Date Balls
Updated
Updated
These Date Balls are an easy 6-ingredient snack that are naturally sweet, full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Plus, they’re bite-sized, portable, super delicious, and even vegan so everyone can enjoy them!
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Years ago when my kids were very little and taking swimming lessons, their instructor pulled out these date balls – we all went crazy for them and I’ve been making them ever since.
They are naturally sweetened with dates and full of delicious nuts; packed full of nutrients, protein, and fiber to give you fuel for the day. Great for lunches, picnics, and road trips. And they’re not just for the kids, of course – I usually eat one or two before a run.
Energy balls are also referred to as energy bites, protein balls, power balls, and vegan truffles to name a few. No matter what you call them, though, they’re a breeze to make and very versatile.
Why You’ll Love This Date Balls Recipe:
- Quick and easy to make
- No Bake
- Sturdy, but tender
- Portable
- Naturally sweetened
- Filled with nutrients
- Grain free, dairy free, and gluten free
- Easily digestible
- Satisfying
- Taste fantastic!
Helpful Tips & Variations
- The type of nut butter can make a difference. Nut butter is what binds the balls together. Not all nut butters will have the same results, though. Natural nut butters have extra oil and tend to be more runny, so if using a natural kind, you will likely need less of it or will need extra dates. I would also recommend adding in a touch of salt, since they don’t have as much flavor as traditional brands.
- Use soft dates. Soft Medjool dates have a sweet, caramel-like flavor and provide necessary moisture to the dough. Dry dates won’t bind the dough properly. If all you have are dry dates, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes and drain well before using.
- Chop everything very fine. You want the dates and nuts to be chopped very fine, so they are evenly incorporated into the dough, without any air pockets which can create crumbling. A food processor is best, but a sharp Chef’s knife works, too.
- Knead the dough balls. After scooping out portions, knead the balls so the mixture comes together and is smooth. This helps prevent crumbling later.
Date Balls
Ingredients
- 8 ounces medjool dates, , pitted and chopped
- 3/4 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, grind the dates, almonds, walnuts, and chocolate chips until there are no more large chunks. Add the almond butter and process until smooth. Add in the vanilla and salt; pulse a few more times to combine.
- Scoop out mixture using a tablespoon sized cookie scoop; knead them a few times with your hands until it sticks together, then roll into balls.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes to firm up. Enjoy!
- Optional: melt a 12 ounce bag of dark chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons coconut oil until smooth. Dunk the date balls and fully coat, then place back onto the parchment paper and chill in the fridge for 10 minutes or so to set.
Notes
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- Swap in raisins or prunes. If you don’t like dates, raisins or prunes are a great substitution, since they have a similar texture and sweetness.
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- Use a different nut butter. We love almond butter, but peanut butter or cashew butter are great alternatives. Or for nut allergies, try sunflower butter.
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- Add coconut. A bit of coconut flakes blended into the mixtur or on the outside would provide sweetness and another level of flavor.
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- Mix in some honey or maple syrup. A little bit of either of these ingredients are great for additional sweetness without adding sugar.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
Proper Storage
Store date balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. They also freeze well in a freezer-safe container up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before eating.
More Date Recipes:
More energy balls to enjoy include our carrot cake energy balls and almond joy energy bites.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Im excited to try it! Thank you for this wonderful idea.
Delicious and easy to make !
I just made the date balls today after returning home from the grocery store. I went to my recipe file and put all ingredients in the blender then rolled the mixture into balls and put them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. They were so delicious and filling that the date balls became my lunch! I told my husband how well they turned out and he is looking forward to a satisfying,flavorful, and healthy snack. I am going to make more soon because they won’t last very long!
Loved these, thank you!
I’m always on the lookout for healthy snacks, and these were delish! Going to make another batch.
I’m always looking for snacks like this that I can covertly eat in lab (since we’re not technically supposed to have food in there….oops). These were so easy to pop in my mouth while no one was looking!
Had my grand babies for a few days and made these for their lunches. They loved them. Thanks for sharing. :)
Dates are on of my favorite healthy baking weapons! I’m always looking for healthy snack ideas for me and my husband – made these and we’ve been eating them all week, we loved them so much.
I made these for my boyfriend who loves dates and nuts! Big hit – thank you for sharing!