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Easy, No-Bake Pregnancy Energy Balls – Only 6 Ingredients!

Pregnancy energy balls are the perfect, quick, and healthy high-protein snack for the voracious appetite of the pregnant and postpartum mama. These balls contain only 6 ingredients, are gluten and dairy free, but best of all, are laden with peanut butter and chocolate. Blissful and delicious!

But wait. It gets better – they’re actually helpful to prepare for labor and can help increase breastmilk production!

On This Page

5 minute read
Perfect for the Freezer
Made with Coconut Oil
Gluten and Dairy Free
Dates for an Easier Labor
Pregnancy Energy Balls Printable Recipe

step by step photos making pregnancy energy balls starting with photo of six ingredients, processing with food processor, and hand rolling balls.

Why I Love These Energy Balls for Pregnancy and Postpartum

Perfect for the Freezer

Towards the end of each pregnancy I always, always cook up a bunch of food and freeze it. You know, to prepare for the baby apocalypse. (If you’re curious, here’s are some more of my favorite foods to freeze for postpartum. I really like this broccoli chicken and rice casserole!)

One of my favorite things to make ahead and freeze are these energy balls. I love to eat them frozen because 1) they are just even more ridiculously delicious when frozen and 2) if you make a big batch, freezing will allow them to keep longer (although these never last very long in our home).

Made with Coconut Oil

Another reason I love this bite-sized snack is because they are made with coconut oil, which is one of my favorite healthy fats for new moms. Not only does coconut oil make food taste good, help grow a healthy mama and baby, but coconut oil also makes breastmilk better. Neat, right?

6 ingredients for pregnancy energy balls separated in measuring cups and bowls

Gluten and Dairy Free

Another reason these energy balls are rockin’ is because they are free of gluten and dairy. Not that anything is WRONG with these things, but it’s nice to give my body a break from G&D because they’re in EVERYTHING. A little diversity does a body good, you know?

If you’re looking for more GF/DF recipes, here are some of my favorites:

ingredients for pregnancy energy balls mixed in a food processor

Dates for an Easier Labor

Honestly, I thought the internet was just making stuff up when I read that eating dates during the last month of pregnancy could make for an easier labor. Well, apparently this is actually a thing. According to studies like this one, eating date fruit can help women have labors with less interventions like inductions and/or pitocin augmentation. Sign me up! What could it hurt?! It’s a win-win.

Energy bites are the perfect, quick, and healthy snack for the voracious appetite of the pregnant and postpartum mama.  Mother Rising's energy bites contain only 6 ingredients, are gluten and dairy free, but best of all, are laden with peanut butter and chocolate.  Delicious!

Flaxseed and Oatmeal to Increase Milk Supply

These energy bites also contain flaxseed and oatmeal, which can increase milk supply in breastfeeding women. How cool is that?! Anecdotally, I have seen a dramatic increase in milk supply with one of my friends when she added oatmeal to her diet. She was breastfeeding her newborn baby, but also pumping to donate to a baby in need. When she started eating oatmeal her output increased by quite a few ounces daily! So crazy.

Energy bites are the perfect, quick, and healthy snack for the voracious appetite of the pregnant and postpartum mama.  Mother Rising's energy bites contain only 6 ingredients, are gluten and dairy free, but best of all, are laden with peanut butter and chocolate.  Delicious!
Energy bites are the perfect, quick, and healthy snack for the voracious appetite of the pregnant and postpartum mama.  Mother Rising's energy bites contain only 6 ingredients, are gluten and dairy free, but best of all, are laden with peanut butter and chocolate.  Delicious!
Energy bites are the perfect, quick, and healthy snack for the voracious appetite of the pregnant and postpartum mama.  Mother Rising's energy bites contain only 6 ingredients, are gluten and dairy free, but best of all, are laden with peanut butter and chocolate.  Delicious!

Pregnancy Energy Balls Printable Recipe

Are you ready for the recipe? Let’s get started.

Easy, No-Bake Pregnancy Energy Balls - Only 6 Ingredients!

Easy, No-Bake Pregnancy Energy Balls - Only 6 Ingredients!

Yield: 12 energy bites
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Energy balls are the perfect quick and healthy snack for the hungry pregnant and postpartum mama. This high protein snack is made with only 6 ingredients, gluten and dairy free, but best of all, are laden with peanut butter and cocoa.  Delicious!

Ingredients

  • 7 medjool dates, pits removed (roughly 3/4 cup)
  • 2 tbsp water + 1 tbsp water if your dates are on the dry side
  • 1 cup gluten-free certified oats
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp flaxseed meal
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Add dates and water into the food processor.
  2. Process on high for 2-3 minutes, until dates start to form a paste. If your dates are a bit older and dry (whitish skin and feel a little leathery), you may need to add another tablespoon of water to help them blend.
  3. Then, add the gluten-free oats, peanut butter, flaxseed meal, cocoa powder, and coconut oil to the food processor.
  4. Pulse until a dough forms.
  5. Take a rounded tablespoon of dough at a time, and roll with your hands into a ball.
  6. Enjoy right then and there or freeze for a delightful treat later.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 152Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 52mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 4g
Note: Thank you, Megan from A Dash of Megnut, for your help creating this recipe. So delicious! (Those are her hands in the photos!)

Jessica chiang

Tuesday 17th of May 2022

Is it ok to eat these in your 2nd trimester? Asking bc of what it says about the dates

Christina

Monday 15th of November 2021

Can you substitute something for the flaxseed? I don’t have any but these sound pretty good I’m trying to get my date intake for birth! :)

Erin

Thursday 2nd of July 2020

Cocoa or cacao? Different ingredients... Cocoa is listed in recipe; cacao is linked below. Which did recipe developer intend? Curious to know before making a batch...

Lindsey VanAlstyne

Tuesday 7th of July 2020

Cocoa. Thanks for catching that! I'll update it right now.

Doula Heather

Friday 20th of April 2018

I made these for a presentation for new mothers recently on home birth vs hospital birth. They were a hit along with some pregnancy/lactation chocolate chip cookies. And penance tea.

Lindsey

Saturday 21st of April 2018

How fun!! I'm so glad you were able to use the recipe!

Jodie Moss

Friday 6th of April 2018

I can’t have coconut oil it gives me the runs- Any other ingredient I could substitute?

Lindsey

Monday 9th of April 2018

You can leave it out! It's added just for healthy fats. If you find that you needs a little extra liquid to make it come together you can either add a little more peanut butter or a bit of water.

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