If you’re looking for a school-safe snack that still delivers on flavour and nutrition, these Nut-Free Energy Balls are perfect.
Many schools are nut-free, which can make it tricky to find convenient options, but these are naturally nut-free thanks to tahini and hemp seeds in place of nuts.
They’re chewy, chocolatey and naturally sweet. Perfect for lunchboxes, after-school snacks or a quick bite on the go. They’re simple to make and freeze well, so you can always have a batch ready.
Nutritional highlights:
✔️ School-safe & nut-free – suitable for nut-free lunchbox policies
✔️ Fibre-rich from dates, cacao powder and shelled hemp seeds.
✔️ Plant protein from tahini and hemp seeds
✔️ Antioxidants from cacao powder
✔️ Naturally sweet with no refined sugar
What ingredients do you need for Nut Free Energy Balls?
- Medjool dates
- Tahini
- Shelled hemp seeds
- Cacao powder
- Maple syrup or honey
What are some of the nutritional benefits of the main ingredients?
Tahini
Made from sesame seeds, tahini is rich in healthy fats, plant protein, calcium and B vitamins.
Dates
Naturally sweet and a great binder. Provide around 7g fibre per 100g, plus potassium and polyphenols.
Shelled Hemp Seeds
A complete plant protein that’s high in essential fatty acids and minerals including magnesium and iron. Provide around 6g fibre per 100g.
Cacao powder
Unprocessed and full of minerals like magnesium and iron, it is a great source of fibre too.
Storage and Shelf Life
These Nut Free Energy Balls can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Keep them in an airtight container.
They also freeze well. Store for up to 3 months and defrost for about 20 minutes before eating.
Recipe Tips
Texture: If the mixture is too dry, add 1–2 tsp of water. Especially if your dates are a little on the hard side.
Soak hard dates: soak your dates in boiling water for 20 minutes before using, if they are not soft.
Optional toppings: If you want, you can drizzle in dark chocolate. Alternatively, roll in cacao powder.
Nut Free Energy Balls
Equipment
- Magimix food processor *affiliate link
Ingredients
- 1½ cups medjool dates (200g)
- 1 cup shelled hemp seeds (120g)
- 3 tbsp cacao powder
- 4 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Pit the dates and add them to a food processor with the other ingredients.
- Blend until smooth. This might take a few minutes. If it doesn’t come together, add 1- 2 tbsp of water (it will depend on how soft your dates are). Keep blending until soft and sticky.
- Roll the mixture into 14 balls and refrigerate to firm up.
Notes
- For best results, store in the fridge until needed.
- They can be frozen too.
- If you don’t have shelled hemp seeds, substitute for sunflower seeds.
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