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A recipe for a nut-free, gluten-free, Paleo snack that your kids can take to school or you can eat after a workout!

Here I am again with yet another snack ball recipe.

Seriously, I'm obsessed.

They are just the easiest things! They usually take less than 10 minutes to make, require no cooking or baking, and can be customized with a gazillion different flavors.

We make my Tropical Snack Balls quite often but sometimes you just want that chocolate/peanut butter kinda taste.

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Since peanut butter is a no-no on Paleo (peanuts are technically a legume, not a nut), we typically either use almond butter or sunflower seed butter (Sunbutter) as a replacement.

Chocolate Sunbutter Snack Balls - recipe for a Paleo, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and vegan portable snack

These days many schools request that kids bring in nut-free snacks because so many children have nut allergies, so a lot of times we use Sunbutter to get around that, yet still get the nut butter kinda taste and feel.

I honestly think Sunbutter tastes a lot like peanut butter so it's a great replacement for it anyway. So these avoid many of the common allergens like nuts, dairy, and gluten.

These snack balls literally are: throw ingredients in a food processor. Process. Form into balls. Eat. Does it get easier than that?

Some situations snack balls are perfect for:

at school snacks
after school snacks
after workout or game snacks
mid-hike, mid-ski, mid-bicycle ride, mid-soccer game, mid-any game snack
travel food (road trip, for an airplane ride, etc)
just need a snack snack
store in the fridge at work in case you need a snack snack

See how versatile these things are? Sorry if I am the gateway to your newest obsession… Could be worse things, right?

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Chocolate Sunbutter Snack Ball Recipe

If you make this snack balls, I'd love to hear how they turned out! Either comment below or share a pic on Instagram and tag me @thrivingautoimmune!

Chocolate Sunbutter Snack Balls

Author: Michele Spring

Servings: -8 Balls

A recipe for a nut-free, gluten-free, Paleo snack that your kids can take to school or you can eat after a workout!

4 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Ingredients

1 cup Dates (pitted (approx 8 dates))
2 tbs Cocoa Powder
1/2 cup Sunbutter (or Almond Butter)
1/2 cup Shredded, Unsweetened Coconut
2 tbs Mini Chocolate Chips (Enjoy Life brand is dairy- and soy-free)

Instructions

Process the dates in a food processor until they come into a ball.
Add the cocoa powder, Sunbutter, and shredded coconut and then process again until it comes into a ball.
Pulse in the mini chocolate chips to incorporate them.
Form the mixture into walnut-sized balls and serve or refrigerate until needed.

Notes

Store in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1-3 Balls

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 30 minutes or less, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, Keto, nut free, Paleo, snack balls

Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @thrivingautoimmune !

23 Comments

Name: Chocolate Sunbutter Snack Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Dates (pitted (approx 8 dates)); 2 tbs Cocoa Powder; 1/2 cup Sunbutter (or Almond Butter); 1/2 cup Shredded, Unsweetened Coconut; 2 tbs Mini Chocolate Chips

Newer Comments →

STACEY CRAWFORD on May 6, 2017 at 9:25 am

These look like an easy, bite size snack that is yummy!
Jessica DeMay on May 5, 2017 at 8:02 pm

These look like brownie bites! I love how easy they are and how they make the perfect snack.
Anya on May 5, 2017 at 6:55 pm

Love that these are so quick and easy to make and it has a great blend of sweetness and healthy fats.
ChihYu on May 4, 2017 at 8:10 pm

Love these snack balls. I especially love homemade version. Perfect before and after work out snacks ! Thank you!
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:33 pm
  
  Thanks ChihYu!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish on May 3, 2017 at 2:05 pm

This is such a yummy recipe! I would love some of those little bites right now. Love the video too!
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:33 pm
  
  Thanks so much Emily!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! on May 3, 2017 at 9:51 am

I’m always in need of versatile snacks, and I’m excited these are nut free as well!
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:33 pm
  
  We all need less nuts in our life (the kind you eat and the crazy kind) 🙂
Jo Romero on May 2, 2017 at 1:08 pm

I really love the idea of sunbutter snacks, because I don’t do well with nuts – definitely going to have to get hold of some and give these a try. Thanks!
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:32 pm
  
  Yeah, definitely for those of you who don’t do well with nuts Sunbutter is such a great option!
Renee on May 1, 2017 at 5:13 pm

I want some of these right now! This is a great snack to keep in the freezer for those afternoons I need a quick pick me up!
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:31 pm
  
  They sure are! Just did that today actually – took one from the freezer. Yum!
Allison Wojtowecz on May 1, 2017 at 9:06 am

Oh man… these are dangerously simple…
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:31 pm
  
  heeheehee (evil laugh)
Holley Marth on May 1, 2017 at 8:54 am

I need to make more energy balls! These look yummy, I’ll go for the sun butter option too!
- Michele on May 5, 2017 at 4:30 pm
  
  Thanks Holley!