Energy Balls with Medjool Dates

Tasty little protein balls, enjoyed as a snack or for breakfast, are not new at my house, but the way they're sweetened is. Instead of honey or agave nectar, we used Medjool dates.

Where have these delicious dates been all my life? I should have known how much I'd love them because I'm a big fan of raisins.

But Medjool dates are even better. They're larger, plumper, and sweeter than other dates, with an almost caramel-like taste. You can gobble them up like pieces of candy!

Even better, dates are an incredibly delicious, all-natural sweetener, too!

Now, I make jars of date paste to store in the refrigerator, effortlessly sweetening treats like chocolate date balls and rice krispie date balls or whipping up date cream cheese frosting.

Ingredient Notes

Here's what you'll need to make Medjool date energy balls:

Of special note:

• Medjool dates - Buy them pitted or make a slit down the center and remove it. Deglet Noor dates can be used but are not as sweet. Honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup will also work.
• Oatmeal - We used old-fashioned rolled oats because they're the least processed. Quick oats will work, but don't use steel-cut oats because they are too hard.
• Ground flaxseed - Buy already ground flaxseed meal, or buy whole flaxseed and process it in a coffee grinder. A high-speed blender or food processor will work for larger quantities. Chia seeds are a good alternative.
• Sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, almond butter, or any nut butter you enjoy will work in this recipe.
• Coconut flakes - We used unsweetened flakes. Sweetened flakes add sugar and make the energy balls a little sweeter.
• Chocolate chips - Mini-sized chips are ideal for these little balls. Nuts or dried fruits, like raisins or cranberries, can be used for a different flavor profile.

The recipe card below includes ingredient amounts, step-by-step instructions, and nutritional information.

Directions with Pictures

Follow these steps to make energy balls with dates and oats:

Step 1. Medjool dates are naturally very soft. Still, it doesn't hurt to soak them for a few minutes in hot water while assembling the other ingredients.

Step 2. Add the dates and a little soaking water to a small-sized food processor and pulse to create a date paste. Add additional water as desired to thin the consistency.

Step 3. Add oatmeal, flaxseed, coconut flakes, and mini chocolate chips to a large bowl.

Step 4. Add sunflower seed butter, pureed dates, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. The mixture will be thick.

Step 5. If the date oat mixture is soft, refrigerate it for about ten minutes to firm it up so it will be easier to work with. Next, start rolling the dough into lots and lots of balls. Depending on how small you make them and how many bites you take in between, you can make between 25 and 30 tablespoon-sized balls.