Vegan Date Balls

Ginny McMeans

Ginny McMeans

Published:

April 25, 2020

Last Modified:

May 8, 2024

Date Balls with coconut and cocoa powder are sweet, crunchy, and chocolaty.

A close-up of chocolate date balls covered in coconut and stacked on a white plate against all white.

When you want something sweet and quick and you don’t want to heat up the house – go for this date ball recipe for complete satisfaction.

Chocolaty goodness that will satisfy all of your cravings and last but not least, there is no baking.

I have fallen in love with no-bake snacks that take advantage of the healthier side of sweets. They are simple and the creativity seems boundless.

Close up of date energy balls loaded onto parchment paper where some are covered in coconut and some are not.

It is so fun to mix and match ingredients where the outcome is unique and just darn good!

Introduce Date Balls to the children in your family and they will be on their way to wanting a healthier snack instead of candies loaded with additives and sugars.

A white plate stacked with coconut covered treats with a bite out of one and it's sitting in front of the plate.

Ingredients

  • Sunflower Seeds – are ground fine and adds lots of nice nutrients to the balls besides taste.
  • Dates – are a major sweetener and they also add bulk and antioxidants.
  • Walnuts – have a little bit of crunch and earthy flavor.
  • Cocao powder – unsweetened – makes everything chocolaty.
  • Maple syrup – is the healthier way to sweeten up the unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • Almond Butter – creamy – has the best taste!
  • Rolled oats – add bulk and nutrients.
  • Coconut – is the pretty white coating on the outside.
Looking down into a metal mixing bowl full of the prepared ingredients all ready for mixing.

You can also introduce these goodies to yourself for an energy snack. They are loaded with ingredients that shine in the protein department and that will keep you going longer.

Seeds, nuts, almond butter and rolled oats all make for great coconut date balls that will help you feel full.

I’ve been making these balls for years and if you scroll way down to the very bottom you can see the original photos that have graced this recipe.

A white plate is piled high with chocolate date energy balls with the top one having a bite out of it.

Instructions

  • Grind the sunflower seeds in your Food Processor. This is a mini food processor for small jobs.
  • Chop up the dates and walnuts. I use a large chef’s knife and just rock back and forth.
  • Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
  • My method of preparation is that I divide the mixture in half.
  • Use your hands. It makes everything so easy.
  • Divide the mixture in half and then half again … and so on and so on until you get 48 sections.
  • Roll into balls with the palm of your hands.
  • You can always pinch out a little from the balls that are a little bit larger if you would like to make more.
  • Roll each ball in the shredded coconut. Pat them again in a ball shape if you’d like the coconut to cling more to the ball.
Looking down in a blue bowl full of shredded coconut and one ball is being rolled in the coating.
  • Put on a cookie sheet and let freeze for about to hours.
  • Remove and serve.
  • They will also freeze for up to 2 months.
  • You can also eat these out of the freezer. They won’t be too hard at all.
Cropped white plate full of coconut covered date balls with text for pinning.

Raw Date Chocolate Balls are made with the best variety of ingredients!

Vegan Date Balls Recipe

Ginny McMeans
5 from 2 votes
Date Balls are made with the best variety of ingredients – sweet, crunchy and chocolaty.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 48 Balls

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Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup Sunflower Seeds – ground
  • 1/2 cup Dates – pitted, chopped
  • 1/2 cup walnuts – chopped
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder – unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup Almond Butter – creamy
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats – old fashioned, there are also gluten free oats
  • 6 ounces coconut for coating – unsweetened

Instructions
 

  • So simple and delicious.
  • Grind the sunflower seeds in your Food Processor
  • Chop up the dates and walnuts.
  • Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
  • My method of preparation is that I divide the mixture in half.
  • Use your hands. It makes everything so easy.
  • Divide the mixture in half and then half again … and so on and so on until you get 48 sections.
  • Roll into balls with the palm of your hands.
  • You can always pinch out a little from the balls that are a little bit larger if you would like to make more.
  • Roll each ball in the shredded coconut.
  • Put on a cookie sheet and let freeze for about to hours.
  • Remove and serve.
  • They will also freeze for up to 2 months.

Notes

I keep mine in the freezer and pick one out whenever I want a snack.
TO FREEZE:
You can freeze them in any of the methods shown in my article https://veganinthefreezer.com/preparing-food-for-the-freezer/ They defrost quickly so it really doesn’t take any planning.
In fact, you can eat them right out of the freezer. They aren’t too hard at all.

Nutrition

Serving:1Ball, Calories:78kcal, Carbohydrates:6g, Protein:2g, Fat:6g, Saturated Fat:2g, Sodium:2mg, Potassium:92mg, Fiber:2g, Sugar:3g, Vitamin C:1mg, Calcium:19mg, Iron:1mg

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Ginny McMeans

Ginny McMeans

Hi, my name is Ginny and it is fantastic that you have come to visit and see my recipes. I have a positive attitude and can’t seem to be in nature enough. My North American bird count is 678 and I’m always watching for mammals and insects too. My head is stuffed full of recipes that I want to create and life is just to dang short. The recipes feature healthy and delicious vegan food that you can enjoy now or freeze for future meals. Read more about me . . .

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