Banana Bread Energy Balls
192 Comments
Updated Sep 06, 2022
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These banana bread energy balls make for a deliciously sweet yet healthy snack. They’re filled with nutritious, good-for-you ingredients and are easy to throw together. Just toss everything into a food processor, roll the dough up, and that’s it!
What Are Energy Balls?
You’ve probably heard of bliss balls, protein balls, energy balls, and so on. Essentially, they’re all the same bite sized treats made from energy-boosting ingredients. From healthy fat to fiber to protein, they’ve got it all. Not to mention, they only takes 10 minutes to make.
They come in a wide range of flavors, including oatmeal chocolate chip energy balls, to mango date energy balls, and matcha pistachio bliss balls.
It’s no wonder why everyone loves these energy balls. They make for a quick, portable snack that’s filling, energizing, and all around healthy. Even better, today’s version tastes like your favorite banana bread!
Banana Bread Energy Balls Recipe Video
Want to see how easy this recipe is to make? Just watch the video below!
The Power Of These Small, But Mighty Balls
While there’s endless flavor combinations, energy balls are typically made from a similar foundation. Here’s what you’ll find in them.
Healthy Fats: Energy balls usually have a base of nuts or seeds, which provides plenty of healthy fats. Such ingredients can be almonds, cashews, walnuts, or chia seeds.
Fiber: Aside from nuts and seeds, fresh and dried fruits are thrown into the mix – giving you a boost in fiber! This will help keep you full, promote good gut health, and help create a smooth digestive system.
Carbohydrates: With carbs being a main source of energy, oats or dates are prime ingredients for any balls. They’ll give you that boost in energy, making it great for an afternoon or pre-workout snack.
Protein: Protein comes naturally from the nuts being used such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, and more. Which means this is a great protein snack for vegans or vegetarians.
7 Ingredients You’ll Need
If you’ve made my paleo banana bread before, you’re in for a treat. These little energizing bites tastes just like a slice of banana bread. Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make them.
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: 2 cups
- Ripe Bananas: 1/2 cup mashed banana
- Almonds: 1/2 cup
- Pecans: 1/2 cup
- Maple Syrup: 1/3 cup
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Vanilla Extract: 1/4 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/4 teaspoon
How to Make Banana Bread Energy Balls
These energy balls are as simple as can be. Plus they’re gluten-free, and vegan. So grab your food processor and cookie scoop, and let’s get started.
- Process. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and pulse the mixture for 10 seconds. Then scrape down the sides and blend again until the mixture is fairly smooth, with slight bit of texture.
- Roll. Scoop a ball using a medium cookie scoop and roll it in between your hands. Continue this process until you’ve used up all the dough.
- Enjoy. You can enjoy the balls right away or place them in a storage container.
How To Store Energy Balls
The beauty of these energy balls is that they make for the perfect meal prep snack. All you need to do is store them in an airtight container. But you have the option of leaving them on the counter or storing in the fridge or freezer.
If you’d like to keep the balls a bit softer, leave them out at room temperature. For a more chilled and firmer texture, place them in the fridge. They will last for about 2 weeks either way.
Want to store them longer? Just place them in the freezer, and make sure to separate the balls with parchment or wax paper so they don’t stick together.
More Easy, On-The-Go Snacks
Need a snack for the road? Here’s a few ideas that can easily be bagged up and taken with you wherever you go!
- Baked Apple Chips
- Crispy Kale Chips
- Ultimate Seed Crackers + Classic Hummus
- Baked Plantain Chips
- Trail Mix Granola Bars
Banana Bread Energy Balls
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup mashed banana, from one medium banana
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor and pulse the mixture for 10 seconds. Scrape down the sides, then blend again until the mixture is fairly smooth, with a slight bit of texture. The dough will likely start to roll around the food processor when it's blended enough.
- Scoop a ball using a medium cookie scoop and roll it in between your hands. Then place it on a parchment lined plate or baking tray. Continue this process until you've used up all the dough.
- Chill the balls for 30 minutes to firm up, then enjoy!
Lisa's Tips
- If the balls don't hold together, it's likely the texture is too big. Just put it back in the food processor and pulse for a finer texture.
- The balls will be a little soft when you first roll them, but they'll firm up as the oats absorb the maple syrup.
- This is the cookie scoop I use and love.
Nutrition
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My 20 yr old just loved these. Perfect mid exam snack for her!
I found the mix a bit runny to roll but just kept my fingers a bit wet in between rolls. They firmed up nicely in the fridge.
And I rolled in coconut which helped them keep their shape better!
They’re a great snack for sure! Enjoy!
Hi Lisa, i’m dying to make them for my next yoga workshop!
As I’d need to make them in advance I wanted to asl how long they can be stored in the fridge/freezer?
Thanks!
Hi Katharina – You can store them in the fridge for about 2 weeks!
Another fantastic recipe! Obviously I spent my snow day making a bunch of different balls.
Hi Catherine – Woohoo! These are such a great snack to keep on hand.
Thank you so much.I have bought your book and is trying out all the recipes and really enjoying eating them too.
Hi Kmai – I’m glad you enjoy these energy balls and hope you love all the cookbook recipes as well!
I don’t have a processor. Will this work if I do it by hand? Maybe I can use ground almonds and pecans for easier mixing.
Hi Monica – It’s best to use a food processor to blend up some of the ingredients. But if you don’t have one, you can try doing it by hand if all the ingredients are finely chopped!
LOVE THESE!! I have made a few different batches of these energy balls so far. They are perfect for on-the-go snacks or quick breakfasts. They are easy to make as well.
So happy you love them!
Wow…. I made these today. They were so easy to pull together and are delicious. Looking forward to my afternoon snacks this coming week
Hi Tracy – Happy to hear you love these energy balls!
Hi! Can only chia seeds be used instead of nuts( for nut free alternative)
Thansk
Hi Sam – You’ll need some nuts in this recipe, unfortunately. But I’ll be sure to test one without nuts in the future!
Wow! Another amazing recipe, Lisa, and so easy to prepare. This will be one of my “ keeper” recipes. Thank you!
I wonder what your thoughts are about substituting monk fruit syrup for the maple syrup as I’m trying to reduce the sugar. Would it still be 1/3C?
Hi Deborah – That’s completely fine!
I love banana nut bread so I wanted to try these. They were delicious! Easy to make as well.
Hi Tyler – Happy to hear you enjoyed these energy balls!
So easy, delicious, and portable! These are great snacks that I make when on a road trip and even take on hikes. They travel well and I will sometimes take a spoon in case they mushed in my bag. The recipe is also very easy to play around with and can substitute ingredients without messing it up. I sometimes add some dates, change the kind of nuts I use, or add a little extra vanilla if the banana isn’t very ripe. I switch out things and improvise all the time when I don’t have the specific ingredients because the base is so versatile.
My family and co-workers all love them, and I’ve forwarded this recipe to so many people because of how easy it is.
Hi Ayesha – Happy to hear you’re loving these banana bread energy balls!
I was wondering if quinoa flakes could be used instead of rolled oats. Me daughter-in-law is intolerant to oats.
Hi!
These are delicious! Super dumb question but what are you considering one serving? Just trying to plan out my meal preps
For energy balls, the nutritional information will be per energy ball.
Hi these look great- wondering if I could substitute dates as the sweetener here? Thanks!
I haven’t tried that yet, but I’m sure it could work!
Can you substitute maple syrup…I’m allergic
Yes, you can use honey in this recipe.
These were great! Easy and quick to put together. I deviated from the recipe a little bit. I subbed walnuts for the pecans as I did not have any. And I added 1/4 cup of baking chocolate chips (60% cacao). They were delicious!!
Quick, easy, not a lot of clean-up, healthy, and best of all–delicious! At first they weren’t holding together, but I found if I squeezed them tightly to get all the air out, they held together just fine. Eat right away or pack for snack the next day. Good, filling, gluten-free snack.
Try to pack them in tightly! Glad you enjoyed these as the perfect snack Michelle.
Lisa,
I use these great energy balls for fueling for my first half marathon. They gave me the energy I needed. Plus they taste better, and digest so much better than energy goos or blocks.
Outside of training, sugar is really inflammatory to me. So, I have made them with monk fruit syrup, which works well. Today I tried switching out the mashed banana for mashed sweet potatoes with the monk fruit syrup. Yum! Thank you!
Thrilled to hear these energy balls got you through your marathon Morgan!
if using frozen bananas – should they be thawed first (very wet) or put frozen chunks into blender to pulse?
They should be thawed first.
These are a super yummy snack! Even my little one that doesn’t like nuts loves these.
Glad you and your little one enjoyed these energy balls!
OMG. These are so tasty.
I just made these and there are delicious!
Loved it. Decided to toast the nuts and oats (350 for about 12 minutes) before making them.
Can i add cocoa powder in it for chocolaty flavour?
I’m sure that would work!
Can I use frozen bananas?
Should be okay!
Can I substitute honey for maple syrup? What about brown sugar? What would the conversion be?
You should be able to sub the honey for maple syrup, but don’t use brown sugar. You need a sticky liquid to help bind the ingredients.
Can I use my Vitamix instead of a food processor?
You can, you’ll just need to pulse it so it doesn’t completely blend into liquid.
I waited way too long to try these. My whole family loves them. They will definitely be in the rotation from now on. Thank you for all of your incredible recipes. I don’t think I’ve tried anything I haven’t loved.
Glad you finally got around to making these energy balls!
It’s one of the healthier things that combines both fruit, grains, and some healthy fats that both of my children agree on. We discovered these last week, and they’re amazing! My younger daughter who doesn’t like chocolate loves these! My older daughter loves both these ones and the oatmeal chocolate chip ones (and the latter ones are safe to send with her to all of her nut free summer camps).
Seriously amazing! I dont love date energy balls so I’m always trying to find some that arent loaded with dates and these are perfect. Consistency is perfect, sweetness on point, keep well. Even my toddler loves them.
My 6 and 10 year old boys helped me make this so we could have a healthy snack during the week. It was fairly easy and the whole family loved them! They won’t last the week because everyone wanted to eat them for dessert😊 Definately making more!
I love this recipe. FWIW I have made the twice with quick cook rolled oats and they turn out great. I was none the wiser. 😀
Thanks for always letting us know what we can freeze and the best way to store your recipes! 💖
Always got you with the storage instructions :)
Those are so delicious. I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing out of the processor!!
Thank you. Great healthy snack :)
Glad you enjoyed these banana bread energy balls Rebecca!
Would quick oats work in place of old fashioned oats? I’m hoping to use what I already have in the house. Thanks!
You might be able to, but the texture will be much softer and you’ll need to add more quick oats since they are finer than old fashioned oats.
Can I use a mixer if I don’t have a food processor?
Hi there,
I’m looking at the metric version, and it says 4 old fashioned rolled oats. Could you please clarify? 4 metric cups?
Thanks
Thanks for pointing that out! It should say 432 grams.
Are you having issues with the video not showing? Or is it me somehow?
Make sure to disable your adblocker to be able to see the video.
How will these do if you toast the oats?
Toasted oats might not stay together as well since they’re crispier.
These were great! I substituted sugar-free pancake syrup for the maple syrup and added some chia and flax before blending. I then rolled them in flaxseed. They were a great snack!
Great way to sneak in more flaxseed! Glad you enjoyed these energy balls Stacey :)
Hiya! Really love this recipe. Are there alternative seeds I could use to make this recipe nut allergy friendly?
Kids love them with some chocolate chip, perfect after school !
These really are the perfect snacks for the kiddos :)
what is considered a serving….how many
One serving is one energy ball.
These are delicious, they really deliver! I even snuck in a couple tablespoons each of flax meal and hemp hearts, for extra kid nutrition (sneaky, of course). I was wondering if you have contemplated a paleo version? My husband eats a grain free diet. I’m wracking my brain about what I could sub in for the oats. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you!
I haven’t created a paleo version yet, but I will definitely keep that in mind for a future energy ball recipe :)
Great recipe! I added flax seed and brewer’s yeast to this recipe to make an easy, tasty lactation treat. They came out great and healthier than the store bought lactation cookies I had haha. Thanks for the recipe!
Good to know this works as a lactation treat with flax seed and brewer’s yeast!
I made these for the first time today however no two food processors are alike and I had to do some tweaking. Other than that, perfect!
Glad your banana bread energy balls still turned out great, despite the tweaking!
Taste exactly how you would imagine banana bread energy balls would taste ! love them a lot
They really are a bite sized version of my banana bread recipe!
I just made these for my son who is preparing for his cross country season and needs healthy snacks. He loves them! How many would be a serving?
Hi Kristina – happy to hear your son loves them! The recipe should make 16 balls, and the nutrition info is per ball.
These are awesome! I skipped the nuts due to a sensitivity and added organic chocolate chips with some flax. Toasted on broil for 4 minutes. Delicious
Thanks
Glad these turned out great with some chocolate chips :)