Looking for a quick healthy snack? This is just the recipe for you! These nutrient packed energy balls are simple, easy, and only take about 10 minutes to make. And the best part? No baking required!

Step 1: Safety

Before you begin, please make sure you read and understand the following safety warnings:

1. The energy balls contain peanut butter. If you have a peanut allergy, do not touch or eat them. Instead, use an alternative such as wow butter, or a different kind of butter that doesn't contain peanuts.

2. You will be working with a food processor or blender which have very sharp blades. Please handle with caution to avoid injury.

3. If you decide to melt the dark chocolate chips that the recipe calls for, please use caution while handling it to avoid burns.

Step 2: Materials You'll Need:

All you need to make these energy balls are:

A large mixing bowl

A blender or food processor

A plate

A spoon

A measuring cup

Step 3: Ingredients You'll Need:

3/4 cup of rolled oats - great source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

1 tablespoon of organic chia seeds - full of fiber, iron and calcium.

1/4 cup of flaxseed meal - contains omega-3 fatty acids, and is rich in fiber.

3/4 cup of peanut butter - good source of protein and magnesium.

10 blended pitted dates - excellent souce of fiber, protein, potassium, iron, and vitamin B6.

2 tablespoons of maple syrup - high in antioxidants, and a good source of magnesium, calcium and potassium.

1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips - full of antioxidants. I melt the chocolate chips to make it easier to mix later.

Optional: 1/4 cup of coconut shavings - rich in fiber to help digestion.

The photo shows which brands I personally use to make the energy balls, and they work great!

Step 4: Measure the Ingredients

Blend 10 pitted dates, and measure each of the other ingredients. Then, add them into a large mixing bowl. When you blend your dates, be sure to blend them enough so that they break down into small pieces and eventually ball together.

Step 5: Mix!

Next, mix all of the ingredients together in the mixing bowl. Using a spoon works fine, but I've found that using an electric mixer makes it easier to mix the ingredients more evenly. After mixing, your product should look like the mixture in the photo.

Step 6: Form Mixture Into Ball Shapes

After you mix the ingredients together, wash your hands and scoop out a spoonful into your hands. Use your hands to roll the mixture into a ball shape. If you don't want to use your hands for this step, I've found that an ice cream scooper works just as well.

Step 7: Optional: Chocolate Drizzle

If you wish, melt about another handful of dark chocolate chips in the measuring cup, and drizzle it on top of the energy balls.

Step 8: Let the Drizzle Harden and Enjoy!

Finally, let the chocolate drizzle harden so your fingers don't get sticky when you pick them up, and enjoy! It's as simple as that! Make sure you store the energy balls in an air tight container or put them in the freezer to stay good for up to three months.

Step 9: Troubleshoot

If your product doesn't look like the photos at any time, be sure to read this section.

-Having trouble operating your food processor or blender?

Double check to make sure the device is plugged into an electrical outlet, be sure the blades are locked into place, and make sure the top/lid is secured to the device before turning it on.

-Having trouble mixing the ingredients or forming the mixture into ball shapes?

If your mixture seems too dry, I oftentimes add a bit more maple syrup to make the dry ingredients mix together more smoothly. It also makes it easier to form the ball shapes because they will hold their shape better.

If for some reason your mixture is too liquidy, add more rolled oats. This will help soak up moisture to dry up the mixture so you can form the ball shapes easier.