Nut Butter Chocolate Balls
No-bake energy balls made from almond butter, chocolate, and dried fruit. Pack them for a calorie-dense snack that lasts weeks.
- calories
- 385
- weight
- 2.7 oz
- cal / oz
- 143
- protein
- 10 g
- serves
- 5, scales
- prep
- 15 min
- cook
- 0 min
- total time
- 15 min
- water
- none
- cost
- $$
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Snack
- No cook
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Day hike
- Vegetarian
- Eat in the bag
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Almond butter | 3/4 cup | creamy or crunchy, any shelf-stable brand |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate chips | 1/2 cup | semi-sweet or dark chocolate |
| Rolled oats | 1/4 cup | binds the mixture without adding density |
| Dried fruit | 1/3 cup | chopped apricots, cranberries, or raisins |
| Honey | 2 tablespoons | carried in a small squeeze bottle |
| Salt | 1/4 teaspoon |
Method
- Combine almond butter, honey, and salt in a bowl and stir until smooth.
- Fold in chocolate chips, oats, and chopped dried fruit until evenly distributed.
- Chill for 30 minutes until firm enough to roll.
- Shape into balls about the size of a walnut, then store in a parchment-lined container.
Calorie density is the point. Nut butter and chocolate deliver the energy per gram that matters when you need to minimize pack weight. The oats bind everything; the dried fruit adds flavor without adding significant weight. Unlike energy bars, these don’t harden unpleasantly as they warm in your pack.
Make them at home and bring by the handful. They stay shelf-stable for weeks and carry cleanly. Store cold before packing if you prefer them firm; in warmer conditions they soften to almost fudgy.
Packing
Layer balls between parchment sheets in a rigid container or bag. They stay firm in cool weather and only soften slightly in heat. Each 2-ball portion is designed to grab and eat with one hand.
Variations
- Substitute peanut butter or tahini for almond butter for different flavors.
- Stir a teaspoon of instant coffee powder into the almond butter for a mocha version.
- Mix cocoa powder into the almond butter base instead of using chocolate chips.
https://xn--trekkingkche-llb.de/outdoor-snacks-wandern