Okay friends, there’s a new energy bite in town and it’s on major repeat in our kitchen. It’s no secret that we love cardamom (hello, chai!) and orange (juice, anyone?), but when we combined them with our Salted Cashew Caramel Energy Bites, something magical happened, and the Orange Cardamom Energy Bite was born! (Happy birthday, bites!)
These bites are sweet, zesty, and decadent and perfect for a quick snack or sweet treat after dinner. Just 6 ingredients, 15 minutes, and 1 food processor stand between you and these delicious bites! Let us show you how it’s done!
How to Make Orange Cardamom Energy Bites
These bites are seriously simple to make! First, you’ll gather a handful of ingredients:
- Medjool dates – sweet dried dates provide the naturally sweetened, sticky base that tastes like caramel and supplies potassium, magnesium, and more. We love you, dates!
- Cashews and coconut – packed with healthy fats and fiber, this duo balances the stickiness of the dates and makes these bites filling and nourishing.
- Sea salt – sea salt + caramel…need we say more?
- Cardamom – originating in India, this fragrant spice works beautifully in baking but has also been used medicinally for its digestive health benefits and more!
- Orange zest – a beautiful pairing for cardamom, orange zest adds a subtle orange flavor, but did you know it’s good for you, too?
Then you’ll process them until the cashews are crumbly and the mixture sticks together when pressed between your fingers.
Next, you’ll roll the “dough” into balls.
And optionally, roll them in a sweet and zesty coating of orange zest, shredded coconut, and coconut sugar. Swoon!
We hope you LOVE these energy bites! They’re:
Sweet
Zesty
Warming
Decadent
Rich
& SO Delicious!
We love having them around for a sweet treat after meals or as an afternoon snack! They pair beautifully alongside a chai latte or cup of coffee.
More Quick & Easy Snack Recipes
- Crispy BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
- Almond Joy Energy Bites (6 Ingredients!)
- Easy Flourless Granola Cookies
- Easy No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Orange Cardamom Energy Bites (No-Bake!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup (packed) pitted dates* (measured after pitting // 11 medjool dates yield ~1 cup)
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews (if nut-free, sub seed of choice, such as hemp or sunflower)
- 1/2 cup desiccated or shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 3/4 – 1 ½ tsp ground cardamom (depending on the freshness of your cardamom, and your personal preference)
- 1/2 tsp (packed) orange zest*
TOPPING optional
- 1 tsp (packed) orange zest
- 3 Tbsp desiccated coconut
- 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
Instructions
- To a food processor add pitted dates, cashews, coconut, sea salt, cardamom, and orange zest. Note: If you don’t have a food processor you can try using a blender, but dates can be tough for blenders due to their sticky nature, so use a low speed if possible and pulse rather than blending.
- Pulse until the mixture is broken down and crumbly — we like to stop before it becomes completely dough-like so that the bites maintain some texture. It should stick together when pressed between two fingers; if still dry and crumbly, continue processing until it is sticky enough to form into a ball. Taste and adjust as needed, adding more cardamom, orange zest, or salt to taste.
- If using the coconut coating, prepare that at this time. In a small bowl, combine the orange zest, desiccated coconut, and coconut sugar. Now it’s time to roll the balls!
- Scoop out 1-Tbsp amounts and roll into balls. As the original recipe is written, ~16 balls. If using the coating, roll the balls in the coating until generously covered.
- Enjoy immediately or store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month. We enjoy these right out of the fridge or after sitting at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
Video
Notes
*1 orange yields ~1 tsp orange zest.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.
Hayley says
These were AMAZING! It’s perfect combination with the orange and cardamon. Just sweet enough but not over powering! 10/10 recommend and with a cup of chai doesn’t hurt either!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed, Hayley. Thanks so much for the review!
Anita Barnes says
OMG! These are amazing and the best energy bites I’ve ever had. Simple, not too sweet, and so many exciting flavours!
So happy to hear you enjoyed these, Anita. Thanks for the great review!
Sara says
Omg these are soooo good!!! Thank you for this amazing recipe! Already planning to make them again for friends 😄
Yay! So glad you enjoyed these, Sara. Thanks for the review!
Tay says
Thank you. The recipe is so good that I decided to make it with coconut.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Tay! Thank you for sharing! xo
Tay says
Hello Dana and Team,
I just made the recipe and tasted one, it was DELISH! SO GOOD! I had a question for the coconut – can we leave that out? I do not have a food processor and my blender is not great at blending dessicated coconut.
K
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Tay! Coconut is somewhat central to the flavor here, but you could experiment with almond flour, oats, or hemp seeds. Hope that helps!
Joanna says
Not a fan. Strange flavor that’s not very sweet, and just overall didn’t like.
Hi Joanna, sorry to hear that was your experience! This recipe is a reader favorite, so we wonder if something could have gone wrong? Is it possible you used a different type of dates? Medjool dates should make it quite sweet.
Samantha says
YUM! These energy bites are the perfect hit of fresh orange flavor and chewy, satiating and surprising from the cardamom. I added 3/4 tsp of the spice into my mix and it gave off the perfect note of flavor. A good food processor will make quick work of the pulsing and combining of ingredients. Definitely adding these to my snack arsenal.
Yay! Thanks for the lovely review, Samantha. So glad you enjoy these bites!
Genevieve says
Can I sub walnuts for cashews here? Or does it really need cashews?
Hi Genevieve, we haven’t tried this with walnuts but they should work well. They do tend to have a stronger flavor than cashews (sometimes slightly bitter?) but if you like the taste of walnuts it should be fine! Let us know how it goes!
Nicola says
Fabulous! second time of making. come together so fast! I made it to share with a team (mixed eaters, all of them loved these) I increased the zest by a little and the cardamom too. perfect!
Yay! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed the bites. Thank you for sharing, Nicola! xo
Monika says
Wow these have to be my favourite energy balls I’ve ever made! The orange cuts through the usual sweetness of the dates. So so delicious!
We’re so glad you enjoy them, Monika! Thank you for sharing! xo
Barbara says
Absolutely delicious!! Followed recipe exactly along with a little squeeze of the orange juice after zesting. It helped them come together just a tad more. Rolled in hemp seeds. Love!
Yum! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Barbara!
Susanne says
Delicious. I love cardamom and coconut. Putting my new food processor to good use. I used roasted, salted cashews and left out the salt. The dates were very fresh so they had enough moisture to bind everything.
Ooo nice! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Susanne!
Kate says
These are simply divine! I have always loved cardamom, but have never had it with orange zest… rocked my world :) Super easy and love no bake recipes
Yay! Thanks so much for the great review, Kate!
CindyMac1 says
FYI, several of the last recipes , when I go to save as a pdf onto my desktop don’t capture the image even though it is selected. I wasn’t sure if it was from your side or mine. LOL.
Have a blessed day!
Hi, thanks for letting us know! We’re working on this issue and hope to have it resolved soon. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Melissa says
I wonder if there is a substitute for the orange zest? The essential oils in orange zest coat the stomach and block nutrients from passing through. These kook fantastic and I can’t wait to try working with dates, which I’ve never done. But I can’t do the orange zest.
Hmm! You could leave it out.
Lesley says
Or, try adding a bit of frozen oj concentrate. The orange flavor really goes well with the cardamom.
I’ve had this recipe saved for a while and plan to make it soon. I might follow one posters suggestion to roll the balls in hemp hearts. Coconut already in them and IMO they don’t need additional sugar. The dates are sweet enough.
Alessia says
I just love these so much. They have such a distinct flavour that I don’t think I would get tired of them!
I feel like they would be amazing to eat after a curry! The aroma of the orange+cardamom together with the natural sweetness just make it the perfect post-Indian lunch!
Or at tea time treat 🥰
Huge plus: so quick and easy to make!! In fact I’ll be making them every weekend 👀
Ooo yes – that would be a delicious pairing! We’re so glad you enjoy them, Alessia! xoxo
Brooke Thompson says
10 stars. Incredible.
Yay! Thanks, Brooke!
Allison says
I made these last week and my mom and I loved them! So this week I’m making a double batch. 😂 They’re sooo good for snacking! They taste like candy.
Yay! So glad you enjoy this recipe, Allison!
Laura Bergstrom says
I tried these immediately after making them, and wasn’t blown away. But after letting the flavors meld overnight, they were amazing! Great sweet treat!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience, Laura! xo
Gerry says
These are very easy and YUMMY. I love the combination of flavors! I don’t have a food processor but have a mini chopper that kind of works like a food processor, so I divided the ingredients in half to mix 2 batches, it worked great. I did a mix of cashews and hemp seeds, and pressed into a pyrex as someone suggested and made squares- love that tip! I also used deglet noor dates because that’s what I have and still yummy! Next time I will try adding some cinnamon too.
These were a bit sweet for me and I’m wondering if you have any tips on that? Perhaps decreasing the dates a bit and adding more coconut or nuts/seeds might work? But then would there not be enough to make the balls stick together if I decrease the dates some? Does the type of date make a difference in sweetness?
Thank you for a quick, easy and tasty recipe and thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Gerry, thank you so much for sharing your experience! You should be able to get away with adding more coconut or nuts/seeds as long as you’re using dates that are nice and sticky. Medjool dates are typically sweeter than deglet noor, but perhaps a flavor difference was also at play? Hope that helps!
Gerry says
Thank you!
June says
Just made this tonight and they’re so tasty. My husband doesn’t like coconut so I used hemp hearts in the mixture instead and then just rolled the bunch for me in coconut. Came out really tasty. Do you think adding ginger might be good or is that an overload of flavor? Just wondering if anyone has tried it.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed these, June. We haven’t tried this with ginger, but we think a small amount might be yummy!
Lisa says
This recipe is ! It’s quick and easy to make and it tastes so good. I did omit the sugar from the topping because I thought it would make the balls too sweet. The sweetness of the dates was enough for me. I will definitely make these again and try some of the variations suggested in the other comments.
We’re so glad you enjoy them, Lisa! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modification! xo
Julie says
These almost killed my Ninja, but they were worth it. They’re extremely good!
I’ve made these twice now and the second time I chopped the dates before processing (1/2 inch pieces). No overheated motor this time!
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Julie! We haven’t used a Ninja but have heard it can be more finicky – so glad you got it to work! Thank you for sharing!
Rozalyn Lilley says
I made these tonight with a combination of cashews & hemp hearts, & they turned out amazing! They taste so good, I feel like I’m being naughty! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Yay! So glad you enjoy these bites, Rozalyn. Thanks for the great review!
Grace says
Followed recipe and turned out perfect! Very tasty and quick to make!
Woohoo! Thanks, Grace!
Lucy says
I don’t have any cashews on hand although I’m not nut free … would walnuts be okay do you think?
Hi Lucy! They might change the flavor slightly, but they should work. Let us know how it goes!
Shelly says
Delicious– subbed lemon zest for orange (because that’s what I had on hand) and they were still tasty. Did not roll in toppings because they were good already (and I was lazy!) Also, used a small cookie dough scooper to make shaping into balls fairly easy. Thanks for another great recipe!
Thank you so much for sharing, Shelly! We’re so glad you enjoyed them! xo
Happy Dancer says
These are incredibly dry and difficult to form into balls. Tasty but too dry. I will not make this recipe again.
We’re so sorry to hear they didn’t turn out right for you! Other readers have been loving these so we wonder if something went wrong? What type of dates were you using? We recommend medjool for best results. Were your dates dry and stiff? If so, it’s best to soak them in water for a few minutes, then drain thoroughly and pat dry before use.
Pat says
Really loved this recipe! I should’ve tasted the orange zest first because mine turned out a tiny bit bitter from the zest, but it’s not super noticeable. I think next time I’ll use some orange flavoring instead!
Thank you for sharing, Pat! If any of the white pith from the peel got in there, that can cause bitterness. Hope that helps!
Kathy says
I used dried prunes instead of dates because that is what I had in my kitchen. Perhaps it is better with prunes because they are not as sweet as dates. The recipe was simple and easy to follow.
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing, Kathy!
Alison says
So good!
I added some cocao nibs and oats – amazing recipe. Now on to the salted caramel bites, then the peanut butter cup bites! :-)
Yay! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Alison!
Allison says
Would you mind sharing your measurements for the cacao nibs and oats? Also, did you process them in the food processor or use them as a topping or…? I was thinking of doing same thing!
Alison says
I never measure, which is why I love these recipes over baking! I guess it was probably 2tbs of cocao nibs and about 1/3c of oats, added to the food processor.
Cora Sangree says
So easy and so yummy!
Yay! Thanks so much, Cora!
Wendy says
These are AMAZING 🤩
Yay! Thanks, Wendy!
Virginie says
I made this tonight and it’s really a nice recipe ! It’s delicious and I like the combination of the different flavours.
I think it’s the first time that I made energy balls and I think that I will explore other recipes soon !
My friend was kind of laughing at me because the process seemed strange to him … and then he wanted to taste … and he found that it was delicious 😋
(Me 💪)
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Virginie. Thanks for the review!
Tania says
I did the lazy version of this and just pressed it into a rectagular Pyrex dish to cut into squares. I skipped the topping, upped the orange a bit and used hemp hearts. I tend to make these date-based energy snacks chocolatey, but this was a really nice refreshing twist, perfect for a little afternoon treat. Thanks for another winner :)
Amazing! Love the shortcut, Tania! Thank you for sharing! xo
Virginie says
Very nice idea to do squares instead ! Thanks 🙏
Jennifer says
Love cardamom! These are very good and easy. I soaked my raw cashews as that has been what I’ve been doing for years when eating them raw. The topping is a must! 1 tsp of coconut sugar is fine. Will make again!
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing, Jennifer! xo
Paula says
What’s the ingredient to substitute coconut sugar?
Hi Paula, we haven’t tested it with other sweeteners, but we think brown sugar or cane sugar would work. The topping is also optional, so feel free to omit that part if preferred. Hope that helps!
Erin says
These are fast and easy to make and delicious!!!! They’re the perfect little sweet nugget of goodness. Thank you MB!
Whoop! So glad you like them! Thank you for sharing, Erin! xoxo
Roxanne says
You had me at “Cardamom”. I used walnuts instead of the cashews. Very good!
Right?! Such a delicious spice! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Roxanne! xo
Gail Marcotte says
These were especially easy to make! However they were quite dry. I figured that out on the first one lol
So I added about 1-1 1/2 tblsp of orange juice. It was smooth sailing after that. Very good!
We’re so glad they turned out well with that modification! If your dates are dry/old, that could be contributing. Hope that helps for next time!
joe says
Hi made this today..Wonderful.
I used a mincer to grind all in a jiffy. The kind you fix to a table top etc feed anything to be minced and turn the handle. As easy as that. Mother used it a lot when we were kids to chop almonds. We had nothing else. I loved turning the handle with all my strength! No plastic or alum just sturdy iron.
God bless.
Great! Thank you for sharing your method, Joe!
Christine says
Thank you for yet another delicious recipe, these little gems are a hit!
We’re so glad you enjoy them, Christine! Thank you for sharing! xo
Holly says
These are epic! I love all your recipes for these no cook balls so I thought I would give it a try. I’m so glad I did! My husband raved about them too. I didn’t have an orange on hand so I used organic (okay to ingest) orange essential oil but I bet it would be even better with the zest. Can’t wait to try it that way! Thanks guys
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you both enjoyed them, Holly! Thank you for sharing! xo
McCall says
Amazing! One of my favorite no-bake bites to date. Orange + fresh ground cardamom = divine. Thank you as always for sharing the simple goodness.
Whoop! Agreed – such a delicious combo! Thank you for your kind words and lovely review! xo
Michelle W says
These are delicious and even better after chilled in the fridge. I had to add two additional dates over the 11. That did the trick. Perfect and easy. We love a two-bite treat that is filling and yummy!
Great! Thank you so much for sharing, Michelle! xo
Laura says
Hey! I can’t eat coconut. Can you recommend a substitute? Thanks!
Hi Laura, we think they’re kind of central to the flavor / texture, but you may be able to sub almond flour, oats, or hemp seeds. Hope that helps!
Donna says
Can I substitute something else for maybe half the dates? Or even all the dates? My husband can only tolerate a small amount.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Donna, not sure if he can do other dried fruits, but we think dried apricots could work. Hope that helps!
Gary says
Hello Guys
I plan on making these as soon as I can, is it best to use Cardamom pods ground or can the same result be made with powdered Cardamom.
I have just discovered your website and plan on making many of your recipes.
All the very best
Hi Gary, that’s so great to hear! We recommend ground (powdered) cardamom. Let us know how you like them!
karen says
OMG!! These are soooo good!! Thank you so much for sharing. I immediately decided to double the recipe assuming I had all the ingredients, but then realized I was a bit short on dates. I substituted the missing dates with golden raisins and all was fine :) I’ve made a lot of your wonderful nut/date style desserts/bites, and am grateful for a healthier dessert.
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you enjoy them, Karen! Thank you for sharing! xo
Trina says
These are delicious! Use hemp seeds, will make again.
Thank you,
Trina
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Trina! Thank you for sharing! xo
Nath says
My new favorite no-bake treat! (used to be your 3-ingredient no-bake cookie). Super tasty. I didn’t need any topping.
Whoop! We’re so glad to hear it! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Scarlet says
Delicious!! The orange really pops and sparkles. A lovely winter treat! Thank you!
Agreed! We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Scarlet =) Thank you for the lovely review!
Ashley says
This flavor combo is amazing! I didn’t use any of the toppings – they aren’t needed! I went with the 1.5 tsp of cardamom because mine was old. Perfection!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Ashley! xoxo
Gypsy says
Any way to do this in a ninja if you don’t have a food processor?? 🤣
A Ninja might struggle with the dates! Perhaps you could pulse the nuts and coconut in the Ninja, chop the dates, and then combine in a bowl? It won’t have quite the same texture, but would still be tasty!
Suneera says
The flavor is so yummy and reminds me of many Indian sweets. One thing I didn’t realize is that the cardamom has to be ground first because it doesn’t break up well with everything else. I had some shelled but not ground. Next time I’ll grind them up in my spice grinder before I add it to the rest.
Suneera says
Forgot to add that I used shredded coconut. I didn’t have cashews so I did half flax seed and half hemp seed. The texture is perfect and it held together well.
Great!!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Suneera! Sorry about that! We’ll make sure to specify ground cardamom.
Stacey says
Hi! Can I use something in place of the coconut?
Hi Stacey, we think they’re kind of central to the flavor / texture, but you may be able to sub almond flour, oats, or hemp seeds. Hope that helps!
Alice Wootton says
I’m wondering if I could substitute almond pulp for the cashews. I have loads of pulp taking over my kitchen. These look scrumptious!
Hi Alice, we find that since almond pulp adds more moisture, it works best in energy bites that use fewer dates. You could use this recipe as a guide. Hope that helps!