Cinnamon Roll Energy Balls (2024)

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Cinnamon roll energy balls are an easy, delicious, no-bake treat! They’re soft and chewy, sweetened with dates, and spiced with warm cinnamon. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and made with 6 ingredients including cashews and oats. Reminiscent of real cinnamon rolls, they’re a healthy alternative to the traditional breakfast pastry. Enjoy them as an on-the-go breakfast, snack, or nutritious dessert!

What happens when you’re craving gooey cinnamon rolls but you’re trying to eat less sugar? Cinnamon roll energy balls. That’s what happens. And, wow, they’re truly delicious! As an avid lover of all things cinnamon, and a self-confessed energy ball addict (this marks my 15th energy ball recipe on the blog), I knew this combo would become a new favorite.

Sweet medjool dates are paired with warm cinnamon, roasted cashews, oats, vanilla, and a dash of salt. All 6 ingredients come together in just 5 minutes to form sweet, soft, chewy balls that are reminiscent of cinnamon rolls. They’re like the real thing, but without all of the flour, butter, and refined sugar. Instead, each ball is packed with fiber, nutrients, and healthy fats. Grab one (or two, or three!) as a pre-workout snack, post-workout fuel, or to satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner.

These cinnamon roll energy balls are:

• Vegan, no-bake, gluten-free, dairy-free, and oil-free
• Quick and easy // made in 10 minutes or less
• Naturally sweetened with medjool dates
• A healthy dessert recipe // no added sugar
• Made with 6 ingredients
• Great for meal prep and on-the-go snacking
• Freezer-friendly

What ingredients are in cinnamon energy balls?

• Cashews: You can use raw or roasted cashews. They contain healthy fats and several nutrients like copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, and selenium.
• Dates: Medjool dates are a key ingredient in most energy ball recipes. They’re a sticky-sweet fruit that creates a soft, chewy texture. So delicious!
• Oats: Oats come in several varieties: quick, rolled, and steel-cut. For these cinnamon energy balls, use quick oats. If you’re following a strict gluten-free diet, double check to make sure your package states certified gluten-free.
• Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is essential for the warm cinnamon-roll flavor.
• Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract helps to sweeten the flavor and provides a nice aroma.
• Salt: Just a dash is needed.

How to make no-bake cinnamon roll bites

For the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card below.

First, combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. This includes cashews, oats, medjool dates, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt.

Next, process the ingredients until a nearly-smooth, sticky dough forms. This should take a few minutes. Note: See tips below if your dates are too dry, causing the mixture to not stick together.

After, use a mini cookie scoop or a tablespoon to separate the dough into 13-15 rounds. Using clean hands, roll each round of dough into a ball. Enjoy!

Tips for perfecting this recipe

Use soft medjool dates. Whenever you’re creating a no-bake recipe, it’s always best to use soft dates. If your dates are quite dry and hard, you may need to add more moisture to the recipe. If you’re having a difficult time getting a sticky dough to form, simply add 1 tsp melted coconut oil to the food processor. Alternatively, you can just toss in a few extra dates.

Quick oats are the best option. You can find a few varieties of oats at your grocery store – including steel-cut, rolled, and quick oats. I recommend using quick oats for this recipe. Do not use steel-cut oats, as they need to be cooked first.

Use raw or roasted cashews. Either raw cashews or roasted cashews can be used. If your cashews are already salted, remember to use less salt in the recipe. Otherwise, they may taste a bit too salty.

Store the cinnamon energy balls in a sealed container. I keep mine at room temperature, but you can place them in the refrigerator for a chewier treat. They are freezer-friendly, too! They’ll keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.

If you try these Cinnamon Roll Energy Balls, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!

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