What if I told you that you could have all the cozy flavors of a cinnamon apple pie packed in a bite-sized snack? These apple cinnamon energy balls are soft, moist, and bursting with real apple flavor thanks to the addition of soft apple rings. Made with just a handful of ingredients, they are perfect for meal prep, and will keep you fueled through your busiest fall days!
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If you're as hooked on quick, healthy snacks as I am, you'll love these just as much as my classic energy balls with dates or these fun cocoa fig energy balls. Each recipe has its own unique flavor twist to keep your snack game exciting!
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Dried soft apple rings: Make sure you're using soft apple rings and not crispy apple chips. Those would turn into a powder when blended and not give you that juicy mouthfeel of biting into an apple. In Europe, I recommend the ones from Seeberger. In the US, you can find dried apple rings from "Nut Cravings" at Walmart.
- Medjool dates: They add a touch of sweetness while binding all the ingredients together. You can use smaller dates if needed, but they won't have that deep caramel-like flavor Medjool dates have. You might also need to adjust quantities (I recommend using a digital scale to make sure you use the same weight).
- Raisins: I like to mix dates and raisins in this recipe as raisins are often a lot cheaper than big Medjool dates. They also add sweetness while acting as a binding ingredient.
- Almonds and cashews: They add some crunch, but also turn these energy balls into a nourishing, and energizing snack.
- Cinnamon: You want to add a generous (and I mean generous) amount of cinnamon to these energy balls to really bring out the flavor.
- Vanilla bean powder: It's my little secret to make these bites taste even more like apple pie! You can replace it with vanilla extract if you don't have vanilla bean powder.
Elo's tip
To help the soft apple rings blend seamlessly with the other ingredients, I like to cut them into smaller pieces with kitchen scissors.
Step-by-step instructions
- Step 1: Soak the raisins and pitted dates in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes to make them easier to blend. Then, drain. This softens the dried fruits, adds moisture back in, and makes the blending process a lot easier.
- Step 2: Chop the nuts. Add the almonds and cashews to a food processor and blitz until roughly chopped.
- Step 3: Make the mixture. Add in the drained dates and raisins, apple rings, cinnamon, and vanilla. Blend until it forms a thick, slightly sticky mixture that you can easily roll into balls. If it's too dry, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time and blend again. You might have to scrape down the sides from time to time.
- Step 4: Roll the mixture into energy balls. I find 1 heaped tablespoon to be the perfect measure. This should yield 15 energy balls.
Storage tips
You can store the energy balls in an airtight container or zip bag in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
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The recipe
Apple Cinnamon Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cup (80 g) dried soft apple rings not crispy apple chips
- 4 (100 g) Medjool dates
- ½ cup (80 g) raisins
- ½ cup (80 g) almonds
- ½ cup (70 g) cashews
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean powder or vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons lukewarm water if needed
Instructions
Soak: Add the pitted Medjool dates and raisins to a bowl with hot water. Let them soften for 5 minutes, then drain.
Apple rings: Cut the apple rings into smaller pieces with kitchen scissors or a knife to help them blend more easily.
Crush the nuts: Add the almond and cashews to a food processor fitted with an S-blade and blend until roughly chopped.
Make the energy ball mixture: Add the Medjool dates, raisins, apple rings, cinnamon, and vanilla to the food processor. Blend until it all comes together. If the mixture is a little dry and falls apart when you try to roll it into balls, add 1 tablespoon of warm water and blend again.
Shape: Roll 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture into a ball. Repeat with the rest of the apple-cinnamon mixture.
Storage: You can store the energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Nutrition
Equipment
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