Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites are a delicious larabar chocolate chip cherry torte copycat! Roll them into balls, bites or shape them into energy bars for a healthy no-bake snack with a kiss of chocolate!
I have a teeny bit of a crush on Larabar’s Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte bars.
Minuscule, even.
I mean, they’re okay…
Okay fine; they’re amazing!
In the likely event that I plow through my obscene stockpile, I’ll surely need a back-up bar, right? How about a super-speedy homemade version that can be rolled into bite-sized balls? It’s practically mandatory. They’re also ridiculously quick and easy. Yes please!
In case you’d like to mix things up a bit, you can even roll them in shredded coconut for a little tropical twist!
Energy Ball Ingredients
- raw unsalted almonds or cashews
- aw unsalted walnuts
- dried cherries
- medjool dates
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- sea salt
- mini chocolate chips
Saving some to snack on later?
Perfect! These are a great make-ahead snack!
They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. These energy balls taste great chilled and the flavors are even more pronounced once thawed to room temperature if you’d like to take them along for on the go snacking.
Grab a few to go or munch on one or two as a sweet treat after dinner. Either way, you won’t be able to keep your hands off these balls!
I’m not known for maintaining maturity when blogging about globular food, but I’ll sure try!
These balls ROCK!
…well, they do!
I’m still preening like a peacock that these chocolate cherry energy balls came out exactly as I hoped they would on the first try… It’s almost like they were meant to be [in my mouth] by some divine foodie intervention of sorts. Gotta love when that happens!
Make these now. Class dismissed.
Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
A Super Tasty Homemade Larabar Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte Copycat
Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw unsalted almonds or cashews
- ½ cup raw unsalted walnuts
- ¾ cup dried cherries
- 9 large medjool dates (approx. 4 ounces) pit removed
- 2-3 TBSP water or cherry juice
- 1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pulse almonds and walnuts in a food processor until finely chopped.
- Next add dates, dried and fresh cherries, cocoa powder, and salt. Add 1 TBSP of water and pulse mixture. Depending on how dry/juicy your dates and dried cherries are, you may need to use an additional 1-2 TBSP of water to moisten the mixture and help it blend well. Pulse/blend until the mixture is well-incorporated and a bit sticky.
- Remove the mixture from the processor, spread onto a piece of wax/parchment paper or cutting board and fold/knead in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop into 1.5-2 TBSP portions, gently squeeze, then roll into balls.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They taste great chilled and the flavors are even more pronounced when thawed to room temperature. Grab a few to go or munch on one or two as a sweet treat after dinner. Either way, you won't be able to keep your hands off these balls!
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for the old recipe?
It was a wee bit more complicated but equally tasty! Here’s the OG recipe if you’re a fan and want to make them again.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw unsalted almonds
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted walnuts
- 3/4 cup dried unsweetened cherries
- 1/2 cup sweet chopped dates (4 ounces)
- 1 tsp cherry juice (cranberry juice or water work too)
- 2 fresh cherries pitted
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Feel free to use unsweetened dates and then add a little honey if additional sweetness is desired. Dried fruit and nuts are super flexible! You can also sub cashews for the walnuts (that’s what larabar uses) but I have a fierce devotion to walnuts and the buttery texture they lend to practically everything!
Instructions
- Pulse almonds and walnuts in a food processor until finely chopped.
- Next add dates, dried and fresh cherries, cherry juice and salt.
- Pulse your heart out with the food processor until the mixture is well-incorporated and moistened.
- Remove the mixture from the processor, spread onto a piece of wax/parchment paper or cutting board and fold/knead in the chocolate chips.
- Break off a small piece of deliciousness and squeeze to set the ingredients.
- Roll into single-serving balls and dig in!
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and taste great chilled. The flavors are even more pronounced when thawed to room temperature so feel free to do that as well. Grab a few to go or munch on one or two as a sweet treat after dinner. Either way, you won’t be able to keep your hands off these balls!
Awesome Energy Bites
- NEW! No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Key Lime Pie Energy Bites
- Coconut Energy Balls via The Conscious Plant Kitchen
- Date + Peanut Butter Energy Bites
If you get a chance to try these Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
Ok perfect! Happy to help! The fresh cherries also gave a bit of moisture to help mold the mixture so a TBSP of your favorite juice or even a teeny bit of water can accomplish the same thing if you find the mixture to be crumbly without the fresh cherry juice. Easy least! Xo
Thanks, Jenn. I have dried cherries…just no fresh ones. More dates sounds good.
…what if there are no cherries??? what is a good substitute?
no dried cherries, fresh cherries or completely cherry-less? There’s a link to an alternate energy ball recipe at the bottom of the post that doesn’t use cherries whatsoever if you’d like! Subsitutions are endless from nut butters to extra dates to lemon/lime!
These are going on my favorites this week!! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Oh my word, your balls are blowing me away.
Those balls look delicious! I do like the Larabars but I think I will try your recipe and make these and even change up the ingredients depending on what I have in my pantry. I went a little Pinterest crazy with your photos…
Mmmm, pass me the chocolate!
You’re right – that larabar flavour is gooooood! And I bet these are equally as good!!
Another awesome recipe, Jenn! I’m not a huge Lara bar fan, but I like this flavor. I love anything with cherries!
You were actually really restrained in this post with your puns on balls 😉 haha. I love LARABARs too but actually find them too rich to eat in the large size, and the minis are not so easily available (if at all) here in Canada. Thanks for the recipe girl!
LOVE the idea of homemade Laraballs! Chocolate Coconut Chew-balls (!), here I come 🙂
Pinning this!
Omg these look fantastic. Would it be gross if I said I want these balls in my mouth right now? TWSS 🙂
I can’t wait to try these! 🙂
I need to buy a food processor ASAP so I can make snacks like those! They look delicious 🙂
I love Lara-bar like recipes. Thanks for sharing 😀
I am SO making these this weekend! I might be a little obsessed with larabar bites…I’ve already made coconut ones & oatmeal raisin cookie ones this week (but in my defense, I don’t own a food processor & I’m borrowing one this week so I have to get in all my food processor recipes while I can!)
well you know i like balls.. i mean bites.
😉
sans the chocolate (for my liking) these are beautiful, jenn
Those look so yummy!! I love having balls I can quickly grab (that’s what she said) for a yummy treat! 😉 Will have to try these love cherries!
I’m glad you’re affinity for balls (and immaturity) is equal to mine 🙂 That being said how did you know this was one of my favorite Larabar flavors?! It’s like you knew I needed a new snack to make up next week, I can’t wait to make up my own batch!
Oh YUM! I’m always looking for new snack ideas. Can’t wait to try these out!
Those look awesome, definitely a great recipe that I want to try!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Busted. I was reaing this whole post thinking “that’s what she said!”
They look so yummy.
Delicious!! I love making my own balls and “larabar” type snacks, and I am also in love with this flavor…I can’t wait to try them out!!
First of all, these sound amazing!! Second of all, I love that you referred to them as “laraballs.” What a clever little name! 😉
These look amazing! Chocolate in anything makes it better 😉 Can’t wait to try this recipe out!