I wanted something I could easily transport to the airport and in the end I dug around in my pantry and pulled out dates, almond butter, oats, dried cranberries, maple syrup and cocoa powder.
Within minutes, I had a yummy batch of chocolate cranberry energy bars and energy balls on my hand!
Easy Chocolate Cranberry Energy Balls
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Easy Chocolate Cranberry Energy Bars (or Balls)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 bars 1x
- Category: breakfast, recipes
- Cuisine: Breakfast
Description
Various ingredients like dates, almond butter, oats, dried cranberries, maple syrup and cocoa powder; make this recipe perfect for on-the-go mornings, or in the car in between meetings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates, pits removed
- 1 cup oats
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup almond butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large food processor and pulse until a thick “dough” forms.
- If you are making balls, roll dough into small balls and place in the refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy!
- If you are making bars, press dough into a small square baking dish and refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting dough into bars. Refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
I personally find that the energy balls are a little easier to transport until you wrap up the bars individually in saran wrap to prevent them from sticking to a ziploc baggie or each other. Either way, they are delicious! If you decide to give them a try, I hope you enjoy them! And feel free to play around with the ingredients a little bit. I think adding chocolate chips, coconut or even crushed pretzels to the bars would taste fantastic!
Similar Recipes
- Brownie Bite Truffles (gluten-free + vegan)
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Whenever I see recipes like this they remind me I need a food processor! Love how easy this looks!
Yum! These look delicious! I’ll definitely have to try!
I totally agree, coming prepared with food to airports is so important. It’s so hard to find good options, and it’s always so expensive! Have a safe flight!
About how many balls would this make? I am calculating the nutrition per serving.
Yum! I love having a energy balls ready for a snack during the week.
These look delicious! I’ve been eating lots and lots of cranberry lately, so good for you!
This look delectable! I’ve been in search of a good energy bar for quick breakfasts and since I’m a big fan of coconut I may even try the tropical recipe too! Thanks 🙂
These look really good and easy! Thanks for sharing.
Hope you like them if you decide to give them a try!
My kids love these (they’re teenagers, to boot!). I need to get back into having these on hand in the fridge. Thanks for the reminder!
Yum! These look like the perfect snack for a busy day!
This looks super easy and really tasty! I have never tried dates before. I don’t know what I am missing out on, haha. I should get to it!
You know I have never actually tried a date! I know crazy! I am going to have to start there and then make these yummy bars 🙂
If only I had a food processor …
Airport food can be tough– so expensive and not always very many good choices! Love the idea of making energy balls to take with you.
I’ve never been fully tempted to make my own energy bars before… until now. It helps that I have all of these ingredients on hand right now 🙂 I might have to try making a batch this weekend, they seem like the perfect snack to take on a hike. Thanks for sharing!
I have all these ingredients AND I am flying out to CA later today. Maybe I need to whip some up for the trip! I was just eating some dates and homemade almond butter and I am constantly frustrated by the fact that I have to de-pit each date. I can get regular dates already pitted but I can never find Medjool dates that are pitted. I even asked a rep at an expo I went to and he thought it was weird that I had a problem with it haha. Oh well, I”ll keep eating them but just figured I would vent here 🙂
These look really good! I usually snack on beefy jerky or banana and pb at the airport.
I love making homemade bars and balls! I just made an almond joy version of a Larabar and it’s so yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipe, I can’t wait to try it!
Yum! I’ll have to make these! I’m going back to school and just started my first class after work which means a LOT of running around and being hangry. 😉
Do you think they would still taste good if you used fresh cranberries instead of dried?
I think fresh cranberries might be a little too bitter :/
I’m always looking for new snack ideas that I can take with me to class. These are perfect! I’m sure they’re pretty filling too 🙂
YUM! I always have no bake PB balls in my fridge for before early workouts or a snack while cooking dinner. These sound soo good, so easy and I Have all ingredients at home, WIN!
Thanks!
Always looking for a new food processor ball snack combination. These look easy and not messy!
Those look so good! Why I don’t make energy balls more often is beyond me. Enjoy the rest of your (freezing) trip in MN!
Mmmm these look tasty! I love having little bites around for snacks and treats 🙂
Hmm…sounds like an interesting combination! I do not have dates on hand–but maybe they will still work without them. I make a different version–oats, almond butter, honey, vanilla, cranberries, and chocolate chips and they really do the trick when I need a little pick me up in the afternoon!
Love your blog and outlook of life and fitness. These look delicious…I love bar and ball recipes 🙂
Thank you, Stacy!
These look amazing! I hope you had a great time in Florida with your family! My parents also live in Florida and it is so hard to live so far from them.
Nice! These look very tasty and super easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
I love dates!! So sweet and delicious! I am now hungry, thank you 😉
I must make those brownie bite truffles!!!
I just made these, super easy and they taste great!
I need to try to make these! I have been wanting to try these for so long!
After owning a food processor for 3+ years (a wedding gift) I JUST used it tonight… I made balls that mimic coconut Lara bars. Deff pinning the above- yum!
This looks amazing <3
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These look delishhhh!! Will have to try!
I so wish my food processor wasn’t broken. I so badly need a new one! These look yummy!
amazing