Easy Nut-Free Energy Balls Recipe Perfect for Kids Sports Teams Snack
A quick and allergy-friendly energy ball recipe using sunflower seed butter instead of nuts, perfect for kids’ sports team snacks. These chewy, naturally sweet treats come together in under 15 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 energy balls 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats (135g)
- 12 large Medjool dates, pitted
- ½ cup sunflower seed butter (125g)
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips (45g, optional)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- If dates are dry, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften, then drain well.
- Pulse 1 ½ cups rolled oats in a food processor until coarse flour consistency, about 30 seconds.
- Add pitted dates and ½ cup sunflower seed butter to the processor; pulse until mixture sticks together, about 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup if using. Fold in mini chocolate chips gently.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts and roll into balls. If too sticky, wet hands slightly or chill dough for 10 minutes.
- Place balls on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
If mixture is too dry, add a splash of almond milk or water to bring it together. Rolling with damp hands prevents sticking. Soaking dates is key for binding. Can substitute pumpkin seed butter for sunflower seed butter. Use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free version. Store in airtight container refrigerated up to one week or freeze up to three months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 energy ball
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 35
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: nut-free energy balls, kids snack, sports team snack, allergy-friendly, no nuts, sunflower seed butter, healthy energy balls, quick snack