These trail mix energy bites are packed with nutritious ingredients like dates, rolled oats, and nuts! You can make your own homemade trail mix blend or use 1 cup of your favorite store bought trail mix to make these bites.
Who can say no to the sweet, plant-based wonder that is the Medjool date? I decided to take two of my favorite snacks (energy bites and trail mix) and combine them into one fantastic grab-and-go treat: trail mix energy bites!
These little trail mix date energy bites may be small, but they are mighty.
They're packed to the gills with energy-dense nuts and seeds, and they're a pretty healthy snack or dessert. They remind me a lot of my pecan date cookies, which use similar ingredients but are in cookie form.
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Recipe features
- Ready in just 10 minutes. A food processor is required to make this recipe.
- Makes 16 energy bites but can easily be doubled to make more. Energy bites freeze well and thaw very quickly.
- This recipe works with a homemade trail mix blend or storebought trail mix. This recipe is endlessly customizable!
Ingredients
The only required ingredients are dates, rolled oats, and milk. The others are what I put in my trail mix blend.
- Medjool dates: Make sure to pit the dates before you use them or purchase pitted Medjool dates.
- Rolled oats: These help bind the energy bites together. Steel cut oats don't work, but instant or quick cook oats should also work.
- Milk: This helps break down the dates. I use soy milk because it's what I keep on hand, but any milk works here and water will get the job done in a pinch.
- Sliced almonds: Slivered almonds also work. I don't recommend using whole almonds unless you chop them up first.
- Pumpkin seeds: I use roasted pumpkin seeds but raw pumpkin seeds (AKA pepitas) also work.
- Chia seeds provide healthy omega-3 fats. Hemp hearts are another good option.
- Other options include chocolate chips, chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, and dried fruit like dried cherries or raisins.
Steps to make
- Blend the dates in a food processor until they form into a ball.
- Add half of the dry oatmeal and all of the soy milk (or other milk) to the date ball. Process this until it's all combined.
Transfer the date mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the remaining oatmeal and 1 cup of the trail mix mixture. You may need to use your hands to get it really combined (that's the fun part!!).
Optionally, you can roll the dates in oatmeal so that they are a little less sticky.
Once everything is combined, use your hands to roll up 12-16 ping pong ball-sized energy balls, roughly 1 tablespoon in size each.
Customization ideas
Every great trail mix, and thus every great trail mix energy bite, is fully customizable. For every recipe of trail mix energy bites, add in 1 cup of trail mix blend.
Here are some more flavor variations and add-in ideas to try:
- Use one cup of storebought trail mix instead of a homemade nut and seed blend.
- Add chopped dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, or cherries.
- Try cashews, peanuts, pecan, or walnut pieces in place of the almonds.
- Add mini chocolate chips for a touch of sweetness.
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Trail Mix Date Energy Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
For the "Trail Mix"
- ¼ cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans; see note #1
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ tablespoons dried cherries or other fruit
- ¼ cup hemp hearts or chia seeds
For the Energy Balls
- 1 ½ cups pitted medjool dates
- 1 cup rolled oats divided
- 2 tablespoons milk water works in a pinch
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup trail mix
Instructions
- Stir together your ideal combination of nuts, fruits, chocolate chips, and seeds, or use my recommended amounts. This recipe uses one cup of trail mix.
- In a food processor with a standard blade attachment, process the dates until they are mostly pureed. They will form into a ball. Add ½ cup of the rolled oats, the milk, and cinnamon and continue processing until the oats are mostly broken down. Use a spatula to push the date ball down, as needed.
- Transfer the date mixture to a mixing bowl. Using a spoon or your hands, stir in 1 cup of trail mix and the remaining rolled oats. Roll into 12-16 ping pong-sized balls, about 1 heaping tablespoon each.
- Store energy bites in the fridge. Enjoy within a week, or keep in the freezer for up to three months.
Notes
- Nuts: For the best flavor, I recommend roasted and salted nuts. If you only have raw unsalted nuts, they can be toasted in a skillet until golden.
- Trail mix: The recipe works with 1 cup of any combination of trail mix. Feel free to use store bought trail mix instead of making your own blend.
- This recipe was updated in 2026 and adjusted slightly to reflect my ideal trail mix energy bite. The previous had pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and shredded coconut. This new version adds chocolate chips, dried cherries, and hemp hearts.
Nutrition
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Wilson would like you to know that this post was originally shared way back in 2018. It was updated in 2026 with a few new photos, but the recipe method remains the same.
Alexis Masi says
Is the nutrition info for 1 ball?
Cassidy Reeser, MS, RD says
Yes it is, I just updated the labels to reflect that.
Alexis Masi says
Oh perfect! I made them and they’re great!! Thank you for the recipe
Cassidy Reeser, MS, RD says
Yay happy to hear it! You're welcome! 🙂
Alexis Masi says
Sorry I have one more question! I have my batch in the fridge but do they have to be refrigerated daily? For example I brought two to work and just have them in my purse. I didn’t even think of them needing to be refrigerated on the go and im wondering if they’re still edible.
Cassidy Reeser, MS, RD says
I don't think they need to be refrigerated in the first 2 days, since they're technically all shelf stable ingredients. I'd say you should store them in the fridge at home so that they keep longer, but having them out and in your purse during the day likely isn't a problem 🙂
Alexis Masi says
Yay ok perfect!! Def going to try some of your other recipes. Thanks again 🥰🥰
Alexis Masi says
Oh great! Ok I’ll have them later after the gym then. Thanks again so much!!! I’m going to try other recipes of yours over the weekend!!
Carla says
I do not see milk listed in any of the recipes for ingredients. Please advise.
Cassidy Reeser says
Hi Carla, I'm not sure what you mean as "milk of choice" is listed until "for the energy balls" ingredients and instructions. Two tablespoons are added at the same time as the oats.
Hannah M says
Do you think these would still work without the oats?
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
I think it should work but it will definitely be a little stickier. You could also try replacing oats with almond flour.