4-Ingredient Caramel Apple Energy Balls - Cupcakes & Kale Chips (2024)

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Apple Cinnamon Energy Balls are quick and easy healthy no-bake snacks kids love with the flavor of a sweet and sticky caramel apple. You only need four ingredients and a few minutes to make this gluten free after school snack recipe. Since they are nut-free and peanut-free, these energy bites are a perfect allergy-friendly treat to pack in a lunchbox too!

Table of Contents

• Apple Cinnamon No-Bake Energy Balls Recipe
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Tips for Success
• More easy nut-free snack recipes
• More energy ball recipes
• Get the Recipe

Originally published Aug 17, 2014.

Apple Cinnamon No-Bake Energy Balls Recipe

My kids, like most, are all about snacking. Whether it’s yogurt stuffed apples or easy peanut butter banana snacks or just a granola bar from a box, when they are home they want to eat all the things. That’s why I always need quick and healthy snacks to make.

These easy snacks are one of my boys’ favorite things to munch on. I have made several versions of no-bake energy balls, like these Funky Monkey Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls. But I wanted to make a variety without nuts or nut butter or any other major allergens. This way we could pack them on-the-go or share them with friends without having to worry about any kids with food allergies or sensitivities.

These no-bake energy bites have the caramel apple flavor you love with the perfect hint of cinnamon. They are an easy snack recipe the kids love to make and eat. Perfectly portable and poppable, they have only four ingredients, and are gluten free, dairy free, nut- and peanut-free, and vegan. Made with only real, whole ingredients, so you can feel good about eating this healthy snack. Even better, from the making to the eating, they are totally kid-friendly.

Ingredients

• Pitted Dried Dates – this is the key to making sticky energy balls and making these taste like caramel apples without adding sugar. They are “Nature’s caramel”!
• Dried Apples – the chewy kind, not the crisp freeze-dried apples.
• Uncooked Old-Fashioned Oats – you can get certified gluten free oats if needed.
• Cinnamon – it adds a lovely warm spice flavor that always pairs so well with the flavor of apples.

Other than that, all you need is a food processor or blender and a spatula.

Directions

Tips for Success

• As I mentioned, these are made with the chewy kind of dried apples. If you prefer a brand unsulfured and preservative-free dried apples, I will caution that these tend to be a bit drier. If that is the case for the ones you purchase, just add a teaspoon of water at a time until you get a thick paste consistency.
• For the full-sized energy balls, use about a tablespoon of the mixture for each. If you have toddlers, you can use about one-quarter to one-half teaspoon to make little baby energy bites.
• You can store these in an airtight container at room temperature for several days, but they will also last longer in the refrigerator. They can even be frozen in a plastic freezer bag for a few months.
• Since they are nut-free, they are perfect to pack for daycare or school.

More easy nut-free snack recipes

• No-Bake Apricot Energy Bars
• Healthy Cheesecake Dip
• Cherry Cheesecake Smoothie
• Trail Mix Granola Bars
• Coconut Chia Granola

More energy ball recipes

• Cranberry Energy Balls
• Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Energy Balls
• Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
• Coconut Pineapple Energy Balls
• Ginger Cookie Energy Balls

Enjoy!