Pineapple Coconut Energy Balls

4.6 from 5 votes
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Pineapple Coconut Energy Balls are sweet, yummy, and take just minutes to make. And since these healthy no-bake snacks are gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan, they are perfect to pack in a lunchbox or share with friends!

Disclaimer: This recipe was developed through a sponsored partnership with Dole. As always, all opinions are my own. Originally published on April 5, 2016. Updated on July 12, 2021.

Easy No-Bake Pineapple Coconut Energy Balls

When I post pictures of my kids’ lunchbox on Instagram, people seem to assume I have some master plan for packing school lunches. Apparently, it looks like I am organized and prepare everything, giving me time to snap photos that I leisurely post during the week.

False!

Truth is, I’m usually scrambling to pull things out of the fridge and pantry and throw it together while I still have the light to take a quick picture on my phone.

That’s not to say I don’t have a few strategies to make them mostly healthy with some variety so that not only do they not get bored, but they get a mix of all of the vitamins and minerals and nutrients their growing bodies need.

When I go to the grocery store, I make sure I have certain staples on hand. On a weekly basis, I make sure to have plenty of fruit and veggies, cheese and deli meat, and maybe even some hard-boiled eggs on hand. And in the pantry, we always have crackers or tortilla chips or popcorn, whole wheat bread, flatbreads, bagels, or pitas in the breadbasket, plus granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit in the snack cabinet.

Besides the grocery store staples, I also try to keep making batches of things like trail mix granola bars, carrot zucchini muffins or blueberry muffins, and no-bake healthy snacks like these pineapple coconut energy balls.

two energy bites on a napkin in front of a bowl with more inside

Why We Love this Recipe

My boys love all of my energy bites recipes, and these are no exception. The first time I made them, my oldest was standing in eager anticipation as I was rolling the mixture, waiting for me to give him a sample. And he gave instant approval!

The tropical flavor is sweet and delicious and just makes you think of summertime. Because of the juicy pineapple, the mixture is a little soft after you mix it all up in the food processor, but once you pop the balls in the fridge for a bit and let the oats absorb some of the moisture, they are perfect.

And the best part is that I can whip them up with my pantry staples. With no baking involved, I only need a few minutes to pulse everything in the food processor and roll it into balls.

pineapple coconut energy balls in a white bowl with two on a piece of burlap on top of a cloth napkin

Pineapple Energy Ball Ingredients

This easy snack recipe only has five ingredients! In fact, you might already have them in your pantry.

  • Whole pitted dates: These are the dried ones that come in a bag or plastic container. If yours aren’t pitted, you’ll have to remove the pits.
  • Quick cooking rolled oats: Regular rolled oats will work too, but the quick oats absorb that pineapple moisture a bit quicker. Be sure to get certified gluten free oats, if needed.
  • Canned pineapple tidbits: You’ll want the kind packed in juice, but you’ll drain it before measuring. I like to use Dole.
  • Flaxseed meal: Or you can grind your own flax seeds.
  • Unsweetened coconut flakes: The sweetenend kind will add a lot of extra sugar that isn’t necessary due to the sweetness of the dates and pineapple.

How to Make No-Bake Energy Balls

It really doesn’t get any easier. Just combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until it forms a thick paste. You’ll likely have to pulse it a bit at first and stop to scrape it down with a spatula a couple of times. But once it gets going you can just let it run until it all comes together into a thick ball.

Take about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it between the palms of your hands to form balls

Storing the Energy Bites

These can be a little soft, so I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

If you need to keep them longer, they freeze well. Just place them in a plastic freezer storage bag or a resealable container wrapped in plastic, taking them out to thaw in the refrigerator the night before you need them. For the best flavor, eat them within two months, but I have kept them frozen for much longer.

What You’ll Need

Besides your ingredients, you really only need a food processor, a spatula, and your hands. I make these in my Hamilton Beach Food Processor, which does a great job of breaking down the ingredients so that the mixture can be formed into balls.

Pineapple coconut energy balls in a small white bowl on a piece of burlap and two more on a cloth napkin
4.6 from 5 votes

Pineapple Coconut Energy Balls

Mix up a batch these easy energy bites for a healthy snack that’s also gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan. Perfect to pack in a lunchbox!
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Dole California Whole Pitted Dates
  • 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup Dole Pineapple Tidbits drained
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seeds or flaxseed meal
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until it forms a thick paste. You may have to scrape it down with a spatula a couple of times.
  • Using about a tablespoon of the mixture, roll into balls.
  • These are a little soft, so store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts
Pineapple Coconut Energy Balls
Amount Per Serving (1 ball)
Calories 68 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 111mg3%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 20IU0%
Vitamin C 1.3mg2%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Categories:

More energy ball recipes

Enjoy!

26 Comments
  1. Mandi

    These look great, I’m a sucker for a pineapple-coconut combo. I have allergies to flaxseed and chia, do you have any recommendations for alternatives?

  2. Suman

    5 stars
    I loved these! Thank u so much….but was wondering….can we freeze these? If yes, how long do you think they would stay?

    1. Theresa Peterson

      These taste just like the pineapple coconut bites from Hawaiian air lines but they are cheaper to make and healthier 😋

  3. Jacob

    I just stumbled on your website while searching Pinterest for some quick and healthy breakfast ideas, and this recipe is one I definitely intend to try! I do have a question tho, what would an equally healthy substitute be for the dates? I’m not a huge fan. 🙂

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      Hi Jacob!
      In place of the dates, you may want to try raisins. However, they aren’t quite as healthy (they have a bit more sugar in them), but they should give you the right consistency.

  4. Eden Isaac

    Okay, so earlier today I made your healthy chocolate pudding, which was a total hit. Then I came across this recipe & had to try it, especially since I had all of the ingredients. I have to say these are Delicious!
    My son came home from kindergarten today starving; when I handed him one of these as a snack, he looked skeptical but tasted it. Then he said, “Oh, Mom. These are so good! Can you pack me these in my lunch tomorrow?” and proceeded to pop the rest in his mouth, grabbed another & skipped away. <3
    Did I mention that he's incredibly picky?? Thank you for the great recipe. It's going to be a staple in my freezer.

    I'm off to peruse the rest of your recipes since the first two I made were home runs. 😀

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      What a great thing to hear, Eden! Isn’t it wonderful when we can find healthy snacks that our kids actually like?!

  5. Sabitha

    Any ideas on using fresh coconut flakes and fresh Pineapple fruit? I also orefer using Steel cut oats instead of rolled, simply because it is less processed. Which kind of oats do you usually use in your energy balls. Thanks for helping me out here..

    1. I use old-fashioned oats. They may be a bit more precessed than steel cut, but the steel cut may not blend up as well. I’m sure the fresh pineapple would work. Not sure about fresh coconut because I’ve never worked with it. I’ve only used the dried flakes, but these are not the sweet ones, it’s just plain, dried coconut.

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