Vegan gingerbread energy balls with dates and walnuts

Vegan gingerbread energy balls made with dates, walnuts, oats, cocoa and gingerbread spice, no baking and ready in 15 minutes. Snacks for Advent, 180 kcal per two balls.

At a glance

• Serves 10
• Prep time: 15 min
• No cooking needed
• Total time: 15 min
• Calories: 180 kcal per serving
• Protein: 4 g
• Fat: 10 g
• Carbs: 18 g

Ingredients

• 200g dates
• 120g walnuts
• 60g oats
• 20g ground almonds
• 1 orange
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tsp gingerbread spice
• 1 pinch of salt

Method

You’ll need: blender · sieve

1. Stone the dates. If they're very firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and drain them well.
2. Roughly chop the walnuts and oats in a blender.
3. Add the dates, cocoa, gingerbread spice, grated orange zest and salt and blend everything until you have a sticky mixture.
4. With damp hands, shape 20 balls and roll them in the ground almonds.
5. Chill the energy balls for 30 minutes and serve them cold.

Good to know

They taste like gingerbread dough but don't need an oven: these balls are ready in a quarter of an hour and fit in any bag.

Swaps

Walnuts → hazelnuts (sweeter). Oats → ground almonds (gluten-free). Dates → dried figs (more grainy). Cocoa → carob (milder).

Cooking tips

If the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon of water; if it's too sticky, add a few more oats. A powerful blender makes it easier.

Storage

Keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer.

Allergens

Contains walnuts and almonds, and gluten from oats depending on the type; suitable for children from five (NHS advice on nuts), fine during pregnancy. Contains: gluten (oats).

Frequently asked questions

Can you freeze gingerbread energy balls?

Keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer.

Dairy-free recipes