Chocolate Cherry Energy Balls 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. It’s also ridiculously quick and easy.
My favorite!
Chocolate Cherry Energy Balls
A Super Tasty Homemade Larabar Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte Copycat
Saving some to snack on later?
Perfect! These are a great make-ahead snack!
They can be stored [tightly wrapped] in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and taste great chilled and the flavors are even more pronounced once 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!
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 Balls
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
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 [or large; far be it for me to tell you how big your balls should be!] of deliciousnes and squeeze to set the ingredients.
- Roll into single-serving balls [or shape into bars if you can't eat a ball without snickering] and dig in!
- Leftovers can be stored [tightly wrapped] in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and 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
If you get a chance to try these Chocolate Cherry Energy Balls, 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!
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!