Chocolate matcha energy balls

A healthy snack made with just 5 simple ingredients, these Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls are sure to keep you full for hours and give you that afternoon caffeine boost you are craving!

Fun fact: I used to work for a snack ball company… that’s how obsessed with energy balls I was/am! When they first started, I would do demos in local grocery stores to introduce people to the product. One of the most popular questions was, “Why do you call them energy balls?” So let’s dive into that…

These balls are made from real, whole foods! Sure, any snack or drink could give you energy (think of it as fuel for your body) but these balls will give you sustained energy. They are packed with healthy fat and fiber which slow down the blood sugar spike and the matcha adds a little natural caffeine! Plus chocolate…who doesn’t love chocolate?

What is matcha?

Matcha is a green tea powder that originates from Japan. It is a finely ground powder that is made from dried tea leaves. It’s rich with antioxidants and studies have shown that it can help with liver health, heart health and brain function. (Source) It does have caffeine but I find that it impacts me more mildly than coffee does.

Chocolate Matcha Energy Ball Ingredients

Dates – any type of pitted dates work, just make sure they are soft and sticky.
Raw almonds
Unsweetened cocoa powder – both cacao powder and cocoa powder work here! Just make sure both are unsweetened.
Matcha powder – I’ve been loving Golde Pure Matcha lately!
Unsweetened almond milk – any dairy-free milk works here but I usually use unsweetened almond milk.

How to Make Homemade Energy Balls

STEP 1: Add the dates and almonds to a food processor and process until they come together into a sticky ball. Be patient as this may take a couple of minutes (roughly 5 minutes).

STEP 2: Break up the ball a bit and add in the cocoa powder, matcha powder, salt and almond milk. Process until all of the ingredients have been combined and one large, sticky ball is formed – around 2-3 minutes.

STEP 3: Roll the mixture into 10 small balls and dust with more matcha powder.

Troubleshooting Tips

My dates aren’t sticky:

One of the most common problems with energy balls is that they aren’t sticking together! If this is happening to you, it’s likely that your dates aren’t soft and sticky enough. If you notice that your dates are dry before you mix the balls, simply soak them in some hot water for a few minutes to rehydrate them.

My mixture isn’t coming together into a ball:

You likely aren’t allowing the matcha chocolate energy balls to process long enough. You need to be patient and allow at least 5 minutes for the natural oils in the almonds to break down and allow the mixture to come together. If you notice that the mixture isn’t sticking together after you already mixed all the ingredients, you can add in another small splash of almond milk or water to rehydrate the ingredients. Less is more here… start small and gradually add liquid until the mixture sticks.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.

How to Store Energy Balls

Store these energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If you need to store for longer, these also freeze well for several months. Just remove about 30 minutes before eating.