These samoa energy balls are inspired by the Girl Scout cookies and so delicious. They’re filled with caramel, chocolate flavor and coated in crunchy, toasted coconut. Vegan and gluten-free.
I don’t remember the last time I ate a real Girl Scout cookie, but growing up I had three favorites and lately I’ve been trying to make healthy, homemade versions for each. So far I have a healthy Samoas recipe, Thin Mints and Tagalongs.
Since Samoa cookies are my absolute fave, I decided to also create an energy ball with the same flavorful profile using dates, chocolate chips and toasted coconut. These little balls totally fit the bill. They’re sweet, but not too sweet and the toasted coconut makes them really taste like Samoas.
I’ve made similar balls, that were rolled in regular dried coconut before and I must say that the toasted coconut lends a rich flavor that definitely makes these little guys seem more decadent.
Ingredients Needed
Medjool dates – You can buy medjool dates that are already pitted or pit them yourself (it’s super easy). Two brands that I like are Natural Delights and Joolies. You can find Natural Delights in the produce section of most grocery stores (near the bananas) and Joolies are offered on Amazon and Thrive Market.
unsweetened shredded coconut flakes – be sure to get unsweetened shredded coconut, not the sweetened coconut
chocolate chips – I like using dark chocolate chips from Enjoy Life or Lily’s. Both of these options are dairy-free.
sea salt
vanilla extract
almonds butter – this adds a little nuttiness to the energy balls, but can be omitted if you want these energy balls to be nut-free
So if you’re craving Girl Scout cookies this spring, just whip up a batch of these. Your sweet tooth will be cured with a treat made of minimal ingredients and without any high fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring or hydrogenated oils.
How Long Will the Energy Balls Keep?
These energy balls should last up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer. That said, they never last more than a week at our house! Be sure to store them in an airtight container. I like using glass storage containers or Stasher bags for storing energy balls.
If you try these samoas energy bites please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how they turn out! Your feedback is super helpful for the EBF team and other readers.
These healthy samoa energy balls are inspired by the Girl Scout cookies and so delicious. They’re filled with caramel, chocolate flavor and coated in crunchy, toasted coconut.
Ingredients
2 cups (about 20) medjool dates, pitted
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (divided)
2 Tablespoons chocolate chips or dark chocolate pieces (divided)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon almond butter (optional)
Instructions
Toast coconut: Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Spread all the shredded coconut onto a baking sheet for toasting. Place in oven for 5-10 minutes, until coconut is a light golden brown color. Make sure to stay in the kitchen watch the coconut, as it can easily go from toasted to burnt.
Process: Place dates, almond butter (if using), 2/3 cup of the toasted coconut, 1 Tablespoon chocolate chips, sea salt and vanilla into a food processor or mini chopper. Process until the mixture turns into a dough ball.
Roll dough into balls: Work “dough” with clean hands to add in the other Tablespoon of chocolate chips. Pinch off small amounts of the dough with your hands (or use a cookie scoop) and roll into 12 balls.
Roll in toasted coconut: Roll balls in remaining 1/3 cup of toasted coconut.
To store: Place balls into a sealed storage container and store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or the freezer for up to 3 months.
I already love your Samoa cookie recipe, and these are a fun way to change it up and make energy balls with the same to-die-for flavor combo. Thank you!
I have been meaning to make these for 3 weeks now, had all the ingredients but I was indimidated by the dates for some reason. Once I finally just said lets do this, they were so easy! I haven’t tasted them yet, but with everything else I have made from your website, I am sure I will not be disappointed!
Ahh yay! So pumped these energy balls were a hit! Thanks for making this recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Omg I know, that is definitely the hardest part!! So glad you enjoyed these bites, Kelly. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. It’s super helpful for other readers. 🙂
Ahhh yay!! So glad you love the samoas energy bites, Carrie. And thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment and star rating! I so appreciate it.
It will depend on how warm it is while you’re hiking. If you have a way to bring a small icepack to keep them cold I think that would be ideal. Let me know how it goes.
I recently stumbled on this recipe & whipped up a batch using biscoff cookie butter in place of the almond butter. They were freaking awesome! Seriously. Thank you. I will definitely be making these on the regular.
My favorite Girl Scout cookies were the Samoas and Thin Mints too! I could eat an entire box of each by myself… My mom learned to put them on the tallest shelf in the pantry if she wanted any! Your sinless Samoa balls look so healthy and satisfying. I saved them to one of my boards on Pinterest — they were too cute to pass up!
I feel I have missed out on all of these flavours of Girl Scout cookies living in Canada – we only had 2 flavours of Girl Guide cookies when I was growing up and selling them. A chocolate cream filled cookie and a vanilla cream filled cookie. Somewhere along the way they added a chocolate mint cookie, but that’s about it. I would have totally gone for one with coconut in it!
Thank you so much for this recipe – they capped off an otherwise delicious (and healthy!) Easter dinner with friends last night. They are tasty little morsels, and I think I actually prefer them to GSCs!
OMG When I saw this I immediately jumped up and ran to the fridge to grab these. THANK YOU for bringing some over this morning! (I had a mad chocolate craving tonight and this hit the spot!) These are delicious!
Oh no! If you don’t feel like shelling out the cash for a big food processor, get a mini chopper. They work great foe recipes like this and they’re way less expensive. I’ve actually never owned a food processor… I just use my mini chopper. 🙂
OMG! I have to try these as I absolutely love the girl scout cookie version – unfortunately they are only available when they are selling, and not so good for you (not inexpensive, either, but for a good cause). This solves both problems!
Now all we need is a healthy close of the thin mints 🙂
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Leave a Comment
I already love your Samoa cookie recipe, and these are a fun way to change it up and make energy balls with the same to-die-for flavor combo. Thank you!
★★★★★
Yay!! Thanks for making these, Cathy. I’m glad you’re loving them!
I have been meaning to make these for 3 weeks now, had all the ingredients but I was indimidated by the dates for some reason. Once I finally just said lets do this, they were so easy! I haven’t tasted them yet, but with everything else I have made from your website, I am sure I will not be disappointed!
★★★★★
What did you end up thinking of them, Tara!?! 🙂
Absolutely delicious
★★★★★
These were so easy to make. I don’t have to eat candy anymore! I knew they would taste good but they were even better than expected.
★★★★★
Ahh yay! So pumped these energy balls were a hit! Thanks for making this recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
These are super tasty! Thank you so much for a great recipe!
★★★★★
These are incredible. So easy to make/assemble. The hard part will be trying not to eat these all in one sitting.
★★★★★
Omg I know, that is definitely the hardest part!! So glad you enjoyed these bites, Kelly. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. It’s super helpful for other readers. 🙂
So simple and I think they’re even better than the real thing!!
★★★★★
Ahhh yay!! So glad you love the samoas energy bites, Carrie. And thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment and star rating! I so appreciate it.
These look super yummy! How long can they keep for outside? Thinking of bringing them on a hike!
It will depend on how warm it is while you’re hiking. If you have a way to bring a small icepack to keep them cold I think that would be ideal. Let me know how it goes.
Samoas and thin mints are my favorites too. We have good taste 😉
Ooh, these sound so good for a quick, sweet bite!
Thanks Julie! They’re really good.
Can I use sunflower butter instead of almond butter? Thanks! Can’t wait to try this!!
Yes, you can definitely use sunflower butter instead of the almond butter!
Caramel deLites are my favorite girl scout cookie! I haven’t had them since eating gluten free and definitely want to make these!
Only 1/2 T of almond butter? You didn’t mean 1/2 cup did you? Just checking! These look amazing btw. Samoas are my favorite 😀
Yup! 1/2 Tablespoon. 🙂
I recently stumbled on this recipe & whipped up a batch using biscoff cookie butter in place of the almond butter. They were freaking awesome! Seriously. Thank you. I will definitely be making these on the regular.
Looks absolutely delicious! I reckon I could eat about 100 of them! They look fabulous.
★★★★★
My favorite Girl Scout cookies were the Samoas and Thin Mints too! I could eat an entire box of each by myself… My mom learned to put them on the tallest shelf in the pantry if she wanted any! Your sinless Samoa balls look so healthy and satisfying. I saved them to one of my boards on Pinterest — they were too cute to pass up!
I feel I have missed out on all of these flavours of Girl Scout cookies living in Canada – we only had 2 flavours of Girl Guide cookies when I was growing up and selling them. A chocolate cream filled cookie and a vanilla cream filled cookie. Somewhere along the way they added a chocolate mint cookie, but that’s about it. I would have totally gone for one with coconut in it!
I made these yesterday and they are to die for! Thank you for the recipe.
A definitely healthy snack! Kids will indeed love this and we know how tough to feed them at times but not this time 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
YUM!!! these sound amazing
★★★★★
Yum, these look amazing. I have been obsessed with cookie balls lately. I have to try these asap. Great recipe!
Just made these and can’t get over how delicious and satisfying they are! Thank you for the great, straight-forward recipe!
i cannot wait to try these!! 😀
Thank you so much for this recipe – they capped off an otherwise delicious (and healthy!) Easter dinner with friends last night. They are tasty little morsels, and I think I actually prefer them to GSCs!
OMG When I saw this I immediately jumped up and ran to the fridge to grab these. THANK YOU for bringing some over this morning! (I had a mad chocolate craving tonight and this hit the spot!) These are delicious!
You’re so welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
And thank you again for having me over for brunch. It was so fun!
These look awesome! It makes me miss my food processor though. Sadly, mine bit the dust a few months ago.
Oh no! If you don’t feel like shelling out the cash for a big food processor, get a mini chopper. They work great foe recipes like this and they’re way less expensive. I’ve actually never owned a food processor… I just use my mini chopper. 🙂
OMG! I have to try these as I absolutely love the girl scout cookie version – unfortunately they are only available when they are selling, and not so good for you (not inexpensive, either, but for a good cause). This solves both problems!
Now all we need is a healthy close of the thin mints 🙂
Enjoy!