This Coconut Apricot Energy Balls recipe is vegan, gluten-free, made with no added sugar, and is a perfect portable snack to have on hand!
So many recipes for energy balls (mine included) involve chocolate and peanut butter. Of course you can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, but I was ready to change things up and get fruity.
Coconut reminds me of all things tropical, and with the winter weather giving me a major case of cabin fever, I thought coconut would be a perfect base. I had a huge bag of dried apricots from Costco, so Coconut Apricot Energy Balls were born. 
Energy balls are a popular snack over here. The kids just love them and I love that I can control the ingredients and make them in less than 15 minutes. My 7-year-old Meghan actually loves helping me make energy balls and asks to help anytime she sees me dumping ingredients into the food processor. <–That is an affiliate link, by the way, in case you are in the market for this amazing kitchen machine. I have no idea what I’d do without my food processor! I use it for so many things. (Affiliate link just means if you purchase through that link, I’ll get a small percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Happy Healthy Mama!)
These Coconut Apricot Energy Balls are a nutrient-dense snack. Let’s take a look at what you’re getting in from these portable snack-a-roos.
Apricots: vitamin A, vitamin C, copper, fiber, potassium, catechins (the same anti-inflammatory nutrient found in green tea)
Dates: selenium, copper, zinc, fiber, vitamin B6
Cashews: copper, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, and zinc
Coconut: vitamin C, iron, calcium, vitamin B6, magnesium
As you can see, every ingredient is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. These snack balls are a good source of zinc, which is an important nutrient for immune function. Such an important nutrient to get enough of, especially this time of year when there is so much sickness going around! 
So we have a nutrient-dense snack that’s easy to make. As you can see, these are also highly portable. If you’re often having snacks on the run, these are perfect. If you love energy balls snacks, scroll to the bottom of this post and I’ll link some more of my family favorites. I hope you enjoy this one!
PrintCoconut Apricot Energy Balls
This Coconut Apricot Energy Balls recipe is vegan, gluten-free, made with no added sugar, and is a perfect portable snack to have on hand!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 24 1x
- Category: snack
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apricots (pitted)
- 1/2 cup dates (pitted)
- 1 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor.
- Process until the ingredients are broken down and look like a coarse crumb. If you pinch it between your fingers, it should stick together.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 69
- Sugar: 6.5g
- Sodium: 2.1mg
- Fat: 3.7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 1.4g
Here are some of my family’s other favorite energy ball recipes:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Strawberry Shortcake Energy Balls
Ruth says
November 13, 2018 at 2:08 amMade these tonight and they are so yummy! I put some grated lemon rind and a squirt of lemon juice in and it gave them the perfect tang.
So good!
★★★★★
Maryea says
November 13, 2018 at 1:26 pmYay! Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Monica says
September 11, 2018 at 7:40 amYum!
★★★★★
Tracey says
January 28, 2018 at 2:13 amMade these today for School snacks for a very fussy 10rs…. she loved them , I also used raw unsoaked cashews and still turned out lovely
Maryea says
January 28, 2018 at 9:12 amGreat to hear that, Tracey! 🙂
Terry says
January 13, 2018 at 5:35 pmThanks Maryes,
Coconut Apricot Energy Balls, Easy to make and enjoyable.A quick snack from the fridge mid afternoon.
Terry.
★★★★★
Anna says
May 30, 2017 at 9:25 amHi, I will make some tomorrow, I was wondering if you can freeze them? has anybody tried?
Tia!
Maryea says
May 30, 2017 at 11:56 amYes, you can freeze these!
Cassie @ Be Forever Healthier says
May 4, 2017 at 4:51 amI made a batch of these tonight and I LOVE THEM! Thank you for a wonderful recipe!!! Oh and I used raw cashews and it worked perfectly and I didn’t soak them.
★★★★★
Maryea says
May 5, 2017 at 8:34 amGreat! Thanks for letting me know Cassie. 🙂
Smitha says
February 26, 2017 at 10:20 amThanks for the recipe. I was looking out for a apricot energy bite.
It has come out well
Maryea says
February 27, 2017 at 8:24 amGreat! 🙂 You’re welcome.
Ariane Arsenault says
January 31, 2017 at 8:27 pmWhat would you recommend using instead of cashews to make this a school safe treat? We aren’t allowed nut in our school because of allergies. Thank you!
Kelly says
August 5, 2016 at 7:05 pmHi, thanks for the recipe. My daughter attends a nut free daycare. Any thoughtsfor a possible alternative to the cashews?
Maryea says
August 6, 2016 at 5:25 pmI have had good luck using sunflower seeds for nut-free energy balls. They may work here, too!
Kirsty says
July 27, 2016 at 6:50 amHi Maryea – can I used desiccated coconut instead? I can’t seem to find shredded coconut anywhere… Thanks.
Maryea says
July 27, 2016 at 10:37 amI’m not 100% sure what the difference is. It is more fine? I’m pretty sure it should work just fine, but I hate to say that without trying it or knowing for sure.
Kirsty says
July 28, 2016 at 5:25 amI’ll give a go and let you know, 🙂 thanks!
Kristen says
February 19, 2016 at 9:37 pmHi Maryea,
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve included a link to your Coconut Apricot Energy Balls in a BuzzFeed roundup. Here’s the link if you’d like to share it with your followers:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/theendlessmeal/15-ways-to-get-more-energy-from-your-balls-fs33
Hope you have a great weekend!
(And a quick heads up … your email link isn’t working)
★★★★★
Christy says
February 3, 2016 at 12:25 amSweetened or unsweetened coconut ?
Maryea says
February 3, 2016 at 5:24 amI use unsweetened. Thanks for asking I should clarify that in the recipe!
Heghineh says
January 27, 2016 at 5:37 amI want to make this right now and eat it thats how awesome this looks
Maryea says
January 27, 2016 at 6:12 pmAw, thank, Heghineh! I hope you do. 🙂
Hsiaolei says
January 26, 2016 at 10:37 amHi. These look delish.
do you use raw cashews or roasted? and if you use raw, do you soak them first?
Thank you for all you do!
Maryea says
January 26, 2016 at 2:17 pmI used roasted. If you use raw, soaking them is the best way to go!
hsiaolei says
January 26, 2016 at 10:34 amHi . Do you use raw cashews or roasted? And if you use raw, do you soak them first?
Thanks! these look yummy.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
January 25, 2016 at 10:17 amI always tend to use raisins and forget how amazing dried apricots are. That needs to change!
Maryea says
January 25, 2016 at 9:50 pmYes! Apricots are full of nutrients and a great way to switch it up!