Healthy Recipes Ingredients Healthy Fruit Recipes Healthy Date Recipes Crunch Bar–Inspired Energy Balls 4.7 (3) 2 Reviews To emulate a Crunch Bar, we packed this energy ball with crispy puffed brown rice cereal inside a milk-chocolaty, chewy center. A dark-chocolate drizzle adds more intense chocolate flavor. Cashew butter has a mild, neutral flavor that doesn’t overpower the other ingredients, but you can substitute any nut butter if you prefer. By Amanda Holstein Amanda Holstein Amanda Holstein fell in love with baking at the age of 6, and has continued to grow her passion through culinary school and working in bakeries. For more than 10 years, she worked at multiple well-known restaurants and bakeries in the Orlando, Florida, area, preparing delicious scratch-made desserts and assisting with dinner events, before becoming a test kitchen assistant at Dotdash Meredith. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 13, 2024 Tested by Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman Tested by Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman is a recipe tester and developer for Dotdash Meredith. Thanks to her huge, ever-hungry Filipino family, Tricia has always had a passion for all things food, with a particular interest in baking and pastry arts. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower Active Time: 50 mins Total Time: 1 hr Servings: 20 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Soy-Free High-Fiber Heart-Healthy Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe These Crunch Bar-Inspired Energy Balls are reminiscent of the classic candy bar, but they’re loaded with nutritious ingredients that won’t lead to a sugar crash. Soft, chewy dates add just the right amount of sweetness, and the chocolate infused into each ball and drizzled on top finishes them off perfectly. The fiber-filled oats add a toothsome chewiness, while the crisped rice adds the signature crunch to these energy balls. Keep reading for expert tips, including how to keep the texture of the crisped rice. Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! To achieve a Crunch candy bar texture, gently fold the puffed rice into the batter by hand to prevent it from crumbling.Use an ice cream scoop for consistent portions, or divide the mixture by weight using a kitchen scale.Instead of using puffed rice, try buying or making puffed quinoa: Bake quinoa for 30 minutes on an ungreased sheet pan at the lowest oven temperature, keeping the door cracked open. Transfer the quinoa in batches to a dry stockpot and cook over medium heat, until the grains start to pop or crackle. Nutrition Notes Dates are loaded with fiber, making them a gut-healthy choice. The antioxidants in dates are linked with heart health. Store dates in the refrigerator or in a cool, dry place to preserve their antioxidants. Whether they’re steel-cut, rolled or instant, oats are a fiber-filled whole grain with complex carbohydrates. This fiber-carbohydrate combo will provide lasting energy without a blood sugar spike. Puffed brown rice cereal is made by air-popping whole-grain brown rice, which means you’re getting fiber, vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, which are necessary for optimal energy production. And for most brands, brown rice is the only ingredient, so you’re not getting unnecessary sugars or other additives. Dark chocolate contains heart-healthy antioxidants, and eating it may even boost your cognitive health. The key here is dark chocolate, as white and milk do not have the same health benefits. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 11 ounces pitted Deglet Noor dates (about 2 cups) 2½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats ½ cup unsalted unsweetened cashew butter ⅓ cup reduced-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt 1 (3.9-ounce) package chocolate instant pudding mix 4 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups puffed brown rice cereal, plus more for garnish 4 tablespoons dark chocolate chips Directions Place 2 cups dates in a medium heatproof bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain well. Pulse the drained dates in a food processor until coarsely chopped, about 5 (1-second) pulses. Add 2½ cups oats, ½ cup cashew butter, ⅓ cup yogurt, 1 (3.9-ounce) package pudding mix, 4 teaspoons vanilla and ½ teaspoon salt; process until a thick paste forms and the oats are chopped into small pieces, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl; gently fold in 2 cups puffed rice by hand until evenly combined. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower Roll about 1 tablespoon date mixture into a ball; place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining date mixture. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower Microwave 4 tablespoons chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl on High in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted, 1 minute to 1 minute, 30 seconds. Spoon the chocolate into a small zip-top plastic bag; cut a ¼-inch hole in the corner. Drizzle the balls with the melted chocolate; garnish with puffed rice, if desired. Refrigerate, uncovered, until the chocolate is set, about 5 minutes. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower Frequently Asked Questions Can I make the energy balls ahead of time? Yes, you can make the energy balls ahead and store them in the fridge for up to 1 week. We recommend waiting to add the chocolate and puffed rice toppings until you’re ready to serve them. Is the date mixture supposed to be really thick? The date mixture is thick, so be patient and pay attention to your food processor. Stop to scrape down the sides and stir the contents to help the ingredients incorporate. Can I use quick-cooking oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats? Absolutely. They’re interchangeable for this recipe, though it may change the texture because quick-cooking oats are a more processed grain. EatingWell.com, August 2024 Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 161 Calories 5g Fat 26g Carbs 4g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 20 Serving Size 3 balls Calories 161 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 26g 9% Dietary Fiber 3g 10% Total Sugars 12g Protein 4g 7% Total Fat 5g 7% Saturated Fat 2g 8% Cholesterol 1mg 0% Vitamin A 7µg Vitamin C 0mg 0% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 0mg 3% Folate 11µg Vitamin K 3µg Sodium 109mg 5% Calcium 30mg 2% Iron 1mg 7% Magnesium 44mg 10% Potassium 208mg 4% Zinc 1mg 8% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm Linda Frahm Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines