Fitness / January 14, 2024

Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites

Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites are red and green (Christmas-themed?) balls of energy that will keep you going through the holidays.

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These energy balls are the PERFECT snack for this time of year. Yes, I love that they match my house’s decor, what with their dabs of red and green (all they need is ivy attached to them to complete the look). But what I LOVE is that there is no better time than the holiday season to whip up a batch of these energy bites.

No, I don’t recommend putting them out as an hors d’oeuvre or use them as your contribution to the annual neighborhood pot luck, but I do rely on them as my own personal rocket fuel, on those long days when I start before the sun comes up, cooking, cleaning, decorating, wrapping, and all the myriad duties I have once the advent season arrives.

Sure, I could rely on my No-Bake Energy Balls With Apricots And Cashews or my Almond Joy Energy Bites but these balls are not only festive (as discussed), but I don’t get many chances to use pistachios in my recipes. It’s also a simple recipe that will come together in no time. So, before the season overwhelms you and you find yourself turning more and more to sugary snacks to sustain you, make some of these energy bites and get revitalized with something good for you.

Are Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites Healthy?

Yes, they are. Between the dates, the seeds, the fruit, the oats, and the nuts, you will get a potent portion of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, proteins, and fats—everything your body could ask for! Be aware that added sugars can sometimes hitch a ride with dried cranberries so check out the ingredients before committing to any particular brand. The white chocolate drops don’t have the same health benefits as dark chocolate so don’t overdo it with the amount you add. The recipe adheres to vegetarian mandates (drop the chocolate drops to make it vegan), gluten-free diets (assuming the oats are gluten-free), and paleo diets (if you remove the oats entirely).

What are Medjool Dates?

Known as the “king of dates”, Medjools are big, juicy, and tender—everything you could want in a king! They hail from Morocco and the Middle East, though they have lately made the move to certain parts of America where conditions are optimal. They’re larger than other dates—hence their regal moniker—and pack in the juice under their dark, brown skin. They contain a lot of natural sugar, as most dates do, making them a great addition to recipes that beg for something sweet. They pop up regularly in salads, smoothies, and yes, energy balls. Once you’ve removed their pits, Medjool dates make an excellent vessel for cream or goat cheese.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup pistachio nuts
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup dried cranberries
2 tbsp ground flax seeds
2 tbsp chia seeds
¼ cup white chocolate drops

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend

Place the pistachio nuts, oats, and cranberries in a food processor and blend for 2 minutes, until it forms a coarse crumb.

Add

Add the pitted dates, ground flax seeds, chia seeds, and white chocolate drops. Blend again until the mix comes together.

Roll

Use your hands to break off pieces about the size of a tablespoon and roll them into balls.

DEVOUR!

Tips & Tricks to Making Perfect Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites

Organic fruits and nuts are head-and-shoulders above the regular kind. Use them if you can find/afford them.
Use a cookie scoop to make uniform balls.
For a texture and flavor change, roll the balls in shredded coconut or, if you have any left over, crushed pistachio.
Chill the mixture for 20 minutes before rolling. It will make them easier to shape.
Add all-natural nut butter for a protein and flavor boost.

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FAQs

my balls crumble. how can i prevent this?

Add more dates to the mixture then blend it up. The stickiness of the dates is what is keeping them together. If that doesn’t work, use an all-natural nut butter.

what if my energy balls are too sticky?

Add more nuts and/or oats.

what setting on my blender should i use?

Pulse, don’t blend. Blending will give all the ingredients a uniform consistency that robs you of the variety of textures your energy balls should have.

my dates are dry. can i do anything about this?

Yes, and it’s advisable you do. After all, the juiciness of your dates is what keeps your energy balls cohesive. Take your dry dates and soak them in warm water for 10–15 minutes then drain. That should soften and reinvigorate them.

Other Energy Ball Recipes To Try

Almond Joy Energy Bites: Packed with almonds, oats, nut butter, and chocolate drops, they taste as good as the candy bar they’re named after.

Vegan No-Bake Date Energy Protein Balls With Matcha: Fall in love with matcha, a Japanese green tea that probably isn’t featured in your recipes as often as it should.

Coconut Rum Raisin Energy Balls: Paleo, high in protein, and super simple, these balls feature rum extract for a sophisticated taste.

Cookie Dough Energy Bites: Why eat cookie dough (bad for you) when you can eat Cookie dough energy bites (good for you)?

How To Store Cranberry Pistachio Energy bites

Place the energy balls in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Smell them before eating to ensure they haven’t gone bad. You can also freeze the energy balls for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before indulging.