Fancy a little healthy sweet treat? These cardamom pistachio energy balls are a perfect mid-afternoon snack, with oats, flaxmeal, honey, cardamom and pistachio nuts. Made without dates or dried fruit, they come together in less than 30 minutes for when the munchies hit! A vegetarian, gluten free (using certified oats) and low histamine snack.
I'm definitely someone who needs a little snack now and again constantly, especially when working 😉 So making tasty energy balls has become part of my routine - I need a constant supply!
If you love them too you may like to see my coconut energy balls, my sesame energy balls and my turmeric ginger energy balls. Both tasty and healthy too!
These cardamom energy balls have the best hints of spice, which goes so well with the pistachios. A simple, and delicious recipe, with a bit of a different taste to many bliss balls out there!
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Why these energy balls are so good
- So easy to make - it really is just a case of blending the oats, and then adding all the other ingredients to a food processor. These no bake energy balls are ready in no time!
- Healthy ingredients (mostly!) - with oats, flax, pistachios and cardamom, there are lots of healthy ingredients in this tasty snack.
- Made without dried fruit - energy balls without dates are a little hard to come by, so these are perfect if dates or dried fruit doesn't work for you.
- Refined sugar free - I've seen some with a lot of added sugar, but these are refined sugar free energy balls using honey in place of regular sugar.
Ingredients
A really short list of ingredients, and all pantry staples in my home. No strange ingredients you have to spend ages hunting for online! You will need:
- Oats: the basis of these energy balls. Use something like the Bob's Red Mill organic gluten free old fashioned rolled oats if you require certified gluten free oats.
- Flaxmeal: helps bind the energy balls together and full of healthy vitamins too.
- Pistachios: be sure to use plain ones - so unsalted and unroasted. Either would change the flavour too much.
- Cardamom: for that lovely hint of spice. The Simply Organic cardamom powder is good.
- Almond butter: to help bind the energy balls. If almonds don't work for you then any nut or seed butter should be fine.
- Honey: these are refined sugar free energy balls, but we use honey for some sweetness.
Step by step instructions
Making energy balls at home is super easy, and far less expensive than those in the store! Just a couple of steps for your healthy mid-afternoon snack:
STEP 1
Blend the oats and flaxmeal so you have a grainy texture. It should still have some 'bite' and not be a fine flour. A few pulses of the food processor should do it.
STEP 2
Add all the other ingredients to the food processor alongside the oats and flaxmeal. Blend until you get a rough ball of 'dough'. If the dough feels too dry then add some extra water.
Cardamom pistachio energy balls - FAQ
Are energy balls good for you?
I think so! These have carbs from the oats, protein from the nut butter and some good fats in the flaxmeal. I would say these healthy energy balls are better than a lot of other snacks!
Are these energy balls without dates?
Yes! Most energy balls are made with dates or other dried fruit, but as many people on a low histamine diet cannot tolerate these, I made these without. The nut butter and honey holds them together and gives a lovely sweetness in place of dates.
Can I use another nut or seed butter?
I haven't personally tried it, but I think it should turn out great. You simply need a nut or seed butter that will help hold the energy ball together.
What type of pistachios should I use?
You need pistachio nuts that are not salted or roasted. If they are either of those things, the flavour would be very different! So just plain pistachio nuts.
I like a lot of spice, can I increase the amount of cardamom?
Of course, make it is as spicy as you like!
More fun energy balls to enjoy
Find lots of ideas on my energy balls page, including these recent recipes:
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Recipe
Cardamom pistachio energy balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 2 tablespoon flaxmeal
- ⅓ cup pistachios
- ½ cup almond butter or macadamia nut butter
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Blend the oats and flaxmeal in a food processor so they have a grainy texture, but it isn't a fine powder.
- Add all the other ingredients and blend until it forms a thick 'dough'. If it seems too dry then add some extra honey, almond (or macadamia nut) butter or a touch of water.
- Transfer to a bowl and chill in the fridge for around 20 minutes.
- Use a cookie scoop or your hands to form around 9 energy balls.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of cardamom to taste preference. This is quite mild, so add another ¼ teaspoon for extra spice.
- Swap out the almond butter for another nut or seed butter if not tolerated well.
- flaxmeal is not rated on the SIGHI list.
- almond butter (almonds) score 1. Swap out for another nut or seed butter if required.
- cardamom scores 0, but with a note stating that some varieties may not be well tolerated.
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