Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls are gluten-free, vegan, and make a healthy snack your whole family will love!
I have this thing with beans. I keep putting them in places they aren’t intended to be. Brownies? Sure. Cookies? Why not? The thing is, beans are awesome. Nutritionally, they are powerhouses. Seriously. Beans are a great source of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and magnesium. All important nutrients of which I want to make sure my kids are getting enough. Why save them for dinner?
I promise you that you won’t know that these chocolate peanut butter energy balls have black beans as their base. Even if you don’t love beans. The inspiration for these came from my High Protein Energy Balls recipe that uses chickpeas as the base. Black beans were a natural swap and they worked beautifully.
These chocolate peanut butter energy balls are the perfect snack for anyone, but they are especially great for kids. Healthy snacks are so important for growing kids, so why not choose a snack that will not only fill their bellies but also help fulfill their nutritional needs? The best part is my kids think they are having a treat when they are eating these.
Check out these awesome nutritional stats! Each ball contains:
64 calories
3.9 grams fat
2.6 grams protein
2.6 grams sugar
1.5 grams fiber
Low in calories, fat, and sugar, and high in fiber and protein. Yet it tastes like you are eating fudge! Well, almost. Yes, despite cutting sugar from my diet, I did try these. I can’t serve my children something I haven’t tried, right?! Although I probably could have just taken their word for it that they were good judging from their reactions. All I heard was “Yum! Yum! Yummmmy!” from both of them.
If you have a food processor, these are super easy! By far, my favorite kitchen appliance. Watch for yourself how EASY these are!
You’ll also love to serve these nutritious Almond Butter and Quinoa Energy Balls to your kiddos!
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 34 balls 1x
Description
5 simple ingredients is all you need to create this kid-approved, healthy snack. A perfect way to get an energy boost and satisfy that chocolate craving!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed well
- 3/4 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter of choice)
- 1/4 cup honey (or other liquid sweetener of choice like agave nectar or maple syrup)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- In a food processor, process the almonds until they are a fine crumb. Add the beans and process until they are well incorporated. Add the peanut butter, honey, and cocoa powder and process until the mixture is smooth.
- Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper if you prefer). These can be eaten right away, but I like to put them in the freezer for 10-20 minutes to help them firm up a bit first.
- Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes in freezer
- Category: Snacks
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 76
- Sugar: 2.8g
- Sodium: 26.1mg
- Fat: 4.1g
- Carbohydrates: 6.5g
- Protein: 2.6g
Keywords: energy bites
The chickpea peanut butter energy balls have been a family favorite since I first made them three years ago. Remember when Meghan was stealing balls during the photo shoot?
Seriously: where does the time go?! When I developed that recipe, I was pregnant with Luke. This time, Luke was the 2 year old and he decided it was his turn to be the energy ball thief. So funny!
I hope you are having a great week and you get a chance to try this healthy snack recipe! If you love healthy energy balls that taste like a treat, you’ll probably love these Birthday Cake Energy Balls, too!
This post was first published in 2014. Video was added in 2019. Please note that links to products are affiliate links.
I’ve made this recipe multiple times over the years and keep coming back to it! I absolutely love it for myself and kids!
★★★★★
Loving hearing this! Thank you!
Hi! These look awesome! Just wondering if the amounts would be the same for honey and maple syrup?
Thank you!
I would start with 3 tablespoons maple syrup since it’s thinner than honey. If you need more sweetness and the texture isn’t too wet, add an additional tablespoon.
I’ve played around with this recipe (honey amount or using sweetened cocoa powder – hubby likes things sweet) and we really love always it. The other day I made it as written Just Cause and was shocked how deliciously and CHOCOLATY it was! Might just make as written from now on. I asked hubby to taste and he didn’t think the original recipe needed any additional sweetening either. We didn’t find it bitter at all (though we like dark chocolate…) and it really tastes like chocolate and the texture is much preferred to the grainy/chewy/lumpy texture of many ball recipes.
★★★★★
Awesome!!
Hi Maryea. I just copied this recipe & can’t wait to try it. It’ll help me use up all the black beans & P. butter I get from the food bank & give me something delicious & healthy as well. Thank You. I’m going to try the Chickpea P. Butter Balls too!
I hope you love this Karen! Please let me know how you like the recipes. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxx6apKvtis
how many smart point are they
Hi Cathy! I’m sorry I don’t have those calculations for you.
I just made these, but added some shredded coconut so that I can kill yet another craving in one shot. How yummy! Of course my 3 yr old was angry and said that I ‘ruined them’ with the coconut, though she liked coconut just fine until today, but I guess that means another batch very soon. (After I purchase a new processor, as I killed my ninja just now. NOOOOOO!) I think I would use less cocoa powder next time though, as they border on too bitter for my usual liking, but easily fixed and the recipe you have here is awesome. I can’t wait to try the original with chickpeas as they are a huge staple in our home. Thank u!
Thanks for your feedback!
I am going to try pressing this recipe into a pan and topping with peanuts, rice cereal and maybe a version of your vegan caramel sauce – drizzled with melted chocolate. I am just tired of buying my kids protein bars from the store. Wish me luck! Thanks for all your great ideas!
Wow what a great idea! Will you please let me know how it turns out?
Wow what a great idea! Will you please let me know how it turns out?
Could these be frozen?
Yes, I have!
Tried them yesterday with a few moderations (http://worthredoing.com/2015/10/02/the-8-hour-diet-healthy-peanutbutter-balls/). Very good and also kid approved from our house
I’m glad to hear these were a hit!
Hello , I make a query ; beans are incorporated into the cooked , right recipe? that way you cook ? in my country , but the beans are not easily get used to eating. From already thank you very much. Cheers
Yes, the beans should be cooked before you use them in the recipe. 🙂
Can I sub oats in for almonds? I’m allergic to nuts (was already planning to use toasted soy butter instead of pb) Thanks!
I think oats would work great! Will you let me know how it turns out?