Peanut Butter Chocolate Prune Energy Balls

These raw, 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.

Healthy peanut butter chocolate energy balls with prunes

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.

Equipment you'll need

• Kitchen scale and measuring spoon
• Chopping board and knife
• Blender, bowl and large spoon
• 2-3 plates for coating the balls
• Grater for making chocolate flakes (if using)

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.  Check out also 4-ingredient mango cheesecake bites.  

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

These 4-ingredient Prune, Nut and Chocolate Energy Balls make a delicious and healthy snack.

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Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: International

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 12 bite size balls

Calories: 101kcal

Author: Monika Dabrowski

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

Metric - US Customary

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

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.46g | Protein: 2.6g | Fat: 5.85g | Saturated Fat: 1.87g | Cholesterol: 0.13mg | Sodium: 37.99mg | Potassium: 173.21mg | Fiber: 1.82g | Sugar: 6.5g | Vitamin A: 97.63IU | Vitamin C: 0.07mg | Calcium: 11.86mg | Iron: 0.76mg

*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.

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