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If you want a fruit-sweetened snack that tastes like cookie dough, you’re going to love this date ball recipe. It’s made with Medjool dates, walnuts, shredded coconut, and salt, yet it tastes much more decadent. Plus, you can make them in 10 minutes or less!
I’ve been making date balls for over 15 years, so be sure to try chocolate protein balls, peanut butter date balls, and pistachio date balls if you want another flavor.
“I’ve tried a few other date ball recipes, and this is BY FAR the best! My husband is really loving them as a Whole30 snack, and I love them too! Coming from a nursing AND pregnant mama. So easy to make as well.”
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Medjool dates. Look for Medjool dates that are soft and squishy in the produce section of your grocery store. They should be easy to split apart with your fingers to remove the pits. If you can only find dates in the dried/bulk section, you may need to soak them in hot water for at least 10 minutes to soften them before processing. Drain away the water before using them. (The balls will likely be stickier in this case.)
- Nuts. I like these best with walnuts or pecans, but you can also use almonds or cashews. For a nut-free snack, try hulled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
- Shredded coconut. This addition helps with texture and flavor, but make sure you start with unsweetened shredded coconut. (Not the moist, sweetened kind.) If you love my buckwheat chocolate chip cookies, you’ll love the coconut here, too.
- Vanilla extract. This adds extra flavor, so your date balls will taste like cookie dough. But if you don’t have vanilla on hand, these will still taste great without it.
- Salt. A touch of salt enhances the flavor of sweet recipes, so don’t leave it out! I always use pink salt (Real Salt brand), which can taste different than white table salt. If you’re using a different variety, start with a smaller amount and add more to taste.
Substitution Note: If you’re not a fan of coconut, try using old-fashioned rolled oats instead.
How to Make Date Balls (Step by Step)
- In a food processor fitted with an S-blade, add 1 cup of pitted Medjool dates, 1 cup of walnuts, 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Secure the lid and pulse the mixture several times. You don’t want to over-process! As soon as the mixture sticks together easily when pressed between your fingers, stop processing. It’s okay if there’s some texture.
- Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to scoop the mixture into bite-sized portions.
- Roll the balls between your hands for a smooth texture.
- Place the balls on a parchment lined pan or plate. You should get approximately 16 balls from this batch. I like to chill these in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before transferring to a storage container.
- Add toppings if you like. You can press a few mini chocolate chips into each ball, or roll them in shredded coconut. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Date Energy Balls FAQs
This peer-reviewed study on the effects of dates on blood glucose suggests that dates might help patients with diabetes lower their blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. This small study on date fruits also suggests that dates may have a beneficial effect on blood glucose control.
Yes, you can make peanut butter energy balls with honey or maple syrup instead. Or use almond butter, if you prefer!
No, there’s no need to soak dates when you buy them from the fresh produce section of your grocery store. They should be soft, squishy, and easy to split apart with your fingers. If you’re buying them from a bulk bin area, they might be dry and in that case could require soaking.
Date-Sweetened Recipes
If you try this date energy balls recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it. Thanks for visiting!
Date Energy Balls (100% fruit-sweetened!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates , pitted
- 1 cup walnuts (or other nuts/seeds)
- ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- In a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade, add the pitted dates, walnuts, coconut, vanilla extract, and salt. Process briefly, until the mixture looks crumbly.
- As soon as the mixture sticks together when pressed between your fingers, it's ready to roll into balls. Be careful not to over-process the mixture, as it can become quite greasy when blended for too long.
- Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the mixture, then roll it between your hands to form balls. (Sometimes you'll need to squeeze it first to stick together, then roll into balls.) Repeat the process with the remaining mixture, until you've made roughly 16 date balls.
- You can enjoy these date balls right away at room temperature, or store them in an airtight container with a lid. They will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
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I’ve been making these for years, there a favourite! I like them best when frozen. I also add some flax for extra fibre/texture.
Such a delicious treat to keep in the freezer! My overzealous 10 year old assistant over-processed these mix and you are right about them getting oily. Rolling them in coconut helped a ton and they’re still delicious – lesson learned! Will be sure to only pulse after initial processing to break down the dates. Thank you!!
These are SO good! Got a new food processor a month ago and I’ve made these every week since. I use pumpkin and sunflower seeds since I’m allergic to nuts. Question – I’ve tried it with 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds & 1/2 cup ground flax (freshly ground and stored in freezer) and the balls come out dry and harder to make into a ball. Any advice? Thanks!
I’m glad you’re enjoying these date balls, Noelle! I would probably cut-back on the ground flax if you’re having issues with texture. Flax seed is very absorbent, so I’d probably start with half that amount and see how they turn out.
Yum! I make a bunch of these at a time & keep in the freezer for easy snacking. Easy & tasty!
Hi can I make these using an 8 cup food processor?
Yes, I think that size would work, too! Hope you love them!
I made the recipe as directed. All I can say is DELICIOUS! Will definitely add to my favorites list.
These are so good! Second batch I put together I added some dark chocolate chips roads the end. YUM
Love these energy date nut balls! I switch them up for whatever nut we have on hand and even use chia and pumpkin seeds sometimes. I’ve used dried apricots (great with pistachios) or dried blueberries (yummy with cashews) in place of some of the dates too. They always turn out delish! My husband takes them on marathons too for the blood sugar balance, the protein boost, and that salt electrolyte factor. Thank you!
These came out perfect! Just the right amount of salt.
These were really good and easy to make. I did find that the mixture was a little dry and solved that with about 1 Tbsp. of peanut butter. Made a second batch with added cocoa powder and a little protein powder and they were equally delicious. I think a food processor is probably a necessity. Pro Tip: Costco’s sells a 2 lb. 89 ox. bag of pitted dates for about $6.99 and they are fantastic. A steal at that price for those of us who make date paste and other date based recipes.
These date energy bars are delicious! I was looking for a dessert that had no ultra processed ingredients because my 2025 New Year’s Resolution is to cut out UPF’s.
My first batch was exactly to the recipe. My second batch I added 100% cocoa chips. The third batch I added 1/2 c rolled oats. So fun to switch things up each time! Thank you for this recipe.
I don’t have a food process or will a blender work?