or sodium, and only 3.4 grams of protein.

So, in terms of protein, fat, and calories, both butters are about the same. The difference between the two butters comes in the micronutrients.

Almond butter is lower in sugar than peanut butter and has no hydrogenated oil. It’s also a good source of fiber and heart-healthy fats and has more iron, Vitamin E, and magnesium than peanut butter.

Since it also helps to control inflammation, almond butter is the one that I often choose to make energy bite recipes.

More paleo snack recipes to try

If you love healthy snacks s as much as I do, try one of these easy Paleo recipes:

Share this almond butter bite recipe on X

If you enjoyed making these Paleo protein balls, why not share this recipe with a friend?

🍫 Bite-sized bliss! These Almond Butter Balls are the perfect protein-packed snack — gluten-free, easy to make, and satisfy your sweet tooth without the guilt! Get the recipe on Recipes Just 4U. 😋💪 #HealthySnacks #AlmondButter… Share on X

Pin this Paleo energy bite recipe

Would you like a reminder of this almond butter ball recipe? Pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Admin note: This post for almond butter balls first appeared on the blog in April of 2018. I have updated the post to add new photos, a printable recipe card, and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 24

Almond Butter Balls - No Bake Paleo and Whole30 Bites

These no bake energy bites have a sweet and crunchy texture with a hint of almond butter and a sweet coating of coconut butter. They are a perfect pick me up snack.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups of pitted medjool dates
1 cup of cashews
2 tablespoons of almond butter
1 tablespoon of unsweetened coconut milk
2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (Use 100% cacao for Whole30)
½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract (omit for Whole30)
¼ teaspoon of sea salt
2 tablespoons of coconut butter, to drizzle

Instructions

Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
Place the dates and cashews in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Add the almond butter, coconut milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, and sea salt to the food processor and process until the mixture starts to form clumps.
Be careful not to over-process the mixture, or the bites will become oily.
Roll out tablespoon-sized portions of the mixture into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator or freezer for 30-60 minutes or until they become firm.
Heat the coconut butter in the microwave. Place it into an icing bag and drizzle itover the cooled energy bites.
Transfer the energy bites to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator. These bites also freeze well.

Notes

Whole30 adjustments - Use Use 100% cacao powder instead of cocoa powder. Omit the vanilla extract.

Almond Butter Balls – No Bake Paleo Bites with Whole30 Adjustments

Ingredients for the almond butter protein bites