German Chocolate Energy Balls (Healthy + No Bake)
These healthy German chocolate energy balls are a no-bake dessert made with pecans, chickpeas, and dark chocolate. Vegan, gluten-free, ready in 10 min!
If you love the rich, indulgent flavors of German chocolate cake (my go-to birthday cake!) but want a healthier, no-bake version you can feel good about eating, these German chocolate energy balls are about to become your new favorite treat. These “healthier” German Chocolate Cupcakes are pretty darn yummy, too!
Made with a secretly nutritious base of raw pecans and chickpeas, then dipped in rich dark chocolate and rolled in shredded coconut and cacao nibs, they deliver everything you love about classic German chocolate cake, without ever turning on the oven.
As a registered dietitian, I love this recipe because every single ingredient is pulling its weight nutritionally. The pecans provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3s. The chickpeas and flax meal add fiber and plant-based protein. And the dark chocolate and cacao nibs bring a serious dose of antioxidants.
Together, they make a dessert that’s genuinely good for your heart and good for your taste buds. The best part? You’d never guess there are chickpeas in here. Promise.
Why You’ll Love These German Chocolate Energy Balls
Healthy Ingredients, Dietitian-Approved!
These German chocolate energy balls aren’t just delicious. They’re made with ingredients that support heart and overall health.
- Pecans are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and provide gut-healthy fiber.
- Chickpeas add soluble fiber and plant-based protein. Most people are surprised they can’t taste them (like in these yummy chocolate chip chickpea cookies!)
- Flax meal is one of the best plant sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat that supports heart health. (1)
- Dark chocolate provides cocoa polyphenols, which have been associated with lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels.
- Cacao nibs deliver an extra hit of antioxidants, magnesium, protein, and fiber, along with a little crunch.
How to Make German Chocolate Energy Balls
You can make a batch of these healthy treats in 10 minutes. Allow 30 minutes to chill, and they’re ready to eat!
- Process the pecans, chickpeas, maple syrup, flaxseed, vanilla, and salt in a food processor until smooth.
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave.
- Mix the shredded coconut and cacao nibs together.
- Form the dough into 1-inch balls, dip into melted chocolate, then into the coconut cacao nib mixture.
- Place on a parchment-lined tray and cool for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Storage Note: These German Chocolate Energy Balls keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Your FAQs Answered
Craving more healthy dessert recipes? I’ve got you covered! ⬇️
14 Heart Healthy Desserts
German Chocolate Energy Balls (No Bake)
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1 cup chickpeas, canned, or dried and quick-soaked
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons flax meal
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup dark {70 % +} chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs
Instructions
- Combine pecans, chickpeas, maple syrup, flax meal, vanilla, and sea salt in a food processor, and process until smooth, ~ 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, and melt them in 1 minute increments until smooth, and combine the shredded coconut and cacao nibs in a pie pan or other shallow dish.
- Form processed dough in to 1 inch balls {I made 14}, then dip each ball in the melted chocolate mixture, and roll in the coconut/cacao nib mixture. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet, and transfer to the refrigerator to cool for ~30 minutes before serving.
I like the look of these choco coco balls, but I haven´t understood what you mean by “chickpeas, canned, or dried and quick-soaked” because if they are canned that means they are precooked and if they are “quick soaked” for how long is that exactly?
Thanks so much for your comment, and happy to answer your question 🙂 You can use either canned chickpeas {no need to soak or cook} OR use dried beans that you must first soak/cook. With dried beans, I like to use the “quick soak method” which I describe in this post: https://www.eastewart.com/recipes-and-nutrition/tooting-my-own-horn-my-bean-homework-is-completed/ Hope this helps clarify!
Yes, it does, thank you! they turned out lovely!
These look amazing! Can’t wait to try them!
Thank you so much Betsy 🙂 Enjoy!!!
OH MY! I am on a raw dessert kick and these are definitely going on my must-make list. 😀
Enjoy Kiersten!!!!
I haven’t tried any of the no-bake desserts yet, though I really need to get on the wagon. These look wonderful and combine many of my favorite ingredients!
Thanks so much Ann & hope you give them a try! I want to make a batch of Deanna’s PB Chocolate Chip bites too 🙂
Those cake balls are so impressive. They’re gorgeous on that plate and I’m pretty sure they’re begging me to take one.
LOL! I can hear them begging you from my fridge right now 🙂
Thanks so much Serena!!! I hope you give the Teff cupcakes a try too-super yummy 🙂
These looks AMAZING, can’t wait to try!
Thank you so much Marie and so glad you stopped by 🙂
Your recipe sounds like a great way to add beans to one’s diet, which is always challenging. Love your use of cocoa nibs and I use them regularly. Will definitely add this recipe to my testing pile.
Thanks so much Barb, and I’m loving the cacao nibs too! Let me know how your testing goes 🙂
Ooh, I love cake bites and cake balls, in a way even more than cupcakes since I tend to like my sweets in small doses. These look SO awesome!
Thanks Amy! I used to be a much bigger sweet eater, but, like you, I prefer mine in smaller doser these days too 🙂
just one??! that’s asking a lot. these look delicious… love the ingredient list and simple method. xo
LOL! I know you can do it Gretchen 🙂
First off, love the “cupcake movement” line – I agree, I’ll never be over cupcakes but like to see how they are evolving. Secondly, cannot wait to try these! I was obsessively making PB Chocolate Chip Raw Bites for awhile but these look like the perfect recipe to switch it up a bit – yummy!
PB Chocolate Chip Raw Bites??? Recipe please!!!
YUM! I love no-bake balls….I love anything no-bake actually. These look lovely and will definitely make it into my rotation! I made a raw cupcake for redux. So fun!
I love your ReDux cupcakes Danielle-can’t wait to make them myself! Yes, no-bake is good 🙂
These look scrummy, EA! I have seen a few raw sweets that call for beans but I have never been tempted to make any until this one. Do you think I could sub the chickpeas with aduki beans? Easier for me to digest and aduki are a little sweet, and of course nice and dark. What do you think?
Oh, yes~I think aduki beans would be a wonderful twist! I thought about making them with black beans, but really loved the combo on pecans and chickpeas, so I stuck with that this time. Of course, I can always make more 🙂