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 with dates and cashew butter are no bake gluten free energy balls that are so delicious. These are perfect for a snack to give you a boost of energy or a great dessert-like energy bite. This healthy snack is low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, freezer friendly and easy to make. #thedeliciouscrescent #energyballs #healthysnacks #nobake Amaranth energy balls with dates served on a white plate](https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Amaranth-Energy-Balls-with-Dates-Image.jpg)
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
![Amaranth energy balls with dates and cashew butter are no bake gluten free energy balls that are so delicious. These are perfect for a snack to give you a boost of energy or a great dessert-like energy bite. This healthy snack is low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, freezer friendly and easy to make. #thedeliciouscrescent #energyballs #healthysnacks #nobake Step by step preparation of amaranth energy balls with dates](https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Step-by-Step-Energy-Balls-with-Dates.jpg)
What is Amaranth?
Amaranth is a super impressive grain that has been used since ancient times. Well, it is actually a highly 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 energy balls with dates and cashew butter are no bake gluten free energy balls that are so delicious. These are perfect for a snack to give you a boost of energy or a great dessert-like energy bite. This healthy snack is low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, freezer friendly and easy to make. #thedeliciouscrescent #energyballs #healthysnacks #nobake Amaranth energy balls with dates served on the table](https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Amaranth-Energy-Balls-with-Dates-Image-2.jpg)
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.
![Close up view of the amaranth energy balls with dates](https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Amaranth-Energy-Balls-with-Dates-Image-1.jpg)
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.
![Amaranth energy balls with dates on a plate](https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Amaranth-energy-balls-with-dates-and-cashews-Pin-1.jpg)
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!
![Amaranth energy balls with dates served on a plate.](https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Amaranth-Energy-Balls-Square-180x180.jpg)
Amaranth Energy Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup amaranth popped, using 4 tablespoons amaranth seeds
- â…“ cup dates medjool, packed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons brown butter or ghee
- 2 tablespoons cashews
- 1 tablespoon almonds chopped
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- ½ teaspoon green cardamom ground or vanilla
- â…” cup almond flour
- â…“ cup coconut dry, grated
- â…“ cup cashew butter
Instructions
HOW TO MAKE PUFFED AMARANTH
- Heat a skillet at medium high until it is hot. If you hold your palm over the skillet you should feel the heat.
- Sprinkle a pinch of amaranth seeds to test if the skillet is ready. It is ready when the seeds start to pop immediately. If it is not hot enough the seeds will not pop quickly and if it is too hot some of the seeds may burn quickly.
- You must experiment it a few times until you have figured out the right temperature for your skillet and stove.
- When the skillet temperature seems to be appropriate, spread one tablespoon of amaranth seeds evenly and place a lid over it (preferably a see through glass lid). Quickly swirl the pan over the heating source as the seeds pop.
- When the popping slows down, transfer the popped amaranth to a plate and spread it to cool down. You may also put them through a sieve to get rid of the seeds that did not pop.
- Repeat with remaining 3 tablespoons of the amaranth seeds to get about 1 cup of popped amaranth.
AMARANTH ENERGY BALLS WITH DATES
- Process the dates into a smooth paste in a food processor and set aside.
- Heat the ghee over medium heat and lightly toast the cashew halves and chopped almonds.
- Next add the raisins and stir a minute, making sure they don't burn.
- Then add the cardamom and turn off the heat and take the pan away from stove and set aside
- Add the puffed amaranth, almond flour, grated dry coconut, cashew butter, date paste, honey, nuts and raisins.
- Using a flat wooden spatula mix it all very well into a smooth cohesive mixture.
- Take 2 tablespoons of the mixture and roll them into amaranth energy balls. You could make sure to have the cashews and raisins show up on the surface for a nice appeal.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- You can check if the skillet or pan is ready for popping Amaranth by putting a few drops of water on the hot pan. The drops of water should evaporate immediately on contact with the hot surface.
- Amaranth is easily available in health food/specialty sections of most grocery stores, health food and specialty stores and online.
- Ghee and cardamom are available at Indian grocery stores, some large grocery stores and online.
- You can also easily make ghee at home. Checkout the instructions in the notes section of Cardamom Chickpea Cookies.
- For more tips and serving suggestions check out the blog post above.
Stacie
YUM. I I didn’t have all the ingredients but they still turned out great! Used oat flour instead of almond, no raisins. Added coconut oil. I could eat these all day. Thank you for this!!!
Roxana Begum
Thanks for sharing your experience and ideas.
nanjoon
We love them. Because I didn’t have all the ingredients, I substituted mixed nut (almond and hazel)butter for the cashew, the amaranth I still haven’t gotten well puffed, so a lot of the cup was toasted and half popped, which made the balls nice and crunchy. In the end because they seemed very sweet, I rolled them in unsweetened coco. MMMM yummy. They are delicious and I’m off now to try and pop some more amaranth...
I Starr
Hi, I really want to try these as they look delicious. It would be even more inspiring if the nutrition info were added.
Roxana Begum
I have updated it. For some reason the nutrition facts and some other details got lost due to a software update. Thanks for letting us know.
Mimi
Yum. These are so fun. I’ve always loved amaranth - I used to use it a lot in granola. These are wonderful - I think my grand daughter would even love. Them!
Roxana Begum
Thanks for sharing your experience with it. Hope you give this one a try.
Emily
I love quick and healthy snacks like this, these look so delicious!
Roxana Begum
Thanks Emily :) No matter how much I like cooking its always good to have some easy recipes around.
Natalie
These energy bites look so delicious and healthy! I never tried making anything with amaranth before, but I know it's supposed to be so healthy. I have to try this soon!
Roxana Begum
Thanks Natalie. I loved using the puffed amaranth. I want to try making other recipes with it.
Sara
I'm always looking for easy and healthy snack ideas, so I can't wait to make these energy balls. They look so delicious!
Roxana Begum
We loved them. Hope you try them. Thanks Sara.
Camila
Omg, what a coincidence, I made cashew date energy balls today, but they were very different recipe than yours. Very interesting to see your version!!
Roxana Begum
Thanks Camilla :) I know I too have such coincidences happen.
valentina
I have amaranth in my pantry. Yay! I love the crunchy texture it adds, and will give these a go. :-)
Roxana Begum
Thanks Valentina. Hope you enjoy them. Yes indeed I too love the crunchy and light texture of the popped amaranth.