These Apricot & White Chocolate Energy Balls are the perfect nut-free snack for toddlers and kids! Made with chewy dried apricots, creamy tahini, oats, and white chocolate chips, they’re a no-bake treat that's easy to make. These energy balls include little nutrition boosters like chia seeds and hemp hearts, adding extra texture and goodness to every bite. Whether it’s snack time, playdate fuel, or a quick bite on the go, these energy balls are a yummy and satisfying option!
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Toddler Real Talk
Anyone else trying to come up with toddler snacks that meet allll the things? Nut free, wholesome ingredients, toddler will actually eat... Well these energy balls are it! My daughter's daycare is nut free, so we are constantly trying to come up with nut-free snack alternatives. These little energy balls use tahini (a sesame seed paste) instead of nut butter, giving them a creamy texture and rich flavour, no nuts needed!
Looking for other toddler snacks? I have rounded up over 25 of my favourite Healthy Toddler Snacks here which includes other amazing snack recipes like my copy-cat Homemade Lara bars or my frozen yogurt protein bars!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- tahini
- coconut oil
- maple syrup
- dried apricots
- shredded unsweetened coconut
- hemp seeds
- chia seeds
- rolled oats
- white chocolate chips (we use Enjoy Life dairy-free white mini chips)
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make White Chocolate & Apricot Energy Balls
Add tahini, maple syrup, and coconut oil to small sauce pan on medium-low and stir frequently until melted.
Add dry ingredients to bowl and stir to combine.
Add the tahini, maple syrup, coconut melted mixture to the bowl.
Roll into balls, place in fridge for at least 20 minutes.
Substitutions
- Tahini - you can use any nut butter for these if you don't want to use tahini, peanut butter works great in this recipe.
- Dried fruit - dried cranberries or dried cherries can be swapped for apricot (although then they won't be apricot energy balls anymore!).
- White chocolate chips - You can swap for regular milk chocolate or dark if preferred, or omit completely - but let's be honest, having a few chocolate chips definitely makes energy balls more fun!
- Seeds - you can mix up the seeds and use ground flax or pumpkin seeds.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Optional food processor but isn't necessary
Storage
Store the energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months. They’re perfect for grab-and-go snacks or tossing into a lunchbox.
Top tip
Melting the first three ingredients in a saucepan is SO important for this recipe. I tried to skip this step and just add everything at once and they would NOT stick together!
FAQ
Yes! These energy balls are completely nut-free, making them a great choice for nut-free environments like schools and daycares. Just be sure to check your tahini label to ensure it's made in a nut-free facility if allergies are a concern.
Need more school lunch ideas? Check out my Ultimate List of Toddler Lunches or these 15 Easy Cold School Lunch Ideas.
You can use dairy-free white chocolate chips (or skip them altogether if preferred). The rest of the ingredients are naturally dairy-free and vegan.
Yes. These energy balls are naturally gluten-free, but if you want to be 100% sure, check to make sure your oats are certified gluten-free oats. All the other ingredients—like apricots, tahini, chia seeds, hemp hearts, and coconut—are naturally gluten-free.
Recipe
Apricot & White Chocolate Energy Balls (nut-free)
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup dried apricots finely diced
- ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life dairy-free white chips)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat on medium low and add the tahini, maple syrup and coconut oil. Stir until melted. Remove from heat once melted.
- In a medium bowl, add the remaining ingredients except for the white chocolate chips. Stir to combine.
- Add the melted mixture from the stove top into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Once the mixture has cooled slightly, add the white chocolate chips and stir.
- Roll into balls and place in the fridge for 20 minutes. Makes 12 energy balls.
Nutrition
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Kevin says
Trying these for sure. 🙌🤍