A Little Something for the Fall Routine
As summer starts winding down and we settle back into fall routines, I always find myself looking for easy snacks I can prep ahead and grab throughout the week. And whether “back to school” is part of your life or not, there’s something about this time of year that seems to bring everyone back to busier schedules and a little more structure.
These Cherry Pistachio Date Energy Bites are made for exactly that.
Sweet Medjool dates pair with tart dried cherries, nutty pistachios, and just a hint of vanilla and almond for a flavor combination that feels a little more sophisticated than your average energy bite. They’re sweet, tart, nutty, chewy, and just salty enough to keep you reaching for another.
Best of all? They’re no-bake, naturally sweetened, SCD-friendly, and made with just a handful of simple ingredients. You can make a batch in minutes, stash them in the refrigerator, and have an easy snack ready whenever you need one.
And because I want everyone to be able to enjoy this one, this is a FREE recipe!
Why You’ll Love These Cherry Pistachio Date Energy Bites
No baking required: Everything comes together in a food processor or high-speed blender, making these perfect when you want something homemade without turning on the oven.
A sweet-tart flavor combination: Naturally sweet Medjool dates balance the tart cherries, while pistachios and a touch of almond extract give these bites a slightly elevated flavor.
Perfect for busy routines: Make them ahead and keep them in the refrigerator for an easy grab-and-go snack during busy workdays, school days, errands, or whenever you need a little pick-me-up between meals.
Naturally sweetened: There’s no refined sugar needed in the base recipe, as the dates provide plenty of natural sweetness on their own.
SCD-friendly: The base recipe uses simple SCD ingredients, making this an easy snack to add to your SCD recipe collection.
Easy to customize: Swap the cherry-almond combination for bright orange, add a little 100% chocolate if it fits the way you eat, or make a few simple ingredient swaps to make them truly your own.
Notes & Substitutions
Pistachios
I recommend using raw pistachios whenever possible. Some roasted nuts can have starches, oils, or other ingredients added during processing, and those aren’t always obvious when you’re grabbing a container off the shelf. If you’re following SCD, checking the ingredients carefully is especially important.
If you can only find salted pistachios, that’s okay! Simply omit the ¼ teaspoon of salt called for in the recipe and adjust to taste.
Dried Tart Cherries
Finding dried tart cherries without added sweeteners can be tricky! Look for no-added-sugar cherries whenever you can and always check the ingredient label.
For the batch pictured here, I used Sunny Fruit dried tart cherries. They don’t contain refined sugar, but they are sweetened with apple juice concentrate. If you’re following SCD particularly strictly, choose a dried cherry that fits your individual dietary needs and ingredient requirements.
Make Them Pistachio Orange
Not a cherry fan, or just want to switch things up?
Replace the dried cherries with a little fresh orange zest for a bright Pistachio Orange Energy Bite. Start with the zest of one orange and adjust to taste.
If you’re making the orange version, I recommend omitting the almond extract so the fresh citrus and pistachio flavors can shine.
Add Chocolate
For a Chocolate Cherry Pistachio variation, add 2–3 tablespoons finely chopped 100% chocolate during the final few pulses.
If you’re following SCD, simply leave the chocolate out to keep the original recipe SCD-friendly.
No Food Processor? No Problem!
A food processor is ideal for energy bites, but you can absolutely make these in a high-speed blender.
And I can personally confirm this one! My food processor died and I haven’t replaced it yet, so this batch was actually made in my blender!
You may need to stop and scrape down the sides a few more times or work in shorter pulses, but it gets the job done.
Looking for More Easy Snack Bites?
If you love having little homemade snacks like these waiting in the refrigerator, here are a few more energy bite recipes from my kitchen to try next:
No-Bake Grain- Free Lemon Poppy Seed Energy Bites
Bright, zesty lemon meets earthy poppy seeds and creamy cashew butter in these soft, cookie-dough-like energy bites.
Cranberry, Orange, & Almond Energy Balls
Tart cranberries, bright orange zest, sweet dates, crunchy nuts, and warm baking spices come together in these flavor-packed energy balls.
Easy No-Bake Cherry Pistachio Date Energy Bites
Serves 8 (2 each)
Prep: 10 min
Chilling: 30 min (optional)
Total: 10-40 min
Ingredients:
½ cup + 2 Tbsp. pistachios, raw, divided
1 cup packed pitted Medjool dates (8-10 dates)
½ cup unsweetened dried tart cherries, no sugar added
½ cup finely ground almond flour
½ tsp. Vanilla extract
⅛ tsp. almond extract, optional
¼ tsp. fine sea salt
Optional: 2-3 Tbsp. finely chopped 100% chocolate
Method of Prep:
- Gather and prep ingredients. Add the pistachios to a food processor or high-speed blender and pulse until finely chopped but not completely ground into a flour. Remove about 2 Tbsp. of the chopped pistachios and set aside for rolling the finished bites.
- Next, we will process the mixture. Add the almond flour, Medjool dates (pitted), dried tart cherries, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt to the remaining pistachios in the food processor. Process until everything is finely chopped and the mixture begins to clump together, about 20-30 seconds.
- Check the consistency. Pinch a small amount of the mixture between your fingers. If it holds together easily, it’s ready. If it easily falls apart, process it a few seconds more.
- Add in chocolate, if desired. For the Chocolate Cherry Pistachio variation, add the finely chopped 100% chocolate and pulse just a few times to distribute it throughout the mixture without completely breaking up the chocolate. Alternatively you can just fold in chips if you have them.
- Roll into bites. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture at a time and firmly roll between your palms to form a ball. You should get approximately 16 energy bites.
- Coat in pistachios. Roll each bite in the reserved chopped pistachios, gently pressing them onto the outside as needed.
- Chill. Transfer the bites to a parchment-lined plate or container and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or until firm. This just helps them keep shape, but can be skipped if enjoying them right away.
- Store and enjoy. Keep the energy bites refrigerated in an airtight container. Enjoy them chilled or let one sit at room temperature for a few minutes for a softer texture. Happy snacking!
Nutrition Facts: Per 1 bite
Calories- 89
Carbs- 12.9 g
Fat- 3.8 g
Protein- 2.4 g