I’ve been making these five-ingredient energy balls for six months and they’re the perfect snack to increase your protein and fiber intake

I tend to make pretty healthy meals and I’m happy to cook from scratch most of the time. However, I generally find myself reaching for sugary, highly processed foods when I snack.

Store-bought healthy, tasty snacks are few and far between, so I often found myself reaching for chocolate or chips, which didn’t really have any nutritional value. This would leave me feeling sluggish and low on energy.

That was until I started making homemade energy balls. Around six months ago, I was trying to use up a glut of nut butters and seeds that had amassed in my pantry and I came up with a recipe that is not only delicious, but full of fiber and protein.

They’re sweet, chocolatey and super filling with lots of nutritional value. In fact, one ball contains around 117 calories with 2g of fiber. Plus, they keep me full for hours.

They also take less than 20 minutes to make. I almost always have these energy balls in my fridge now, making a batch of about 15 once a fortnight.

How to make peanut-butter chocolate energy balls

Ingredients

• 1 cup dates
• 2tbsp chia seeds
• 3tbsp peanut butter
• 1 cup oats
• 70g dark chocolate

Method

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and mix until it forms a sticky texture that is wet enough to roll into balls. Add more peanut butter and/or dates if it’s too dry.
2. Divide the mixture and roll into small balls.
3. Put them on a plate and leave in the fridge for at least an hour.
4. Melt the chocolate and then dip the balls in the chocolate until they're fully coated.
5. Place the chocolate-covered balls on a plate with baking paper and put them back into the fridge.

As an optional, extra-protein boost, roll the balls in nuts before the chocolate dries. I like to roll mine in hazelnuts.

Shop food processors

Need to upgrade your food processor? Here are the top three recommendations from our colleagues at Tom’s Guide.