These Chocolate Coconut Almond Date Balls are healthy and made with a handful of whole food ingredients. Slightly sweet and moist, these literally taste like a cake ball, minus all the refined sugar and butter.
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Why you'll love this recipe
These Chocolate Coconut Almond Date Balls are easy to make!
They are refined-sugar free, and made with healthy and wholesome foods such as dates, almonds, and coconut.
You can easily change up the recipe and add your favorite nuts and seeds.
They're a fun, nutritious portable snack that tastes a lot like chocolate cake truffles, making them great for anytime.
Equipment you'll need
- food processor: for grinding the ingredients together
- small ice cream scoop: optional, but makes forming the balls easier
Ingredients you'll need
- dates: pitted; if using older dried dates, you may want to reconstitute them in a little warm water until they soften up
- almond flour: or you can grind your own almonds into almond flour
- unsweetened shredded/desiccated coconut: you can use sweetened coconut if you are not looking for a refined sugar-free version
- coconut oil: or neutral vegetable oil; or refined coconut oil if you aren't a fan of the coconut aroma
- vanilla extract: optional
- cocoa powder: gives the almond date balls their chocolatey flavor
- cacao nibs: optional, but gives the date balls that delicious crunch
How to make the date balls
In a food processor, add dates, almond flour, coconut, coconut oil, vanilla extract (if using), cocoa powder, cocoa nibs and pulse intermittently until it comes together into a slightly damp mixture.
When you grab some of the mixture with your hand and press firmly, you should be able to form a ball.
If not, add a little more coconut oil and pulse again until the mixture holds together.
Pour the mixture out into a large bowl and use a tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop to form a ball.
Press firmly to shape into a ball and roll each ball into the shredded coconut to coat (optional).
Place the date balls into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
How to store
Keep the Chocolate Coconut Almond Date Balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Alternatively, you can store the date balls in the freezer for up to 3 months, in an airtight container.
Note: If storing in the freezer, the texture will be a little more denser, but some people actually prefer it this way. I like eating them from frozen as well.
Substitutions & variations
Try switching it up and add different nuts, dried fruit, or seeds such as:
- pecans
- walnuts
- pumpkin seeds
- chia seeds
- hemp seeds
- flax seeds
Or add in spices such as ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom.
Other delicious recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Peanut Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
Chocolate Coconut Almond Date Energy Balls
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
Chocolate Coconut Almond Date Balls:
- 8 large dates
- ½ C almond flour or you can use 1 C almonds -- the texture will be a little more chunkier
- ¼ C unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon cacao nibs
Coating:
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut optional
Instructions
- In a food processor, add dates, almond flour, coconut, coconut oil, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs and pulse intermittently until it comes together into a slightly damp mixture.
- When you grab some of the mixture with your hand and press firmly, you should be able to form a ball. If not, add a little more coconut oil and pulse again until the mixture holds together.
- Pour the mixture out into a large bowl and use a tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop to form a ball.
- Press firmly to shape into a ball and roll each ball into the shredded coconut to coat.
- Place into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Store in the refrigerator (for up to 2 weeks) or freezer (for up to 3 months).
- Note: If storing in the freezer, the texture will be a little more denser, but some people actually prefer it this way. I like eating them from frozen as well.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Mimi
These sound yummy and are definitely easy to make. Maybe my grand daughter and I can whip some up!
siftandsimmer@gmail.com
Thanks so much for stopping by, Mimi. They are super easy to whip up, and not only they're good for you, but they're really tasty 🙂 Sounds like the perfect project for you and your granddaughter! Would love to hear how it turns out for you if you do make them!