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This recipe for cherry balls is an easy, freezer-friendly whole food dessert that are the perfect afternoon pick me up or addition to an adult lunchbox. Made with dates, almonds, and dried cherries, these cherry energy bites are going to become a staple in your freezer!
Cherry Energy Bites are the perfect snack to fuel your day with a burst of tart cherry goodness! Made with a blend of dried cherries, oats, nuts, and a hint of honey, they’re naturally sweet, chewy, and packed with healthy energy. These bites are ideal for busy mornings, post-workout snacks, or whenever you need a quick pick-me-up.
What’s great about Cherry Energy Bites is how easy they are to make – just blend, roll, and chill! They store beautifully in the fridge for up to a week, so you can prep them in advance and grab one (or two!) whenever you need a boost. Trust us, these bites will satisfy your snack cravings in the most delicious way!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Cherry Balls
- Five Minute Prep: Toss everything in your food processor, blend, roll, and you’re done! No baking, no waiting, just instant snack gratification.
- Wholesome Ingredients: Each bite delivers antioxidants from cherries, fiber from dates, and protein from your choice of nuts. It’s like nature’s multivitamin in snack form!
- Endlessly Customizable: Use whatever nuts you have on hand! The recipe works beautifully with pecans, walnuts, almonds, or any combination that suits your taste.
- Kid-Approved Nutrition: These little gems have passed the toughest test of all—picky eaters! The natural sweetness makes them feel like a treat while you know they’re getting real nutrition.
- Meal-Prep Miracle: Make a double batch and store them in the freezer for instant snacks whenever hunger strikes. They thaw in minutes and taste just as fresh!
🍽️ These energy bites are perfect no-bake treats for snack time: Extra Protein Oatmeal Bites, No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Energy Balls and Blueberry Muffin Date Balls!
Recipe Ingredients
- Nuts — I used ½ cup of pecans, ½ cup walnuts, and 1 cup of almonds.
- Dates — Make sure you’re using pitted dates!
- Died sour cherries
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Cherry Energy Bites
Step 1: Add all ingredients to the food processor bowl.
Step 2: Blend for 3-5 minutes until nuts are chopped and a thick “dough” forms.
Step 3: Remove the blade, then roll 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball between your hands. Repeat with the rest.
Step 4: Store the balls in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for longer storage.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! While the tart-sweet flavor of dried cherries creates magic in this recipe, you can substitute with cranberries, blueberries, or even chopped dried apricots. Each fruit will bring its unique flavor profile, so feel free to experiment based on what your family loves!
If your mixture seems too crumbly to form balls, the dates might be too dry. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water as suggested in the notes and continue processing. If it’s still not coming together, try adding a tablespoon of nut butter or a few more dates to help bind the ingredients.
As far as the cherries go, it tastes best with unsweetened sour cherries. They taste the most like pie! I have also made these with sweet and Bing dried cherries and it was good though not quite as packed with cherry flavor.
You absolutely can! Fold in ¼ cup of mini chocolate chips after processing, or roll the finished balls in cocoa powder or finely chopped dark chocolate for an extra-special treat. The chocolate pairs wonderfully with the cherry flavor!
Expert Tips
- Trust Your Processor: Don’t be afraid to let your food processor run for the full 3-5 minutes. (I use my Kitchen Aid Food Processor all of the time!) This isn’t just about chopping; it’s about releasing the natural oils in the nuts and the moisture in the fruits to create that perfect sticky consistency. But avoid over-blending, as it may turn the nuts into nut butter!
- The Water Trick: If you’re working with slightly dried-out dates, adding 1-2 tablespoons of warm water can make all the difference. The warm water helps rehydrate the dates and creates that perfect binding texture.
- Cherry Selection Matters: Look for dried sour cherries without added sugar for the most vibrant flavor and health benefits. The natural tartness provides a beautiful contrast to the sweet dates.
- Chill Before Rolling: If you find the mixture a bit sticky to work with, pop it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before rolling. The slight chill makes handling much easier and creates perfectly shaped balls.
- Storage Savvy: For grab-and-go convenience, wrap each ball individually in parchment paper before storing. This makes them perfect for lunchboxes or purse snacks without any mess!
More Healthy Snack Recipes To Consider
Dip Recipes
Lemon Garlic Hummus Recipe Without Tahini
Healthy Snacks
Medjool Date Protein Bites: No-Bake Sweet Treat
Healthy Snacks
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Recipe For Cherry Balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups nuts, I used ½ cup of pecans, ½ cup walnuts, and 1 cup of almonds
- 1 cup dates, pitted
- 1 cup dried sour cherries
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of your food processor and blend until the nuts are well chopped and a thick “dough” starts to form, about 3-5 minutes of processing.
- When the ingredients are well incorporated, remove the blade from the food processor. Take 1 large tablespoon of the “dough” and roll it into a ball in between your hands. Repeat with remaining dough. Keep the balls in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer much longer.
Notes
- Use fresh, squishy dates for the best texture.
- If you use older dates that have started to dry out a bit (they might have a slight white residue on the outside from the sugar crystallizing on the outside if they are old too), then you might need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water when blending to help the ingredients come together.
- If the dough isn’t coming together, try adding a tablespoon or two of water to encourage everything to come together.
- Look for dried sour cherries that don’t have any added sugar.
These are so good and the added bonus is that they can be stored in the freezer. Everything came together in my food processor quickly and rolled out easily. Thank you for a great, healthy recipe!
What is the fiber content per serving?
My nutrition calculator isn’t pulling it up, feel free to plug it into something like myfitnesspal or another app to figure out the fiber!
Was fun trying something new and healthy. Glad you explained about pitted dates. I had my son help remove pits but it was so worth it!! Keep up good work.
I feel guilty for eating…um…like half of these today. I don’t feel guilty because I keep telling myself they are natural, good, real food. Which side of my brain is gonna win this battle? Next time….like tomorrow probably… I will add more cherries, because, cherries! Thanks for the new addiction!
Those look good! Where do you find sour cherries? Does it actually say ‘sour’ on the packaging? Also, is there any fruit that could be subbed for them?
Yummy! This is a good kick in the pants to finally try to make my own bars/balls. I buy Lara bars to eat one after my morning workout.