Cranberry Protein Balls

Quick and easy Cranberry Protein Balls that require NO baking! 4 ingredients, one bowl, and 100% whole30 approved!

How is my whole30 diet going? Well, I’ve been snacking on these chocolate coconut bites, whole30 energy bites and these addictive cranberry energy balls. 

Cranberries tend to get an unfair rap. Many claim them to be too sour, too chewy and a whole myriad of other excuses.

Me, on the other hand, LOVE adding cranberries to super sweet recipes. I find that the subtle tang offsets the more sickly-sweet snacks. Cranberries pair beautifully with coconut, vanilla, almond and well… a whole bunch of other things.

I’ve been LOVING the tang they give in my energy bites, and whether I’m on the whole30 diet or not, I’ll be adding these to my snack repertoire!

Are energy bites a good snack? 

I get this question time and time again and YES- energy bites are a fantastic snack.

Let’s take these cranberry bites as an example. They are made with NO refined sugar and are 100% naturally sweetened. They also are free from refined carbohydrates and are high-protein, high-fiber and full of healthy fats.

As someone who always needs to snack between meals, I find one or two of these keeps the hunger at way. Also, I LOVE snacking on one before a heavy workout! 

Bonus? They just happen to also be gluten-free, vegan and paleo-friendly. 

Love snacking? Try these Keto Fat Bombs. 

Cranberry Protein Balls Ingredients 

Making these no bake bites requires just 4 simple ingredients and you don’t even need any fancy gadgets or anything to make them- Just one blender bowl or food processor! 

• Dates
• Almond Butter
• Almonds
• Cranberries

I used a combination of roasted and natural almonds, but feel free to use more of one or the other, or swap out and use other nuts.

Medjool dates are my preferred dates, as they are naturally softer and easier to blend. They also provide that sweeter flavor, that offsets the cranberries. You can easily replace them with traditional dates, but ensure you soak them for thirty minutes before using them. 

Be sure your almond butter is of the smooth variety- Crunchy or fresh almond butter will be more difficult to blend up 

How to make Cranberry Balls

Firstly, you’ll add your almonds into a high-speed blender or food processor, and blend until a crumbly texture remains. Avoid over blending, otherwise, you will be left with nut butter. 

Once the crumbly texture is there, add in your almond butter, Medjool dates and cranberries, and blend very well, until a thick dough remains. You will need to regularly scrape down the sides, as often, bits of dates tend to stick. 

If the batter appears to be too thick/crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to get things moving!

Finally, transfer the energy bite ‘dough’ into a mixing bowl. Using your hands, form small balls and place them on a lined plate or tray. Refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes, allowing it to firm up. 

Storing Cranberry Energy Bites

These energy balls should be stored in a sealed container, preferably in the fridge. I’ve found that storing these at room temperature softens them a little too much, and they become sticky to hold. 

If you’d like to snack on them during the day or when your out and about, wrap them in plastic or place in a ziplock bag, and they will keep fresh if pre-cooled. 

Bonus- Freeze the energy bites for them to thaw out during the day, and be thick and chewy when they are ready to eat. If you freeze them, place them in a ziplock bag.

Refrigerated energy bites will keep for 2 months, frozen energy bites will keep for 6 months!

Love cranberries? Try these Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies 

More Energy Bites and Balls you’ll enjoy

• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites
• Almond Butter Energy Bites
• Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites
• Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites