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These chocolate coconut vegan energy balls are an easy, no-bake snack made with simple ingredients like dates, oats, and cocoa powder. They’re naturally sweetened, gluten-free, and perfect for meal prep, quick breakfasts, or a healthy dessert.
Made in just 20 minutes using a food processor, these energy bites are soft, chocolatey, and easy to customize with your favorite mix-ins.
Why you’ll love this:
- No-bake and ready in 20 minutes
- Naturally sweetened with dates (no added sugar)
- Made with simple, wholesome ingredients
- Perfect for meal prep and on-the-go snacks
- Gluten-free and vegan
Watch how to make these chocolate coconut energy balls (in under 1 minute):
Perfect for snacks, breakfast, or a healthy dessert.
These vegan energy balls are perfect for a quick breakfast, snack, or healthy dessert. Since they’re made with simple ingredients and no baking required, they’re an easy option to prep ahead and keep on hand throughout the week.
How to make these chocolate coconut energy balls:
- Add almonds to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
- Add cocoa powder, flaxseed, salt, and oats. Process until combined.
- Add dates and melted coconut oil, then blend until the mixture becomes sticky.
- Test the texture—if it’s too dry, add a little more coconut oil. If too sticky, add oats or shredded coconut.
- Shape into 1 to 1½-inch balls (pressing works better than rolling). Roll or press each ball into shredded coconut.
Tips for best results:
- Use soft Medjool dates (soak if needed)
- A food processor works best (not a blender)
- Adjust texture with coconut oil (for moisture) or oats (for firmness)
- Finely shredded coconut sticks best for coating
Helpful Tools:
- Food Processor– Quickly blending sticky mixtures like dates and oats for energy balls, sauces, and dips.
- Measuring Cups- I have a variety of different measuring cups. These liquid measuring cups from Pyrex are great, but I also like these dry measuring cups from OXO.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A food processor works best, but a high-powered blender may work with frequent scraping.
Yes, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months.
You can try a runny nut butter, but texture may vary slightly.
If you love easy energy bites/balls, be sure to try my other recipes for Cinnamon Almond Date Bites and Carrot Cake Bites. Both are oil-free!
And if you try this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo #veggie__chick on Instagram. I just love to see my recipes being made in YOUR kitchen!
No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Energy Balls (Vegan & Healthy)
Pin RateIngredients
- 3/4 cup almonds - sliced or slivered
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed - I recommend using whole flax seeds and grinding them yourself using a coffee grinder*
- 1/4 teaspoon ground sea salt
- 1 1/3 cups organic old fashioned rolled oats - gluten free if desired
- 1 pound 16-ounces medjool dates, pits removed (if dates are not soft, soak them in water for 20 minutes first)
- 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil - melted
- 1/4 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- Add the almond slices to a food processor and process 20- 30 seconds, until finely chopped.
- Add the cocoa, flax seed, sea salt and oats. Process another 20 seconds or so, until blended.
- Add dates and coconut oil. Process until the mixture becomes sticky, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
- The mixture should now be sticky enough to form into balls. You can test this by squeezing between your fingers. It should stay together, but not stick to your hands, or fall apart. If it's not staying together very well, add a little more coconut oil and process again. If it's too sticky, you can add a bit of oatmeal or even unsweetened coconut and re-blend. Once ready, shape into 1–1½ inch balls (pressing works better than rolling).
- Then, on a separate plate, cutting board or other flat surface, add the finely shredded coconut. Note: finely shredded works best as it sticks well. Press each ball, one at a time, into the coconut with a little pressure until it sticks to all sides. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. This recipe makes 22 balls.
Notes
- Use soft Medjool dates for best texture (soak in warm water if dry)
- If mixture is too dry, add coconut oil 1 tablespoon at a time
- If too sticky, add oats or shredded coconut
- Chia seeds can be used instead of flaxseed
- Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for longer storage
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in May 2016, but was republished in December of 2019 with tips and FAQs.
Season says
I really like these energy bites. They are a good and natural snack. Thanks!!
Christin Russman says
Thanks so much, so happy you like them! =)
Mitra says
Came out really good. We absolutely loved it ?
Christin Russman says
Thank you Mitra! I’m happy you loved them.
Bethan says
Can these be frozen? Meal/snack/food prepping for new baby in a few weeks 🙂
Christin Russman says
Hello! Yes, I think that would work great! =)
Kathy lane says
Just realized I have no coconut oil. Can I use peanut butter? If so, how much? Any other substitute for coconut. butter? Kathy Lane kmlane@shaw.ca
Christin Russman says
Hi Kathy, I absolutely think peanut butter will work! If you have one that’s natural (has a layer of oil on the top) so it’s not too thick, that would work best. Let me know how it goes. Sounds delicious. =)
Kim says
Hi Christin! I started to make these today before I realized that I only had 10 oz of dates. I already had the dry ingredients mixed so I improvised and backfilled with dried figs & raisins (all soaked for 10 min in hot water). All worked out as planned & tasted great – with some additional crunch from the fig seeds. I also was too lazy to roll the balls so added the coconut to blend in & then patted the mixture out on a silicone mat. I used a silicone cake knife to cut into squares. Easy peasy. ?
Christin Russman says
Yay so glad it worked out Kim! The dried figs and raisins is a great idea!!! I’ll have to remember that. =)
Tem says
Hmm how many calories for 1 bite of cocoa?
Ginnie says
Hi! How long can these be stored for?
Christin Russman says
Hi Ginnie, generally I store these up to a week or so. =)
Eleanor says
Yum yum! Just made these today, sooo delicious! I started off with liquid coconut oil, but it was too dry, so then I used the regular coconut oil and the balls stuck together better. My question is how much is in one serving when counting calories?
Christin Russman says
Hi Eleanor, as far as I remember, it is one ball per serving. So happy you loved them! =)
Eleanor says
Thank you for your reply Christin! ☺ I noticed later that the recipe makes 22 balls and when I made them I ended up with more, so I just need to calculate calories according to the number of balls. Thanks again! ?
Malou says
They look really yummy!
Being outside the US, I don’t have access to a cup measure. Any chance you could give the measurements in weight (grams) as well?
Christin Russman says
Hi Malou, I did my best here by using some online conversion calculators. I hope this works. =)
60 grams almond slices
50 grams unsweetened cocoa
3 grams ground flax seed
1.25 grams teaspoon ground sea salt
180 grams organic old fashioned oats
453 grams medjool dates, seeds removed
25 grams unrefined coconut oil, melted
25 grams shredded unsweetened coconut
Lisa says
hese were/are scrumptious! I am trying to eat in a way that is nourishing – WFPB is a goal, though I’m not fully there yet. It was recommended to me to have a high energy pick me up in the afternoon to help me not overeat later- I’m trying to break some bad habits and change it up. These will fill the bill wonderfully! They are so delicious, with no added sugar… this recipe, which I followed almost exactly – though I didn’t have the patience to roll the coconut separately, and just included the shredded coconut in the mix – made at least 30 1-1.5 inch diameter spheres, so I chucked some in the freezer. I can see myself making these all the time! Thanks for this- and a great blog!
Christin Russman says
Hi Lisa, I’m SO happy you enjoyed these energy balls. I agree- they are the perfect pick-me-up! Thanks so much for letting me know. =) =) =)
Alison says
What would you say the serving size is on these? They are delicious!
Christin Russman says
I love these! =) This recipe generally makes around 20-22 balls. The nutritional info is for 1 ball.
Kari Hentzelt says
I just made it and it made 52 balls ? They’re fantastic though! (I did use a 500 g brick of pre-pitted dates though, so that’s probably why!)
Christin Russman says
Wow, you must have made them small, or like you said, I bet it was because of the amount of dates! Haha well I guess you have snacks for weeks! You could freeze them. =) Glad you love the recipe!!!
Crista says
mmm!
Katie says
Delicious and so easy to make! My new favorite snack:)
Christin says
Thank you Katie!!! 😉
Ashley says
Made these last night and they are incredible! Super fun and easy to make as well. I was just wondering if you had the nutritional value on them?
Christin says
Ashley, I just added the nutritional value to the site! So glad you liked them. They are addicting! =)
monika says
1 pound medjool dates, seeds removed
I can be a dumb-ass sometimes, so I apologize for the question.
Is that 1 pound BEFORE or AFTER the seeds have been removed?
Thanks!
Christin says
That is not a dumb question! =) It should be a pound before the seeds are removed. Generally, you can buy dates in 1 pound (or 16-ounce) containers. Thanks for asking!
Carmel McCarthy says
These sound so good! I’m trying every version of the “energy bite” I can find. Can’t wait to try this!
Christin says
Let me know how you like them! =)