These 4-ingredient peanut butter chocolate energy balls with prunes make a delicious and healthy snack or dessert, perfect for any occasion.
I am always looking for new ideas for healthy after-school snacks and here is one that got two thumbs up from my children today - healthy peanut butter chocolate energy balls with prunes.
Making healthy lunchbox and after-school snacks can be tricky as you are competing with a myriad of commercially produced sugary treats that most children love. And you can't really blame them! All you can do is keep trying and celebrate (occasional) successes.
These homemade energy balls were gone within minutes of my children coming through the door. The kids had no idea they had just devoured a good helping of prunes, which usually is not the most popular snack in my house.
They did guess correctly the balls were made with dark chocolate, which they love. I have stopped buying milk chocolate a long time ago and only buy dark now. (I look for chocolate containing approximately 70% cocoa). So my children are used to it and actually prefer it to milk chocolate, which has more sugar and less cocoa.
How to make peanut butter chocolate energy balls: step-by-step
1.Start by combining the chopped prunes with 3 tablespoons of water. Stir and squash the prunes with the back of a spoon to soften them a little, then set aside for 5 minutes.
2. Blitz the chocolate in a blender until crumbly, but not powdery.
3. Combine with the prune mixture and 6 tablespoons of peanut butter.
4. Blend until the mixture is sticky and all the ingredients have been incorporated.
5. Form small, bite size balls. Roll in seeds, chocolate flakes (made by coarsely grating chocolate) or desiccated coconut (coating is optional). Chill for 30 minutes before serving (if possible) and enjoy!
Top tips for making chocolate peanut butter energy balls
- Use good quality dark chocolate (approx. 70% cocoa solids).
- It is important to soak the chopped prunes in a bit of water for a few minutes before making the balls. Squash them with the back of a spoon until they are soft and start forming a paste, then combine with the rest of the ingredients.
- Peanut butter is not always the same so if yours is a bit runny you may want to add a little almond flour to thicken the mixture and make sure it has the right consistency. I used quite dense peanut butter so I didn't need to.
- Use either smooth or crunchy peanut butter (I used crunchy).
- These energy balls can be served as they are or you can coat them in seeds, desiccated coconut or chocolate flakes (i.e. coarsely grated chocolate).
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving, if possible. Keep covered, refrigerated for up to 3 days.
More energy balls recipes
If you like this easy chocolate nut energy balls recipe you may also enjoy 4-ingredient, refreshing protein energy balls with quinoa and pineapple. They are vegan and gluten free. You might also like chocolate peanut butter energy balls with coffee as well as vegan dark chocolate truffles with a festive twist.
If you like this recipe I just know you will also like these healthy peanut butter chocolate truffles with ginger!
Check out also this collection of 27 everyday healthy cacao recipes.
Keep in touch!
If you make these prune energy balls I'd love to know how they turn out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks!
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Prune Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp peanut butter smooth or crunchy
- 50 g good quality dark chocolate chopped, plus 10 g more for making chocolate flakes (optional)
- 150 g prunes pitted, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp water
Instructions
- In a bowl combine the chopped prunes with the water, stir and squash with the back of a spoon. Set aside for 5 minute, then stir and squash again until the mixture starts coming together and becoming pasty.
- In the meantime blitz the chocolate in a blender until crumbly (not completely powdery).
- Combine the prune mixture with the chocolate and peanut butter and blend until the mixture becomes sticky and all the ingredients have been incorporated.
- Form small balls and enjoy as they are or roll in sesame seeds, desiccated coconut or chocolate flakes (made by coarsely grating chocolate). It's a good idea to chill the balls for 30 minutes before serving, but it's not absolutely necessary.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Use good quality dark chocolate (approx. 70% cocoa solids).
- It is important to soak the chopped prunes in a bit of water for a few minutes before making the balls. Squash them with the back of a spoon until they are soft and start forming a paste, then combine with the rest of the ingredients.
- Peanut butter is not always the same so if yours is a bit runny you may want to add a little almond flour to thicken the mixture and make sure it has the right consistency. I used quite dense peanut butter so I didn't need to.
- Use either smooth or crunchy peanut butter (I used crunchy).
- These energy balls can be served as they are or you can coat them in seeds, desiccated coconut or chocolate flakes (i.e. coarsely grated chocolate).
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving, if possible. Keep covered, refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
Hi, I am Monika, welcome to Everyday Healthy Recipes! This blog is all about creatively simple recipes with a healthy twist, old classics with a modern take, and an occasional Polish dish thrown into the mix - all easy to make, healthy and delicious, perfect for everyday cooking. 
I have made energy balls before.
I usally keep them in freezer so I can take a few with me.
Do u think these would freeze ok with prune.
Thanks
I haven't tried freezing them but I don't see why they shouldn't freeze well especially as you usually freeze energy balls. These are just like any other energy balls. Hope you like the recipe:)
Energy balls are such a great idea but I'm sure I'd just want to eat all the mixture out the bowl! #freefromfridays
I felt a little tempted to do that too, thank goodness I had to take photos of these balls:)
I love prunes and chocolate together, so I love the healthy way you have used this flavour combo in these energy balls! Pinning. I'd love it if you will share them with my Hearth and Soul Link Party live on my blog now. I know they would be very popular! Hope to 'see' you there. Visiting via Create with Joy. It's lovely to 'meet' you! Following on Twitter.
Thank you! I'll go over and check out your link party now:)
Yummy
thanks:)
These look great Monika. I make several similar energy balls but your recipe is quite different to mine so I must give this a try. I particularly like the idea of putting tahini in.
Thank you Mandy. These little balls were such a hit with my children I am making more tomorrow:)
Yum! These look so lovely and I am sure my kids would love these too...if I could control myself enough to leave the some!! 😀 Thanks for linking it up to #CookBlogShare! Eb x
Thanks Eb! They were quite moreish, I have to admit...
Yum! I make a similar thing but using dates, although I've never thought to add tahini!
Dates would be delicious too! There are so many possibilities with this type of snack:)
I love these types of snack, I've a few recipes on my blog too! These are my go-to energy snack for the 3pm dip in sugar and energy levels...and the fact they're so simple to knock up makes them all the more delcious! #FreeFromFridays
I love snack like this too but what's even better is that my kids also love them - they are our 3 o'clock 'fix':)
I'm always on the lookout for healthy after school snacks and these sound delicious!
Thanks Corina! These really were very good, making them again tomorrow:)