Last Updated on May 22, 2024

These brownie bites are sweet, indulgent balls of goodness made with dates, oats, walnuts, cocoa, salt, and a touch of sesame seeds.

Brownie bites make a great breakfast, afternoon snack, or dessert! This brownie bites recipe is the perfect chocolatey treat no matter your dietary preferences. Vegan brownie bites are a no bake dessert that are sweet and rich with the perfect amount of crunch for any time of day. Meal prep these brownie bites for a healthy treat regardless of your lifestyle!

vegan energy balls

These brownie balls are my favorite zero waste snack. They are super quick and easy to make… plus, they’re mega chocolatey.  

Vegan brownie bites contain no processed white sugar; instead, they’re sweetened with dates. They’re dense, fudgy, and super satisfying. 

I make them almost every week. They tend to show up in my instagram stories, and I get a ton of DMs for my vegan brownie bites recipe. 

I have shared the recipe on my Instagram feed, but it takes quite a bit of scrolling to get to. I figure if it’s so popular, it should have its own place right here on the blog. 

Plus, I can answer some of the questions I normally get.

These chocolate granola balls are pretty filling. After just one or two, my belly and my sweet tooth are satisfied! 

why you’ll love brownie bites

• 10 minute recipe
• Only 6 ingredients
• Satisfying
• Completely vegan energy balls
• Healthy snack

brownie balls with walnuts

Walnuts are high in heart-healthy alpha linoleic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, and dates are full of fiber — both of which help you feel full.

Dates are also packed with loads of vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.

brownie bites recipe ingredients

Makes 12; 10 Minutes

• 12 pitted dates – fresh not dried! 
• 1 cup of oats
• 3/4 cup of raw walnuts
• 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• sesame seeds for garnish

how to make brownie bites

step 1: process

Throw all of the ingredients into a food processor and process until they become a solid ball. 

step 2: roll into compact balls

Using your hands, roll your dough into 12 small-ish brownie balls.

step 3: garnish

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve! 

faqs about this brownie bites recipe

where do you buy ingredients?

All of these ingredients are fairly common in bulk bins. If you’re struggling with finding these items package free, check out my guide on what to do when you don’t have any bulk bins. 

what if i only have dried dates?

Soak the dried dates in water for a couple of hours, then you can use them. If you use dried dates for these brownie balls without soaking them, they won’t be moist or turn out correctly.  

can I use any type of nut for these vegan brownie bites? 

Yes, you can use any type of nut or nut butter — even sunbutter! This vegan energy balls recipe is very forgiving, and it doesn’t have to be followed exactly. Sometimes, I even throw in a little bit of coconut butter for a tropical feel. 

There are no rules. Go crazy. 

are they a snack? dessert?

I eat this brownie bites recipe for breakfast, as a snack, and especially for dessert! They’re great any time of the day, and since the dates do have quite a bit of natural sugar, they do put a little spring in your step. 

Because of that, I wouldn’t recommend eating one right before going to bed. 

You might also like: Cookie Dough Bliss Balls & 5 Zero Waste Snacks

my vegan energy balls didn’t come together? 

After making this brownie balls recipe a whole bunch, I’ve realized it really relies on the freshness of your walnuts.

Fresh walnuts have a lot of natural oil, allowing them to break down very easily. The older they get, the harder they are to break down. 

You’ll be able to tell how fresh a nut is just by eating it. Fresh walnuts are really soft, and you can taste the oil; some of it might even rub off on your fingertips. 

If the nuts are crunchier and you can’t feel or taste the oil, you might be better off subbing 1/2 a cup of nut butter or breaking the walnuts down into nut butter before adding the rest of the ingredients. 

Check out my guide to making nut butter. 

how do you store brownie balls?

Due to their vegan nature, there aren’t any perishable ingredients (like eggs) that you need to cook and/or refrigerate, so you can simply store these bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.