No-Bake Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls

Name: No-Bake Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup medjool dates (packed down); 1/2 cup tart dried cherries; 1 cup whole almonds; 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder; 1 tsp almond extract; 1/3 cup sliced almonds

These No-Bake Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls are the perfect quick and easy sweet treat. They are made with clean and simple ingredients and are guaranteed to be a hit! This recipe is: raw vegan, paleo, oil-free, refined sugar-free, gluten-free, and grain-free!

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These No-Bake Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls are the perfect dessert for any time of year. This recipe is made with clean and simple ingredients and is absolutely delicious. These cherry balls can be thrown together in 10 minutes or less and are guaranteed to be a hit.

a plate of the cherry balls with a bite taken out of one to show the soft and chewy texture

Cherry and almond is one of my favorite flavor combinations. I absolutely love my Homemade Vegan Almond Cherry Ice Cream. However, it is a bit time-consuming to make. Therefore whenever I am craving that cherry flavor but don't have time to make a homemade ice cream, these bliss balls are my go-to!

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Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls Ingredients:
How To Make Almond Cherry Balls:
Substitutions:
Cherry Almond Date Ball Variations:
What You Need To Make These Cherry Energy Balls:
How To Store Homemade Energy Bites:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Related Cherry Recipes:
No-Bake Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls
More On-The-Go Snacks:

Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls Ingredients:

These cherry almond energy balls are the no-bake treat because they're made with simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store. Here's what you'll need to make this recipe.

a close up of the cherry balls with a bite taken out of one to show the chewy texture

Madjool Dates - Dates are the perfect way to naturally sweeten sweet treats like these cherry balls. I strongly recommend using medjool dates over other varieties of dates because they are much softer and they have the perfect caramel flavor.
Dried Tart Cherries - The best way to achieve the natural cherry flavor is to use real cherries! I love dried tart cherries because they are sweet and sour cherries that are soft and chewy. It's important to look for ones that are naturally sweetened and do not contain any refined sugars.
Whole Almonds - These almonds will be processed with dates and cherries to create the actual ball. Almonds are what make these bliss balls super filling.
Vanilla Bean Powder - I love adding vanilla bean powder to no-bake treats because I feel like the flavor can really deepen. Using vanilla bean powder rather than vanilla extract helps to prevent these date cherry balls from becoming too sticky.
Almond Extract - This is what gives these energy balls the perfect amaretto flavor. Make sure that it is pure almond extract to avoid any artificial flavor.
Sliced Almonds - These are what make these balls look fancy and they add the perfect crunch.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Almond Cherry Balls:

These almond cherry balls are the perfect quick and easy no-bake recipe. They are perfect for last-minute cookie exchanges or a simple weekly sweet treat!

1. Begin by removing the pits from all of the dates. Add the dates and whole almonds to a food processor and pulse until small chunks have formed.

2. Add the almond extract and cherries and pulse until everything looks evenly combined. Be careful not to over-pulse. If the mixture has formed into one solid ball, you have pulsed too much. You want it to resemble a crumble.

3. Scoop out ping pong ball sizes of the mixture and form into balls. Spread the sliced almonds onto a shallow dish and then roll balls over the almonds until they are completely covered. Serve and enjoy!

Hint: These cherry energy balls taste best when they are chilled. If you have the time, I recommend chilling them in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.

Substitutions:

There are a couple of substitutions that can be made to this recipe if needed. Here are some of the common ones.

Dried Fruit - You can replace the dried cherries with a variety of dried fruits. Raisins are an easy one. However, if you love the sour cherry balls you can use dried cranberries or dried blueberries for a tart twist. I love getting mine from Wilderness Poets because they are naturally sweetened and don't contain any added sugar (which is very hard to find in the grocery store). If you're interested you can use my code: "NATURALVEGAN" for $10 off!
Nuts - You can use raw walnuts, pecans, cashews, etc. Any nut will work just fine for this recipe.
Vanilla Extract - You can use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean powder for a more affordable option. If you do this I recommend adding in a couple more almonds to prevent the mixture from becoming too sticky.

looking down at the cherry balls on a plate with fresh cherries and almonds all around

Cherry Almond Date Ball Variations:

There are endless ways to mix up this recipe and create fun new variations of it.

Dark Chocolate - If you're a chocolate cherry lover (like myself) you can dip these cherry balls in a small bowl of melted chocolate then place them on cookie sheets and allow them to cool in the fridge until the chocolate has solidified completely. You can also place them on the counter at room temperature, however, this way will take much longer to chill.
White Chocolate - If you're not a fan of dark chocolate, you can do the same steps as before just with white chocolate chips.
Cherry Rum Balls - If you don't love the taste of almond extract, you can use pure rum extract in its place for a different flavor combination.

What You Need To Make These Cherry Energy Balls:

These almond cherry balls are such a great recipe because all you need to make them is a food processor. If you plan to coat them in chocolate you will need a cookie sheet to cool them and a small bowl to melt the chocolate chips in.

How To Store Homemade Energy Bites:

These no-bake energy bites are the perfect make-ahead sweet treats because they store super well. I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. If stored properly they will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks!

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Healthy Are Energy Balls?

Energy balls are a great healthy dessert or snack option if made correctly. If made with whole foods plant-based ingredients they are a great way to eat a delicious and nutritious treat. These cherry energy balls are full of fiber, healthy fats, potassium, and magnesium!

Do Energy Balls Give You Energy?

These energy balls are the perfect energy-boosting snack. They contain natural sugars that will help you feel awake and energized. They also contain healthy fats and fiber to keep you full for hours.

Are you a cherry lover like me? Make sure to check out some of the other cherry recipes on my website!

If you try this No-Bake Cherry Almond Date Energy Balls recipe, I’d really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Make sure to share it on social media and tag @theallnaturalvegan to be featured! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!