Lemon Energy Balls (Dairy-Free)

These Lemon Energy Balls are soft, melt-in-your-mouth healthy no-bake energy bites with a refreshing coconut lemon flavor. Plus, these energy balls contain 2.6 grams of protein, and they are perfect as a post-workout protein snack!

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I have shared so many energy balls and bites recipes lately, like my Nut-Free Energy Balls, Coconut Energy Balls, or Almond Butter Energy Balls, and there’s a reason why I love these bite-sized foods so much. They taste delicious, and they are fulfilling, perfect as a nourishing sweet snack any time of the day.

Lemon Energy Balls

An easy oat-free lemon energy balls recipe made with cashews and coconut for a delicious, refreshing snack.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Australian

Servings: 18 balls

Calories: 118.7 kcal

Author: Carine Claudepierre

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Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

• ▢ 1 cup Cashew - (note 1)
• ▢ 1 ½ cup Shredded Coconut (Unsweetened)
• ▢ 3 tablespoons Coconut Nectar - (note 2)
• ▢ ¼ cup Lemon Juice - (note 3)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons Lemon Zest
• ▢ 2 tablespoons Hemp Seeds - (note 4)

To coat the energy balls

• ▢ ⅓ cup Unsweetened Desiccated Coconut

Instructions

• In a food processor, using the S blade attachment, add the cashews, unsweetened shredded coconut, and blend on high speed until pulse until a meal.
• Add in maple syrup, lemon juice, lemon zest.
• Blend again on the high-speed setting until it forms a sticky dough that comes together.
• Stir in the seeds of choice and pulse to incorporate. If the dough is too wet, add more coconut, 2 tablespoons at a time, blend on the high-speed setting after adding. If the dough is too dry, add 1 tablespoon cold water at a time, blend and repeat if needed.
• Scoop out one tablespoon of batter, roll into balls between your hands, then roll into the desiccated coconut to coat.
• Store the balls on a plate covered with parchment while you roll the remaining batter into energy balls.
• Store energy balls in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Storage

• Store in the freezer for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature.

Notes

Note 1: Other nuts like macadamia or skinless almonds work well in the recipe.

Note 2: Any liquid sweeteners like agave syrup, maple syrup, or sugar-free maple-flavored syrup work.

Note 3: You can use water, coconut water, and orange juice to create a range of energy ball flavors using the same recipe.

Note 4: Or chia seeds or sunflower seeds.

Tips

Storage: These coconut lemon energy bites can be stored for up to 1 week in a sealed box in the fridge or for up to 3 months in the freezer. You can remove the balls from the freezer a few hours before eating or thaw them overnight at room temperature.

Soaking the Nuts: You can soak the cashew nuts in warm water or cold water overnight to activate them. This makes the nuts softer and easier to blend, but it is not essential. The recipe works very well with unsoaked nuts as long as your blender is powerful.

Equipment

Food Processor

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Parchment Paper

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Nutrition

Serving: 1ball | Calories: 118.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.6g | Protein: 2.6g | Fat: 9.9g | Saturated Fat: 5.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.1g | Sodium: 8.5mg | Potassium: 102.5mg | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 2.6g | Vitamin A: 9.2IU | Vitamin C: 2.3mg | Calcium: 8.5mg | Iron: 1mg | Magnesium: 29.6mg | Phosphorus: 80.8mg | Zinc: 0.6mg

Ingredients and Substitutions

All you need to make these delicious lemon bites are:

• Cashews – roasted or unroasted. This is up to you. Roasted cashews have more flavors and add a darker color to the balls.
• Coconut Nectar or maple syrup or any liquid sweetener you love, like sugar-free maple-flavored syrup for a low-carb option. I like coconut nectar with the lemon juice flavor, it tastes delicious, and coconut sugar has fewer carbs.
• Unsweetened Shredded Coconut or unsweetened desiccated coconut.
• Lemon Juice
• Lemon Zest – make sure you use organic, untreated lemons to avoid added chemicals in this raw dessert recipe.
• Seeds of Choice – totally optional, but this adds nutrients and crunchy texture. My favorite additions are hemp seeds or chia seeds to add healthy fats and fulfilling proteins and fiber.

How To Make Lemon Energy Balls (in Pictures)

You need a food processor to make these energy ball recipes.

Adjusting The Batter

The most common issue with energy balls recipes is the texture. Sometimes the batter is too wet – this happens mostly if you add too much liquid or the dry ingredients are not blended into a fine powder and can’t absorb the liquid evenly.

Or, the batter is dry and won’t stick together – it means that you miss some liquid in the recipe or the dry ingredients are too dry – like if you used defatted shredded coconut. Follow the tips below to adjust the batter.

• Dry batter – add 1 tablespoon of cold water at a time, process on the high-speed setting to incorporate, and add more if needed.
• Wet batter – add more coconut, 2 tablespoons at a time. Process on the high-speed setting after each addition.

More Energy Ball Recipes

Below are more delicious vegan energy balls recipes for you to try.

Banana Protein Balls

Pumpkin Protein Balls

Banana Oat Balls

Brownie Protein Bites