Chocolate Date Balls

These gluten-free chocolate date balls contain wholesome ingredients and no refined sugar. Satisfy your sugar craving the healthier way with these raw energy balls.

Don’t miss my Bakewell-tart-inspired cherry and almond date balls too.

These chocolate date balls have been my best friend for years when it comes to giving my kids a treat without actually giving them a treat. Let me explain. These raw energy balls contain only healthy ingredients. But yet they taste fantastic.

Confession: I used to read about the virtues of energy balls and couldn’t help but question if all these healthy ingredients really could combine to create something that would satisfy my sweet tooth. I half expected them to be okay but not sweet enough. But it’s true, these ingredients do create a treat that is brimming with goodness whilst also being deliciously sweet tasting.

Trust me, these chocolate date and coconut balls are the answer to all your healthy snacking desires. They go well with drinks such as the date shake or my cinnamon hot chocolate which is sweetened with dates.

What are date balls?

Date balls can also go by the name energy balls and bliss balls. Essentially, they are a healthy snack made from raw wholesome ingredients including dates and nuts. These ingredients are whizzed up in a food processor, along with any other optional ingredients and flavourings to create a sticky mixture that can be shaped into balls.

The healthiest energy balls, such as these chocolate date balls, contain no refined sugar but plenty of protein from the nuts.

Date and nut energy balls can also include additional nutrition-laden ingredients such as nut butter and protein powders, but these are not mandatory.

These chocolate date and coconut balls are a blend of dates, nuts, coconut, chia seeds and cocoa powder. They are naturally low in cholesterol as well as being vegan and gluten-free.

Why these chocolate, date and coconut balls are worth making

These chocolate, date and coconut balls are rather special:

• They taste fantastic.
• The dates provide plenty of sweetness, making additions such as sugar or honey totally unnecessary
• These date balls are also a fabulous way to sneak a few nuts into children’s diets without them complaining.
• And they have a lot to offer nutritionally – making them a far more wholesome choice of snack than cake or biscuits.
• The recipe is also no-bake.
• And they are very quick & easy to make.

In summary, these balls really are a fabulous healthier way to beat a sugar craving.

Ingredients and equipment notes

I decided to include 3 different types of nuts in these energy balls as I think that the different colours and textures of the nuts adds a little extra interest visually. I’ve included cashews, hazelnuts and pistachios. It’s fine to use just cashews or a blend of cashews with just one of the other nuts. Do ensure the weight of the total nuts specified in the recipe (100g) is used.

As for the dates, you’ll need soft pitted dates, such as Medjools. These are easy to blend and break down to create a lovely texture just sticky enough to roll into balls.

Cocoa powder provides a robust yet healthy chocolate flavour and desiccated coconut boosts both flavour and texture, adding a lovely chewiness to these cocoa date balls.

I’ve flavoured these chocolate date balls with a little peppermint extract because I’m a die-hard fan of anything minty & chocolatey. These balls are sweet and tenderly soft with a subtle burst of cool mint & chocolate flavour about them. Bliss.

You can skip the peppermint extract entirely or swap it for an alternative, such as orange extract or vanilla extract if desired.

I first attempted to make these chocolate, date and coconut balls using a stick blender (in the days before I owned a food processor). If you’ve ever attempted to make energy balls without a food processor, you’ll appreciate the struggle my stick blender was facing as I tried desperately to blitz the sticky ingredients without blowing the motor. Don’t go there – a proper food processor is a must for this recipe.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Put the nuts into a food processor and process until chopped to medium coarseness.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and continue to process until a sticky dough is formed – you may need to scrape down the sides of the food processor a couple of times.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions – approximately 30g in weight each. Using your hands, roll the dough into smooth balls.
4. If desired, cover the balls by rolling in cocoa powder or coconut.
5. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

More recipes made with dates

Have you made this recipe for chocolate date balls with coconut? If you have, please give it a rating or leave a comment – I love to hear how you get along with my creations.