Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls: An Easy Make-Ahead Snack

When you need a quick snack, having something ready to grab can make busy days a little easier. These protein-packed Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls combine almonds, cranberries, dates, oats, tahini, lemon juice, and maple syrup for a simple, helathy snack you can make ahead and keep in the refrigerator.

The recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare, and you can store the energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

What’s Inside?

This recipe uses a mix of pantry staples, including:

• Almonds, which provide healthy fats, vitamin E, and magnesium
• Oats for a hearty whole-grain ingredient
• Cranberries and dates for fruity sweetness
• Tahini, made from sesame seeds, to help hold everything together
• Lemon juice and maple syrup to round out the flavor

Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls

Ingredients

• ¾ cup raw whole almonds
• ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries
• ¼ cup pitted dates
• ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Directions

Add the almonds, cranberries, and dates to a large food processor. Process on high until the ingredients are broken into smaller pieces, about 10 to 15 seconds.

Add the oats, tahini, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Continue processing until a thick paste forms, about 40 to 60 seconds.

Using your hands, roll the mixture into 25 balls, using about 1 tablespoon of the mixture for each.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Gluten-free tip: If you have celiac disease or a sensitivity to gluten, choose oats labeled “gluten-free.”

Making Healthy Eating Work for You

Healthy eating does not have to mean complicated recipes or hours in the kitchen. Planning ahead and keeping convenient options on hand can make it easier to choose foods that fit your needs and lifestyle.

Nutrition is also not one-size-fits-all, especially for people living with diabetes or other endocrine conditions. As part of your nonprofit health system, Southern New Hampshire Diabetes and Endocrinology offers nutrition counseling tailored to each patient’s individual health needs, goals, and lifestyle as part of its approach to coordinated diabetes and endocrine care. 

Learn more

Recipe adapted from EatingWell: Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls.