Date Nut Balls
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Chocolate Covered Date Nut Balls are the best energy bites and make a great snack or light breakfast. These include a healthy nut and date center topped with a dark chocolate coating. Win/Win for balance!
We love to keep healthy, homemade snacks handy for when we need them, and THIS recipe is now added to our stash. Several other items we keep for “hunger pain emergencies” include Peanut Butter Power Balls, Trail Mix Granola Bars, Homemade Cranberry Nut Granola, and Honey Roasted Nuts.
I’ve always kept a bunch of “healthy” snacks in my pantry. Granola bars, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, etc. Oh hey, but are they REALLY healthy snacks? Not so much.
What I like about these, is that you know EXACTLY what’s in them. Only seven ingredients (providing you use the chocolate), and they are super quick to make. It’s quicker to make these than to run to the grocery store. Oh, and they taste GREAT! 🙂
What You’ll Need:
My Healthy Date Nut Balls have only seven ingredients including the dark chocolate coating. Healthy fat, natural sweetener, and a perfect snack!
- fresh dates (normally found in the unrefrigerated produce section of your grocery store)
- sunflower seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- pistachios
- dark chocolate chips
- vanilla extract
- dark chocolate melting chocolate
If you would like to change the mix-ins, go for it. Just make sure you use the correct quantities in total. You could add chia seeds, hemp seeds, protein powder, cacao powder, a pinch of sea salt, dried fruit, or different types of nuts. This base recipe can be modified for your taste preferences!
How to make Date Nut Balls:
Step 1
Prep dates. Soak the dates in warm water for about 10 minutes. This will allow them to soften up and they will become a BETTER binder for these energy bites.
Step 2
Process energy bites. In a food processor, combine the softened dates, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, dark chocolate chips, and vanilla.
Pulse, and then let it run for several minutes to get everything well processed. This will allow you to form balls without adding other things (like peanut butter and/or honey).
As the dates soften, the nuts will release their natural oils, making a dough like consistency. It’s very easy to form the small balls, and you don’t actually need the chocolate coating if you prefer to use only the first six ingredients. But a little bit of chocolate is GOOD.
Step 3
Form balls. Dump the date mixture in another bowl and then form it into small balls. You should get about 22 of them in total. Set the date nut balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill. (You can also freeze them for a bit.)
You will see little bits of nuts, dates, and chocolate throughout. If the balls aren’t sticking together, process them for a bit longer and add a little water.
Step 4
Melt the chocolate. Add the melting chocolate to a microwave safe bowl. Melt at 50% power in 30-60 second increments, stirring in between. Be careful to avoid burning the chocolate.
Step 5
Add chocolate. Take one ball at a time, and dip or roll balls in chocolate until well coated. Shake off excess chocolate and place back on baking sheet. Add a few pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to the top before the chocolate hardens. You can also add a little sprinkle of kosher salt.
Step 6
Store. Store the date nut balls in an airtight container (or plastic ziplock bag) in the refrigerator. These are also great frozen.
Other Energy Bites/Bars:
Recipe FAQs:
Yes you can! Normally, I use peanut butter and/or honey in my power balls/energy bites. But this time, I used Medjool Dates, aka “Nature’s Candy Store”. No added sugar is needed here.
Dates help bind these energy bites together, especially if you soak them in water before using the food processor. Soaking them first helps to soften them, which is necessary unless your dates are already extremely soft.
These dates are naturally sweet in an unprocessed way. They are also high in fiber, a natural constipation relief remedy (ahem!), a great energy booster, good for your heart (reduces triglyceride levels), and are helpful in bone health.
Other No Bake Treats:
While these are on the healthier side when it comes to no bake treats, I’ve got some others too.
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
- White Chocolate Oreo Truffles
- Gingerbread Truffles
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Date Nut Balls
Ingredients
- 20 whole Medjool dates – pitted
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup pistachios
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- a little warm water – if needed to form the balls
- 8 – 10 oz. dark chocolate melting wafers – I like the Ghirardelli brand.
Instructions
- Place dates in bowl and soak them in warm water for approximately 10 minutes.
- Strain the dates and place in food processor. Add nuts, dark chocolate chips and vanilla, and pulse until smooth, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Roll into 22 balls and place on baking sheet. Freeze until firm.
- Melt the dark chocolate melting wafers in the microwave for about one minute using only 50% power. You may need another 30 seconds. The chocolate should be smooth and creamy. Be careful not to over-cook.
- Dip the energy bites in the chocolate (using a dipping tool). Roll the ball around in the chocolate until it is completely covered. Lift it out using the tool and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Add a few extra seeds to the top each date nut ball.
- Place baking sheet in the refrigerator until set.
Is this 116 calories per one ball?
yes
These were awesome! My husband likes to take energy bars with him when he is out hiking. Now he takes these instead. We are lucky to be able to get lovely dates from the date farms in the Coachella Valley here in California. I made two slight modifications after my first batch. Rather than soaking the dates in warm water, I microwaved some fresh squeezed orange juice from our front yard trees and soaked them in that instead. And now instead of adding water if my test ball is a bit too crumbly, I add some nut butter – almond or pistachio (or peanut butter if no-one has allergies). I’ve also made them with dried fruit although those turned out VERY sweet. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Very yummy. Honestly not sure how I found this recipe or why I was searching for “date” recipes haha. I’m pregnant and strange things come into my head that sound good. I think I’ve tried dates once in my life before this. I saw this recipe and it sounded really great and they were as good as I expected them to be! Not something I would have thought of myself (I’m a pretty good and creative cook) so I really appreciate you sharing!! I love sunflower seeds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds and chocolate so figured this couldn’t go wrong. The dates acted as the perfect binder. My 16 month old son loved them as well (though I just gave him one without chocolate coating) and my husband liked them too! Thank you 🙂
Due to health reasons I have practically cut meat out of my diet and just eat fish, fruit and vegetables, lots of nuts and berries and came across this recipe from a friend, which has given me the fix of sugar that I no longer have and I am obsessed with them !! I make them every week and dip them in green and Blacks dark chocolate they are freaking amazing. They need to be eaten straight out of the freezer, they do not freeze they are just firm and the dark chocolate is absolutely delicious eating this way. All natural sugar from the dates and you can put all different types of nuts in but I particularly like the pistachio with the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. I also add chocolate into the mix I also add chocolate into the mix and use lots of “Duchy” dates in mine with a sqidge of honey, pure delight and you know exactly what is in them. How can something that tastes so good actually be good for you 😋😋
Hi Claire! What a sweet review! I’m so glad you are enjoying them as much as I do! 🙂
My pleasure, I am starting to farm them out to my friends and family as a special treats and the feedback is always very positive. I think I must have a cruise through your other recipes and see what other wonders you have for me to prepare thanks again Claire 😁
Aww, that’s sweet. Thank you Claire!
This is a fantastic boost of energy and a healthy sweet when I really need one.
Yup. Same for me. I eat one every day!
Amen Sister! 116 calories, 7 ingredients and chocolate all wrapped into one awesome snack! These can be added to my shelf that only contains the best of the best! ?
I love making energy bites at home and these look absolutely delicious and so easy! YUM!
Thanks Natalie! 🙂