Chocolate Date Balls are sweetened with medjool date paste so they're free from refined sugar. This easy, no-bake recipe with almond butter, oatmeal, coconut flakes, and cocoa powder has just 6 ingredients and takes about 15 minutes to prepare!
We're obsessed with this variation of Energy Balls with Medjool Dates. Instead of using chocolate chips to get our chocolate fix, we used antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. They're equally tasty and perfect for those times you need a mid-morning snack or a sweet treat that's actually healthy.
Chase it down with a piece of fruit so you don't end up eating too many. This is the voice of experience. That's my unwritten rule. If I have a Chocolate Date Ball or a Date Ball with Rice Krispies, I must also eat a piece of fruit. 🙂
It works every time!
How to Make Medjool Date Paste
Don't let the process of making date paste scare you away from making these Chocolate Date Balls. It's really easy to make and will open a whole new world of sweet treats. These dates have a deep caramel taste that definitely satisfies a craving.
We usually buy Medjool dates with the pit removed. If you need to remove the pit, lay the date on a flat surface and make a slit down the top, without slicing all the way through. Gently pull the sides of the slit open to expose the pit and pull it out. Easy!
To make this recipe, we used 8 Medjool dates. Once you get a feel for the sweetness of dates, adjust it up or down according to your taste preference.
Soften the dates a little, by placing them in hot water for about 10 minutes.
Next, remove the Medjool dates to a small food processor. Add a little water from the container that they soaked in too. Start with 1 Tablespoon and add a little more if necessary after you start processing.
Process them to make a sticky paste that looks something like this:
Note that you can make more paste than you need and store the rest in the refrigerator. Check out How to Make Date Paste or watch this quick video to learn more:
How to Make Chocolate Date Balls
Once you've made date paste, prepare the dough by combining:
- Oatmeal - use a gluten-free brand if necessary.
- Cocoa powder - use an unsweetened brand. Dark chocolate cocoa powder is even better!
- Coconut flakes - use unsweetened flakes to limit the amount of added sugar.
- Almond butter - any nut butter or sunflower seed butter will work.
- Medjool date paste made from the process described above.
- Vanilla extract!
It's best to combine the dry ingredients and then add in the wet ones. "Cream" the wet ingredients into the dry ones. It takes a little arm work but you want to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
When you're done, roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Of course, you can always make them smaller or larger too.
If you're looking to up the protein a little more, then roll the Chocolate Date Balls in crushed almonds!
Try our Carrot Cake Balls which also use Medjool Dates for a complete different flavor profile!
Please rate this recipe and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see what you're cooking up!
Chocolate Date Balls
Ingredients
- 8 medjool dates pits removed
- 1 cup uncooked old fashioned oatmeal
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup almond butter or your favorite nut butter
Instructions
- Fill a glass container with very hot water. (I heat about 2 cups in the microwave for about 1 ½ minutes.)
- Add dates to water, cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 5-10 minutes. This softens the dates and makes them easier to puree. It's not necessary if the dates are very soft.
- Remove dates from water and place in a small food processor along with 1 Tablespoon of water that the dates soaked in.
- Pulse until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add additional water to thin the consistency of the paste, if desired.
- Set date "paste" aside.
- Combine oatmeal, cocoa powder and coconut flakes in a medium sized bowl.
- Add date paste, vanilla extract and almond butter to the dry mixture.
- Stir to combine all of the ingredients.
- Form dough into Tablespoon-size balls.
- Refrigerate balls in an air tight container.
Nutrition
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Sues
I love that these only use a few simple (and healthy!) ingredients and are so easy to make. Perfect for a little afternoon energy boost!
Marjory
Yes! The easier the better!
Liz
Oh, yum! These are FABULOUS! Perfect for that little sweet something I need mid-afternoon without all the guilt!
Marjory
Thanks Liz!
Kunal Pahuja- Homemade Chocolates
Amazing Recipe. I’ve tried it at home. Everyone liked it so much. Thank You so much!!
Marjory
I'm so glad you liked it!
Rachel
Excited to try this! My daughter is super picky about chunks. Do you think I could purée everything together (like oats, coconut and everything else)? Or would they not hold together? Thank you!
Marjory
I have not tried this, but, I do think it would work! Let us know!
Connie
Delicious! I only made one change....I whirled the oats in the food processor so I wouldn’t have large chunks of oats...my granddaughter wouldn’t have even tried them if she saw them. It worked!
Marjory
That's fantastic! Thanks for the tip!
Mel
Wow so easy and delicious yum yum!!
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Ct.mark
Delicious and satisfies the chocolate craving. Simple to make with ingredients easy to get from any grocery store thank you!!!
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for your feedback!
Ray
Looks great, what's the weight of the date paste? As I already have date paste I wont make it from scratch.
I look forward to making these!
Marjory Pilley
We find that 8 Medjool dates are the equivalent of 1/3 cup date paste. I hope you enjoy it!