Toasted Steel-Cut Oats Energy Balls With Dates

These steel-cut oats energy balls come together in as little as 20 minutes with 7 simple ingredients and get you a whopping 25 delicious bliss balls.

They are only sweetened with dates and dry fruits, contain healthy fats, and are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan.

We absolutely love these healthy bliss balls made with steel-cut oats.

Like my Crunchy Steel-Cut Oats Granola Recipe, the oats get toasted before they are used to make these snack balls.

They are so easy to make, and the flavors are amazing. Dates add a lovely natural caramel-like taste, and just like my Paleo Brownies are the perfect natural sweetener—no added sugar.

I even love them paired with my cup of coffee for a quick breakfast treat, and they definitely give you an energy boost. 

Let's make them.

Why You'll Love This Energy Ball Recipe

Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

You only need a few main ingredients to make these steel-cut oats energy balls and turn them into easy snacks or healthy desserts.

• Coconut oil: To keep it dairy-free and vegan-friendly, use solid coconut oil.
• Gluten-free steel-cut oats: They add a depth of flavor, rich nuttiness, and subtle sweetness to these energy bites. It's also a great source of fiber.
• Spices: For extra flavor, add pumpkin pie spice.
• Nuts: A medley of nuts like whole cashews, pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts.
• Dried fruits: Medjool dates and black raisins add the perfect natural sweetness. Like my Date Cake, dates will also add an amazing flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions

See the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card.

Step One (Picture 1 above) - Toast the raw oats in some melted coconut butter over medium-low heat until they are a few shades darker and crunchy. 

Step Two (Picture 2 above) - Blend the toasted oats with the rest of the ingredients, with the oats at the bottom of the blender or food processor, until you have a beautiful smooth consistency.

Step Three (Picture 3 above) - Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Use a cookie scoop or one tablespoon measurement of the mixture and roll it into a little ball. Repeat until done.

Step Four (Picture 4 above) - Let them cool in the fridge before serving. It is best to place them separately on a large plate to prevent sticking. Chilling is optional but highly recommended because these bliss balls slightly harden and develop a lovely nougat-like texture.

Note: Alternatively, coat them with coconut shreds (desiccated coconut) or seeds before chilling. If you want to store them immediately for later, place them in an airtight container, preferably separated with parchment paper between each layer.

Variations To Make These Bite-Sized Bliss Balls

• Different types of nuts: Use other nuts you like, such as almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts.
• Make it nut-free: For those who have nut allergies, sunflower seeds or sunflower butter are a great alternative, and I have used it many times myself in this recipe.
• Butter: If dairy is not an issue, you can use butter to toast the oats instead of coconut oil.
• Other spices or flavor combinations: Instead of pumpkin pie spice, choose cinnamon powder, Dutch Speculoos similar to my Biscoff Cookies, or play around with  Chai spices, apple pie spice, or unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder.
• Adjust the level of sweetness: For the sweet tooth, adjust the amount of dates or raisins. Or toast the steel-cut oats in some butter and a little bit of coconut or brown sugar. For a less sweet snack, leave out the raisins and use only the dates.

Note: The color of the mixture may vary based on the color of the toasted oats, the type of natural sweetener, and the nuts used to make these gluten-free steel-cut oats energy balls.

Substitutions

• Nut butter: Don't have any nuts on hand? Creamy nut butter, like almond or cashew butter or seed or tahini butter, can work but will make the texture of these steel-cut oats' energy bites softer.
• Other dried fruits: Try dried figs, prunes, apricots, cherries, or only use dried raisins instead for a different flavor. At home, we prefer Medjool dates, raisins, or dried apricots. Of course, the flavors will differ based on what you choose, so pick a dried fruit you love.
• Other add-ons: Before you refrigerate these little energy bites, roll them a few times through a bowl filled with sesame seeds, fine unsweetened coconut flakes, hemp seeds, and ground flax seeds. They'll stick to the energy balls and add a nice nutritional touch.
• Make them festive-looking: Serve these vegan bliss balls in mini cupcake holders to become the best version of themselves during the Holidays. 

Recipe FAQs

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These steel-cut oat energy balls are the perfect snack or no-bake treat and prove that the best things come in small bites.