Amaranth Energy Balls with Dates (2024)

Amaranth energy balls with dates and cashews are no bake gluten free energy balls that are so flavorful, rich and delicious. These are perfect for a snack to give you a boost of energy or a great dessert-like energy bite.

We love treats made with dates: Maamoul (date filled cookies) and Date Bar Cookies.

Amaranth Energy Balls Recipe

The ingredients used for these amaranth energy bites are so nutritious - amaranth, dates, cashews, almonds, raisins, almond flour, cashew butter etc. They are an easy and quick treat to make. I love the flavor of cardamom in it but you can easily swap it out for the flavor of your choice.

Step By Step Overview

What is Amaranth?

Amaranth is a super impressive grain that has been used since ancient times. Well, it is actually ahighly nutritious pseudo cereal - a starchy seed with a relatively higher amount and quality of protein than other cereals. It also has a higher amount of lysine, an essential amino acid.

Amaranth Health Benefits

Research studies have attributed many health benefits to this ancient grain that include - lowering of cholesterol and blood glucose levels, antitumor activity, enhancing the immune system, anti allergic and antioxidant activities.

Amaranth belongs to the group of so called "superfoods" and is also a great source of fiber, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and iron. Some research indicates that amaranth has prebiotic potential and therefore may help with maintenance of gastrointestinal health.

Often times we focus only on the macronutrients - carbs, protein, fats and don't realize that wholesome nourishment is much more than that. Good nutrition is not just about helping with that number on the weighing scale, but also about prevention of disease.

Amaranth seeds are rich in phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that help with lowering the risk of oxidative stress related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

These amaranth energy balls are sweetened with dates, that do not contribute to added sugar in the recipe and have many other health benefits. Cashews are also nutrient dense nuts providing protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.

Nutrition Facts

These energy balls with dates are vegetarian, gluten free, low carb, refined sugar free and allergy friendly (egg free and soy free). Energy balls with dates are also lower in added sugar as they use only some honey for binding. But it is totally possible to make them with no added sugar at all (see tips below)

The caloric content of these amaranth energy bites are also suitable for giving a measured boost of energy, especially for a woman of average needs. Unlike several energy balls recipes that are a lot higher in calories and carbs.

If you wish to lower the saturated fat even further, then you can swap some ingredients (see tips below). These energy balls with cashews are high in iron and very low in cholesterol and sodium.

Variations

• Vegan Energy Balls
  • Use maple syrup instead of honey or use ½ cup dates.
  • Use ½ cup cashew butter and skip the ghee.
• Dairy Free Energy Balls
  • You can use ½ cup cashew butter and skip the ghee.
• No Added Sugar Energy Balls
  • You can use ½ cup dates and skip the honey.
• Lower Saturated Fat Energy Balls
  • Use ½ cup almond butter and skip the ghee. Or lower the amount of ghee but make sure to use a very flavorful ghee.

More Tasty Treats:

• Dark Chocolate Orange Slices
• Anise Almond Honey Biscotti
• Cardamom Chickpea Cookies
• Sweet and Savory Roasted Party Nuts

★DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!

More Date Recipes