For a quick, protein-filled pick-me-up, make up a batch of these date balls to keep on hand and snack on them often.
Made with raw cocoa, nuts, and dried berries, these no-bake energy ball truffles are just the kind of yummy, gluten-free, vegan, nutrient-packed, easy-to-make, good-for-you snack that you need to take care of your chocolate fix for the day.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Date energy balls come together quickly and are free of refined sugar. They are a naturally sweetened snack that can double as a gorgeous homemade gift for any occasion. You can customize the flavor and texture to suit your preferences. See our tips below!
Dates add natural sweetness while goji berries, chia seeds, and cocoa nibs provide tons of superfood nutrients and vitamins. This is a sweet treat you can feel good about snacking on.
Ingredients for Date Balls
- Goji Berries or dried cranberries.
- Orange Juice &Hot Water. to soften the berries
- Dried Sour Cherries.
- Pitted Medjool Dates. These provide natural sweetness. If you prefer deglet noor dates, you can use those instead, just soak them along with the goji berries.
- Coconut Oil. at room temperature
- Unsweetened Almond Milk.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder.
- Salt.
- Raw Hemp Seeds.
- Chia Seeds.
- Raw Cocoa Nibs.
- Chopped Walnuts or Pecans.
- Cashew or Almond Flour. Other date ball recipes use peanuts and peanut butter, you can go ahead and replace the nut flour with peanut butter if you wish.
Ingredients for the Chocolate Coating
- Dark Chocolate Chunks. You can use any chocolate you like.
- Coconut Oil. Room temperature.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder.
How to make Date Ball Energy Bites
- Step 1: Soak the goji berries in orange juice and hot water. Add the dried fruits, oil, and almond milk to a food processor or high-powered blender.
- Step 2: Pulse to finely chop and combine.
- Step 3: Add the cocoa powder and salt. Pulse to combine well.
- Step 4: Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the remaining ingredients, and mix by hand. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, then roll into balls.
- Step 5: Roll the date balls in cocoa powder and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Step 6: Drizzle with chocolate and serve.
Substitutions and Variations for Energy Bites
One of the fun things about these protein-rich treats is that you can come up with endless variations that still taste amazing.
- Try mixing in your favorite nut butter like peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter. You can swap out the cashew or almond flour and use any nut butter instead.
- Use ground flaxseeds to add omega-3 fatty acids.
- Add spices like red pepper flakes to bring some heat, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and even some espresso powder.
- Use agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup for extra sweetness.
- Have some fun and crush your homemade granola bars to coat the exterior.
- Want to add more crunch? Add a cup of mini chocolate chips for an extra treat.
- Up the protein content by adding your favorite protein powder.
- Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Add a pinch of sea salt for that salty-sweet balance.
- Some recipes add rolled oats, quick oats, steel-cut oats, or instant oats as a binder for energy balls. Our recipe worked great without them
- Coat the date balls with shredded coconut to make coconut date balls
- Add pumpkin seeds, almonds, or rice cereal for extra crunch.
Tips to Make Tasty Energy Balls
- If you don't have fifteen minutes to wait while the mixture refrigerates, pop the bowl in the freezer for five minutes instead.
- Use a cookie scoop to make sure that all of your date balls are equally sized.
- Once you form the truffles, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the fridge while you prepare the chocolate for drizzle.
- Using a high-quality cocoa powder improves the overall flavor of the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
- Keep these date balls with superfoods on hand for quick snacking.
- Place them in a clear gift bag and tie a pretty bow around them to give as a homemade gift.
- After drizzling with chocolate, sprinkle with espresso powder, sesame seeds, pink salt, or crushed nuts to add some color and texture.
Storage Tips
- Once the chocolate drizzle has hardened, refrigerate your date balls in an airtight container until you serve them.
- Freeze leftover energy balls in an airtight container for up to three months and thaw them directly in your lunch box or at room temperature.
- You can start by freezing them spread out on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and then move them to a freezer-quality bag once they are mostly frozen.
More Great Energy Ball Recipes to Make
Keep a batch of each of these on hand in your freezer at all times!
If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.
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Date Balls With Superfoods
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 24 truffles
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Made with supefoods, these date balls are just the kind of nutrient-packed, vegan, and gluten-free snack you need to energize your day.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
FOR THE DATE BALLS
- ½ cup Goji Berries, if you can't find them replace them with dried cranberries
- 4 tablespoon orange juice
- 4 tablespoon hot water
- ½ cup dried sour cherries
- 5 large Medjool dates, pitted or 10 smaller dates, pitted
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon raw hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoon raw cocoa nibs
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ¾ cup almond flour, cashew flour or any other nut flour
- CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE AND COATING
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Soak goji berries in orange juice and water until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and discard the liquid. If you are using dried cranberries, you don't need to soak them.
- Combine the soaked goji berries, cherries, dates, coconut oil, and almond milk in a food processor. Pulse a few times to form a rough paste.
- Add unsweetened cocoa powder and salt and pulse again until well combined. Transfer to a bowl.
- Add hemp seeds, chia, cocoa nibs, walnuts, and almond flour. Mix well using a spatula or your hands. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Working with approximately 1 tablespoon at a time, form the truffles and place them in the freezer while you prepare the drizzle. It helps to use an ice cream scoop to form the balls.
- To make the drizzle, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl, and melt in the microwave at 20-second increments, stirring after each 20 seconds.
- Roll the truffles in unsweetened cocoa powder and drizzle with melted chocolate
Notes
- If you want to serve them as a boozy dessert you can replace the orange juice with Whiskey or Dark Rum.
- If the dates you are using seem a little dry, soak them in orange juice like the goji berries
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: raw
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Date Ball
- Calories: 88
- Sugar: 5.2 g
- Sodium: 31.9 mg
- Fat: 5.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.9 g
- Fiber: 2.2 g
- Protein: 2.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0.1 mg
Joanie Avena
Hi! I sure enjoy your posts of good recipes. In response to the hair issue and it driving you mad, I may have some solutions for you. I need to know more though before I make any recommendations for your specific hair care needs. It is frizzing, bushy and dry? What is your hair type-fine or course, thin or thick quantity, length presently, do you have any processes on your hair currently such as a perm, color, or hi lighting? A pic would also be helpful. I was a licensed practicing hairdresser in CA for nearly 40 years and have been called on over the years to help many unhappy "harried" people, mainly women, to assist in managing their manes. I specialized in restoration hair care for individuals who had natural or processed problem hair. It's not necessary for you to be in hell with your tresses...let me take a look-maybe I may be of assistance. I'm inviting you to correspond with me to end your hair wildness, to tame it and soothe your concerns. I know how frustrating it can be! I tend to be that half full type of person as well so let me lend a hand to do something positive to impact you in a pleasant way. Happy Holidays! Be well!
Yours truly,
Joanie
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you for taking the time to write and offer your help. I will be in touch with you via email.
Sarah & Arkadi
These truffles look fantastic!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you very much, and they are healthy too!
Dianna
From your description of your hair, it sounds like you might benefit from a Chi Enviro treatment! I have very curly hair that has its own agenda too! I can tame it on low humidity days, but on humid days it looks like I have a Brillo pad sitting on top of my head!!! I had my first Chi Enviro treatment about 2 years ago and it was life-changing!! It is like Keratin, but this is chemical-free and it smoothes the hair shafts so that humidity doesn't affect it in the same way as before the treatment. My hair still curls in humidity, but it's a softer and smoother curl, rather than that Brillo pad look! You might want to do an internet search to find a beauty shop in your area that does the Chi Enviro treatments.
Thanks for so many wonderful recipes!! Our absolute favorite was the Cold Rice & Tofu Salad with the Three Mustard Dressing! I made it several times during the warm weather and served it to my husband and grown children. Everyone loved it! We have recently stopped eating corn and peas so when it gets warm again, I will just add other vegetables - like green beans and carrots.
Good luck with your hair!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you very much for your hair advise, I will email you, if that's OK.
Ashley
These truffles look and sound delicious! I need some healthier options in my life right now - too many cookies this holiday season!
Vicky & Ruth
That's what we though, some healthy treats would be great after indulging in cookies over the holidays.
jessica // the kosher foodies
sorry to hear about your hair issue
Vicky & Ruth
Thanks. I could be worse...
Yosef - This American Bite
My favorite ingredient here is the chia!
Vicky & Ruth
We are fans of chia, and we have also discovered that cocoa nibs give a great crunchy texture, we are obsessed with them now
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
Sorry about your hair troubles but if it's any consolation I hate my hair, too!! It's the worst!! It's very fine and VERy thin and I'd basically trade hair with anyone if I could 🙂
I DO love these truffles!!
Vicky & Ruth
I feel for you. AL least we have cocoa truffles!
Monica
Hard to believe these truffles look so good and are healthy and vegan. Great job!
And I wish you beautiful hair transformation in 2014! ; )
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you and thank you. I think I need a hair miracle 🙂
Thejewishhostess
I forwarded this recipe to my daughter. We make different versions of these truffles all the time but this recipe has extra healthy ingredients !
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you very much. We really wanted to pack the nutrients in there!
Jamie Geller
try a wig 🙂 now you have to share truffles with me!
Vicky & Ruth
Ruth has bought about it at times, but she really wants to find a solution for her real hair. We will share the truffles with you any time. When will you be back in the US?
Jamie Geller
LOL - that's certainly the less expensive direction 🙂 I will be back for KFWE in Feb are you guys going?!
Sarah Klinkowitz
These look so yummy!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you we enjoyed them a lot.
Layla @ Brunch Time Baker
These truffles look so yummy! Its like they are calling my name!
Vicky & Ruth
Really easy to make, you just need to have all the ingredients available.
Lillian @ sugar and cinnamon
I once got so frustrated with my hair I had it cut an inch short. Don't do that! It was even worse! On another note these truffles look absolutely amazing! I'm so jealous right now 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
I did that as well, and I know it's not the solution. Good thing I have these truffles to make me feel better!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
So this is pretty much the recipe I need right now in life! These truffles look amazing!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you. We are guessing you need a little "cleansing" from the holidays!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen
Oh my gosh - these could NOT look any better. It makes me want to fly down there and try them myself!!! Don't be surprised if you get a knock on your door! Hahahaha!
Vicky & Ruth
Ha, ha, ha, we will be waiting for you. We would love to meet you in person. We better make another batch just in case, because we just finished the last one.
Dina
these sound amazing and healthy! would love to try them.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Dina, if you please let us know what you think.
marcie
I love guilt-free ways to enjoy sweets, and these truffles look incredibly delicious! I need guilt-free after my holiday binging. Happy New Year to both of you!
Vicky & Ruth
Happy New Year to you too! We figured we could come up with some truffle packed with nutrients and we did!
Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder
oh my, that top photo looks divine! I've been planning on making truffles and this looks amazing. now if only I can convince the family to try these healthier versions hehe....
Vicky & Ruth
You don't have to tell them they are healthy and maybe go a little heavier on the chocolate drizzle on top 🙂
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Also saw these on FG and put them on my to do list:) I love truffles, especially date based ones, and these are way better than your average date + coca recipe. You are so creative! These would make my bad hair and makeup days much more managable!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you. We figured everyone needed something a little healthier after the holidays.
Melissa {lilmisscakes}
These look so good, I love your presentation in the little paper cups, so cute!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Melissa.
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner
I love it when healthy looks yummy, like these truffles!
Bad hair day?! Oh yes, I can sympathize!
Vicky & Ruth
Thanks, good way not to feel guilty eating truffles!
Ronnie Fein
Oh boy oh boy, you got me here. Because, basically, I have had a bad hair day for my entire life. I have thin, wispy, fly-away hair that I can never make look good. And I have NEVER gotten used to it. Oh well, at least the color is nice. So, I hear you about the hair. As for the truffles, they look delish, so I could eat them for any reason. But, truth to tell, I will still hate my hair even after eating a pound of these.
Vicky & Ruth
So sorry you feel like that about your hair, I thought you looked really good when I met you. You will have to meet my sister now so you can talk about hair 🙂
Alison@AliBabka
Hakunah Matata! We all have those days (so you're not alone) but still stinky. These would for sure brighten up my days though.
Vicky & Ruth
This truffles are Full of omega 3 and other great nutrients, maybe that will help my hair 🙂
Kelly
These truffles look great! Love that they are healthier too, I need that after all the indulging I've been doing. Hope you both have a wonderful 2014!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Kelly!
Couldn't Be Parve
As someone with very curly hair, I feel you on the hair issue. I love your pictures of the truffles, they sound delicious but look even better.
kim
Can you provide an approximate measurement for the dates either in grams or volume - like 1/3 cup? It is hard to know how many to use.
Recipe sounds great and I am anxious to try it once I get all the ingredients. Thanks!
Vicky and Ruth
You need approximately 120gr of pitted dates.