I think we’ve conditioned our toddler to think every time the mailman comes, he gets a package. Little gifts from grandma and grandpa, Amazon boxes at our door…every single time it’s “MOMMA! I get a package?!” – doesn’t even matter what’s inside. But what’s inside these paleo key lime pie energy balls does matter – date and cashew coating with a naturally-sweetened key lime cream inside? The mailman got nothin’ on me.
My son gets excited about anything we get – cards, clothes, food items, whatever. My in-laws once sent a book to my husband and included a tiny stuffed bumble bee thing that looked like a cat toy. But he loved it. He got a package. And some boxes to stack. A winning day for any toddler.
But let’s be honest, if I never received bills in the mail I’d be pretty stoked about everything I get too…
Sometimes I think as parents we come up with the greatest ideas and then realize shortly after implementation, they were the worst ideas – face palm worthy. Like for his birthday – my mom was visiting a week before the big celebration, so we let him open the gift from my parents early, with all the other gifts stashed in the closet. Later, when FaceTiming uncles and aunts, we pulled out their gifts. “We should space it out, so he’s not totally overwhelmed,” a sensible thought. But didn’t take long for him to associate the closet as the holy grail of presents/packages. He still opens it (7 months later), trying to find new toys…
I kind of feel his pain when I open the freezer to these paleo key lime pie energy balls. It’s like a huge stash of presents that I KNOW are in there. And once they were gone, I couldn’t get over it.
“I want a package!” “Where are the presents?” “But I don’t WANT the nut balls to be all gone!”
It’s like an overwhelm of 2-year-old emotions in a 25-year-old (plus a few years) body. Almost worth that infamous ‘loose all leg control and flop like a fish’ move that toddlers are oh-so-good at perfecting. I won’t apologize for getting highly emotional about these paleo key lime pie energy balls. Put me in a timeout if you will, but these healthy snacking balls are worth getting in a tizzy over.
Because…that cream center – it’s full of sweetly soured lime goodness. Drool-worthy doesn’t even cover it. And you’d never know these balls have ZERO sweeteners – nope, not even honey or maple syrup. The secret? Coconut cream, ripe banana puree, and fresh lime juice. It’s amazing. It’s life changing. It’s perfect for summer.
Paleo Key Lime Pie Energy Balls
To start, combine medjool dates, raw cashews, and unsweetened coconut flakes in a food processor. Pulse until well combined and mixture sticks.
The trick is to then roll the cashew/coconut/date nut mixture on parchment paper and flatten (either with a parchment-lined rolling in or with your hands).
Next, combine coconut cream (the thick stuff at the top of full-fat coconut milk), avocado, ripe banana, lime juice, and zest into the food processor and blend well. Pour the mixture into a container and freeze for 20 minutes. The cream needs to freeze slightly and harden in order to make moldable balls.
Once the cream is set, scoop out a heaping 1/2 teaspoon and quickly mold into a ball, then place on a parchment-lined plate. You may have to do this in batches, to keep the cream slightly frozen and moldable. The balls do not have to be perfect – they’ll be covered by the nut mixture anyway. Freeze the balls for another 10-20 minutes, until hardened.
As the balls are chilling, use a circular cookie cutter to cut out the flattened date and nut mixture. Once the key lime balls are frozen, place one in the center of the cutout, and gently wrap it around the cream ball, using only enough to cover (remove any extra and set aside to make another flattened circle), then quickly and very gently roll, just enough to make into a ball form and seal the ends. Place back in the freezer. You may have to do this in batches, so the lime cream doesn’t melt as you work.
Voila! The time spent wrapping these little beauties making the best dang package you’ve ever received is totally worth it. Paleo, gluten free, dairy free, and sweetened only with fruit, these paleo key lime pie energy balls are the perfect treat to share with the kids, the neighbors, or just hoard them yourself (I like your style).
And be sure to check out a few more healthy ball recipes when you need a ‘lil treat without the guilt: paleo almond cocoa mocha energy balls and paleo carrot cake energy balls
PrintPaleo Key Lime Pie Energy Balls

- Yield: 16-18 balls 1x
Ingredients
- 13 medjool dates
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup unshredded coconut flake
Key Lime Cream
- 1/3 cup coconut cream
- 1 small avocado
- 4 small limes, juiced
- 1 lime zest
- 1/2 ripe banana
Instructions
- Combine medjool dates, raw cashews, and unsweetened coconut flakes in a food processor. Pulse until well combined and mixture sticks
- Roll the cashew/coconut/date nut mixture on parchment paper and flatten (either with a parchment-lined rolling in or with your hands).
- Next, combine coconut cream, avocado, ripe banana, lime juice, and zest into the food processor and blend well. Pour into a container and freeze for 20 minutes or until hardened to make moldable balls
- Once the cream is set, scoop out a heaping 1/2 teaspoon and quickly mold into a ball, then place on a parchment-lined plate. You may have to do this in batches, to keep the cream slightly frozen and moldable
- Freeze the balls for another 10-20 minutes, until hardened
- As the balls are chilling, use a circular cookie cutter to cut out the flattened date and nut mixture Once the key lime balls are frozen, place one in the center of the cutout, and gently wrap it around the cream ball, using only enough to cover (remove any extra and set aside to make another flattened circle), then quickly and very gently roll, just enough to make into a ball form and seal the ends
- Place back into the freezer. You may have to do this in batches, so the lime cream doesn’t melt as you work
- When ready to serve, set balls at room temperature for a few minutes to thaw. Balls can be kept in the freezer or the refrigerator for later

These look SOOOOOO GOOD!!! And I love things you can leave in the freezer and just thaw a few when you want. But I’m guessing they’re not Whole 30 compliant? I just started it so I’m still learning what is and isn’t, but I am assuming they’re not. Will have to make them when I’m done!
Hey Lana!!! Thanks girl! Although all the ingredients are ‘compliant’, these balls are not considered Whole30 compliant because they are a dessert. But a great treat to have after you’ve completed the 30 days!!
Girl, you are a genius. Between all the ball recipes I have seen, I have never seen stuffed ones!!!! Loveeeee this idea!!!
Awe thanks so much Carrie!! xo
Haha this is too funny, my kids are the EXACT same way. Everyday when we get home they RUSH to the mailbox to see what’s inside. Lol it always cracks me up when we get those little coupon advertisements from like Mcdonalds, because they always think we need to immediately rush out and use them haha. Anyways, these energy balls look amazing! I love the flavor combo!
Hahahaha that’s so cute. Do they do the same thing with Christmas catalogs. I had the best afternoon of quiet entertainment this year with the Target one came! Thanks Cara – you’re the best 🙂
Wow I did not expect them to have a key lime filling inside. They’re beautiful Chrissa; and I need to try this recipe! And I am totally with your little man on the excitement of getting packages. it just never gets old! 🙂
It’s such a fun surprise!! Just like mail surprises 🙂
These are SO FUN! And I think I get just as excited as your toddler when I get a package 😉
Hahaha I mean, why not?! It’s always fun to open something new!!
So yummy! Made these cute, bad boys last night and might be my new favorite, easy snack! Keep rockin’ it momma!
★★★★★
Ooooh these look so good! I make energy/protein balls quite often but haven’t attempted ones with creamy centers yet. I love the use of avocados, dates and cashews – these are staples in my diet! AND they’re all naturally sweetened!?! Awesomesauce! I’ll be giving these a try – maybe this weekend after I run out of the protein brownie bites I made for the week.
Oh those creamy centers are addicting!!! I feel like I’m eating that naughtiest dessert 😉 I hope you love ’em Ashley!
What would you suggest trying as a banana sub? They’re not settling well with me at the moment :/ These look soooooo yummy!!!
You could simply add more avocado! I might suggest adding a little honey or maple to sweeten, since the banana does that in the cream 😉
How long can you store these for if stored in freezer?
To be honest, I stored them for weeks just fine! Is that weird or gross?! Hope not! 😉
Wow! I just made these and they are truly addicting!! My boyfriend begged for more but I said “no” because we need to savor them. ? Rolling the lime cream was a challenge and getting the date mix to un-stick from the parchment paper was tricky but ooh sooo worth the effort! This is why I limit the intake and hide them in the freezer. Lol. This is a permanent recipe in my house hold! Thank you!
It is a bit tricky but well worth it!! So glad you liked them Karen – and yes, you tell that man to back off your precious key lime balls! 😉
I want to make the key lime pie energy balls for my daughter in law but we have a problem with coconut what else can use.
Hmmm try omitting them completely or maybe adding chia seeds!
What is coconut cream please?
★★★★
It’s actually full-fat coconut milk. If you chill a can, the thick ‘cream’ at the top when opening is exactly what you want!
YUM! I just made these tonight for the first time and they are DELICIOUS! I didn’t want to waste the time or energy making them into balls so I just made them into bars but omg, so good! I had to stop myself from eating the whole pan. I love love love how tart they are and how the crust is chewy!
★★★★★
Oh MAN these in bars sound so good too. Thanks Michaela!
Hi! Do you need to soften/soak the dates first?
I don’t! Just use them raw – maybe bring to room temp if they’ve been stored in the fridge.