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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.
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 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
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.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
More energy ball recipes
- Chunky Monkey Energy Balls
- Apricot Coconut Energy Balls
- Cinnamon Caramel Apple Energy Balls
- Chocolate Brownie Energy Bites from The Lemon Bowl
- Nutty Energy Bites from A Zesty Bite
- Chocolate-Covered Matcha Green Tea Energy Bites from Food Faith Fitness
Enjoy!
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?
You could use some extra oats or more coconut or try mixing in some chopped almonds or another nut.
I was just wondering if they can be at room temp
Because of the moisture, they can be a little soft at room temperature, but technically they are OK for a couple of days at room temp.
I loved these! Thank u so much….but was wondering….can we freeze these? If yes, how long do you think they would stay?
Yes, in fact I just pulled some out of the freezer that I made months ago and they are fine!
These taste just like the pineapple coconut bites from Hawaiian air lines but they are cheaper to make and healthier 😋
Oh cool, that’s so interesting. Thanks for telling me about the Hawaiian Air bites. I’ve never had them!
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. 🙂
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.
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. 😀
What a great thing to hear, Eden! Isn’t it wonderful when we can find healthy snacks that our kids actually like?!
Those sound amazing!! Pinning to try! Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
These are the kind of things I love having on hand for easy snacking and post-workout snacks!
My kids love energy bites, so I’ll have to make these for them — and me! Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE TO MAKE ENERGY BITES AND THESE SOUND REALLY GOOD.
BEV
Thanks!
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..
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.
love the tropical flavors for this treat!
I love energy balls. These sound delicious! I’ll have to try them soon.
All my favorite flavors in here – I bet my boys would love these too!
I have never thought about using pineapple in energy bites but it sounds incredible! I can’t wait to try this!
This is a great little snack to add some sunshine to anyone’s day!