These Monster Cookie Bites are the perfect healthy snack with all the flavors you love in monster cookies. They’re no bake energy balls made with healthy dates, crunchy cashews, protein powder and dairy-free M&M candies. They come together in just 10 minutes for an easy grab-and-go breakfast or pre-workout snack! Freezer-friendly, vegan, gluten-free and grain-free.
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No Bake Monster Cookie Energy Ball Recipe
Craving a fun and healthy snack for on the go? These Monster Bites come together in just 10 minutes and are jam-packed with hearty and delicious ingredients. They’re the perfect healthy snack to make if you need a super quick no-bake treat. All you need are some dates, cashews, coconut and your favorite protein powder and M&M candies. You can throw them together in minutes on your Sunday meal prep and store them in the fridge all week long!
Everyone could use a healthy make-ahead snack recipe. These monster protein balls have a sweet, tangy and nutty flavor that will keep you coming back for more! And it’s easy to customize them with your favorite energy ball ingredients.
What Are Bliss Balls?
Bliss balls are basically little balls of superfood made with ground nuts, dates and more. They’re an ultra-nutritious, ultra-satisfying snack for any occasion. These monster cookie energy bites are so chewy and flavorful, and they work with gluten-free, paleo, vegan, dairy-free and grain-free diet plans!
Are Protein Balls a Healthy Snack?
Who says you can’t have a cookie while staying healthy. Even though these monster cookie balls are sweet and yummy, they can definitely fit into a healthy lifestyle when enjoyed in moderation. The dates are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, and the nuts provide protein, carbs and more. Overall, these energy balls are a well-rounded snack that will fuel your body and make you feel amazing!
Recipe Ingredients
These easy monster protein bites come together with a handful of hearty ingredients. You can make substitutions to suit your preferences or stick with what’s listed below:
- Cashews and Sliced Almonds: Full of healthy fats, important minerals, calcium and potassium, this combination of nuts is the ultimate energy ball ingredients. If you’re not a fan of cashews or almonds, you can sub with pecans, walnuts or macadamia nuts
- Medjool Dates: You’ll need about 1 cup of pitted dates.
- Unsweetened Shredded or Desiccated Coconut: Helps bind the protein balls together and adds texture and natural sweetness.
- Plant-based Protein Powder: We like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Pea Protein but you can use your favorite. We have not tested this with a Whey protein powder since we wanted to keep this recipe vegan but feel free to do so if it fits with your dietary preference. You may also sub with a little bit more almond meal or almond flour if you prefer not to use protein powder.
- Cashew Butter: To hold everything together. We prefer cashew butter for the but taste but you can also swap with all natural peanut butter (not paleo) or any nut butter or seed butter of your choice.
- Vanilla Extract: For flavor.
- Cinnamon: Just a teaspoon for flavor.
- Sea Salt: To taste.
- M&M Candies: Gives these a pop of color and that classic Monster Cookie vibe.We like to use these Dark Chocolate Gems to keep these monster energy balls vegan and dairy-free. Omit for strict paleo and sub with more dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: For a touch of sweetness. Be sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips like we did to keep this energy ball recipe vegan. We like Pascha’s Dark Chocolate. Omit for strict paleo or sub regular if not dairy-free.
How to Make Monster Bites
Get ready for the easiest snack of your life! These monster cookie energy balls are as simple as pulverizing, rolling and chilling.
- Grind Nuts: Add cashews, almonds, coconut flakes, dates, nut butter, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to a food processor.
- Grind: Process ingredients until a sticky cookie dough forms. The dough should be pinch-able and stick together when you press it with your hands. Add more nuts or nut butter as needed to adjust the consistency and taste. Transfer the dough to a large bowl. Fold in the M&Ms and chocolate chips and mix to combine.
- Shape: Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Press a few more M&M candies and chocolate chips in each ball (to make them prettier), if desired.
- Serve or Store: Keep these bliss balls in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container.
Tips for Success
To ensure your bliss balls are as tasty as can be, check out the following tips and tricks.
- Use Good Dates: Make sure your dates are fresh and not stale or hard. If they have gotten stale, you can soften them up again and make them good as new! Simply place them in a bowl and pour boiling water into the bowl until all of the dates are submerged. Let the bowl sit, covered, for about 5 minutes, then remove the dates and drain out the moisture.
- Add a touch of sweetener: Like your energy bites sweeter? Go ahead and add some maple syrup, honey or any sticky liquid sweetener of your choice.
- Swap the Coconut for oats: If you’re not a fan of coconut, you can swap with gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats.
- Nut Butter: Don’t have cashew butter? You can use creamy peanut butter or any nut butter of your choice.
- Use a Food Processor: You will need a food processor or blender for this recipe in order to pulverize the ingredients. Don’t stop pulsing until the mixture starts clumping together.
- Season/Substitute to Taste: Feel free to add an extra pinch of salt to this recipe, use a different flavored extract or add another kind of dried fruit, if desired. You could also add dark chocolate or chia seeds!
How to Store Homemade Bliss Balls
You should keep your monster energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge. We personally love enjoying them once they’ve been chilled! They’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
Can I Freeze These?
You sure can! These monster protein bites will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 month. Just remember to keep them in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Thaw frozen bliss bite in the fridge before enjoying.
More Healthy Snack Ideas
We have tons of other healthy snack recipes that you’re sure to love. Don’t be shy, give these ones a try!
These Monster Cookie Bites are the perfect healthy snack with all the flavors you love in monster cookies. They're no bake energy balls made with healthy dates, crunchy cashews, protein powder and dairy-free M&M candies. They come together in just 10 minutes for an easy grab-and-go breakfast or pre-workout snack! Freezer-friendly, vegan, gluten-free and grain-free.
- 1/2 cup cashews , or sub with preferred nuts
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds , or sub with preferred nuts
- 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates , tightly packed
- 1/4 cup creamy cashew butter or preferred nut / seed butter
- 1 tbsp plant-based protein powder , optional for added protein or sub with hemp seeds or ground flaxseeds. We like NuZest Just Clean or Sprout Living Pea Protein but you can use your favorite. We have not tested this with a Whey protein powder since we wanted to keep this recipe vegan but feel free to do so if it fits with your dietary preference.
- 1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1-2 tbsp M&M style chocolate candies + more for pressing. Omit if preferred for strict paleo or use chopped chocolate or more dark chocolate chips.
- 1-2 tbsp dairy-free (no-sugar added as needed) mini chocolate chips + more for pressing. We like Pascha's or Lily's Sweets (not dairy-free). Omit for strict paleo or sub regular if not dairy-free.
Add cashews, almonds, coconut flakes, dates, nut butter, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to a food processor.
Process ingredients until a sticky cookie dough forms. The dough should be pinch-able and stick together when you press it with your hands. Add more nuts or nut butter as needed to adjust the consistency and taste.
Transfer the dough to a large bowl. Fold in the chocolate candies and chocolate chips and mix to combine.
Scoop into 1 tablespoon-sized balls and roll into 1 inch balls. (Chill mixture in the fridge for about 30 minutes for easier rolling as needed).
Press a few more chocolate candies and chocolate chips in each ball (to make them prettier), if desired.
Store in a resealable bag or airtight container in the fridge (for up to 1 week) or freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Store
Keep your bliss balls in an airtight container in the fridge. We personally love enjoying them once they've been chilled! They'll stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
How to Freeze
These bliss balls will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 1 month. Just remember to keep them in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Thaw frozen date balls in the fridge before enjoying.
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