Date Energy Balls (Easy No-Bake Snack)

Full ingredients and substitutions are in the recipe box below.

• Medjool dates: soft Medjool dates make these no bake date balls naturally sweet and chewy. If your dates feel dry, soak them in warm water for 5 minutes. You can also use Deglet Noor dates, but the texture will be slightly less soft.
• Rolled oats: oats help bind the mixture and make the balls more satisfying. Quick oats work too and blend faster, while gluten-free oats are great if needed. You can also use oat flour.
• Peanut butter: creamy natural peanut butter works best here because it blends easily and helps the balls hold together. Use the runny kind made with just peanuts and salt, the one you usually need to stir. Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini also work well in these date oat balls.
• Cocoa powder: unsweetened cocoa powder gives these balls a rich chocolate flavor. You can swap it with cacao powder, a spoonful of ground flax seeds for a nuttier taste, or a small handful of mini dark chocolate chips for a sweeter, more dessert-like version. You can also add cinnamon, shredded coconut, vanilla extract, or leave it out for a simpler oat-and-date flavor.
• Salt: a small pinch balances the sweetness and makes the chocolate flavor pop. Sea salt or kosher salt are both good options.
• Water: a splash of water helps the mixture blend more easily if it looks too dry. This is especially helpful when making easy energy balls with firmer dates.