These coconut date energy balls are made with just 4 ingredients - all gluten free, dairy free and paleo friendly. They have a chewy date and coconut filling that's coated in a dark chocolate shell. They're perfect for a sweet snack or satisfying dessert!
My truffle/chocolate/energy ball collection has been steadily growing this year and I hope no one's complaining! I love how easy these recipes are to throw together, but how decadent the outcome is (in both taste and looks).
Bites like this are my go-to dessert. I love that I can make a batch with minimal ingredients and stash them in the freezer to have throughout the week.
These coconut date energy balls are made with just 4 ingredients. They have a chewy date and coconut filling that's coated in dark chocolate. They don't take long to throw together and they're perfect for a simple, satisfying dessert. Plus, they're made with healthy ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
Why You'll Love these Coconut Date Energy Balls
- only 4 ingredients - made with minimal ingredients that you probably already have on hand
- paleo and vegan - no gluten, no grains, no dairy, no refined sugar
- easy to make - just blend the filling in a food processor, shape into balls and dip in melted chocolate.
- store well - you can keep these in the fridge or freezer and they maintain their texture and flavor for months.
Ingredients
The full recipe for these coconut date balls can be found in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need:
- shredded coconut - you'll need unsweetened shredded coconut. Flaked coconut will work too.
- dates - I used Medjool dates, but any variety will work.
- salt - just a pinch for flavor.
- dark chocolate - I used Pascha Chocolate's paleo chocolate chips, but any chocolate will work.
How to Make Coconut and Date Energy Balls
These coconut balls are made in a food processor, rolled into balls and then dipped in melted chocolate. Here are the steps:
- Combine the coconut, dates and salt in a food processor.
- Blend, stopping here and there to scrape down the sides.
- Keep blending until the mixture is well combined and has a sticky texture that can be pressed together and hold its shape.
- Form the mixture into balls, each about 1 tablespoon in size. Place on a lined baking sheet and freeze at least 30 minutes.
- Melt the dark chocolate. One at a time, dip the balls into the melted chocolate. Place back on the lined baking sheet to set.
- You can drizzle any remaining chocolate over the balls and top with a pinch of flaked coconut.
Tips and Tricks
- Be patient - it takes time for the filling to blend and get the right texture. If your filling won't hold together after 5 minutes of blending, then you can add more dates and blend again.
- Freeze the fillings - freezing the fillings before dipping them in dark chocolate makes the process easier.
- Top with coconut - topping your coconut date balls with shredded coconut gives them a nicer look. Instead of coconut, you could also try topping them with flaked salt or sprinkles.
Storage
Keep these coconut date bites in an airtight baggie or container and store in the fridge or freezer. They are best eaten within a month if stored in the fridge, 6 months in the freezer. These balls do get quite solid in the freezer, so you will want to let them defrost a few minutes before eating them.
FAQ
The filling needs to blend for 4-6 minutes to fully combine. If it still isn't working for you, then add more dates and blend again. The more dates you add, the chewier, more caramel-like the filling will be. Also note, the filling is more so pressed into balls than rolled.
Yes! Feel free to add any other nut/seeds to the filling, such as hemp seeds, almonds or pecans. You can also mix in other dried fruits.
The filling is super oily when forming into balls, but you won't notice it after freezing the balls and dipping them in dark chocolate. If you don't want to dip the fillings in dark chocolate, you can roll them in cocoa powder instead and that will soak up some of the moisture too.
More Recipes You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Coconut Date Energy Balls
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Freeze Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 balls 1x
Description
Healthy energy balls made with just 4 ingredients - coconut, dates, salt and dark chocolate.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (96g)
- ½ cup pitted Medjool dates (about 10 dates)
- pinch of salt
Coating
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Make the filling: combine the coconut, dates and salt in a food processor.
- Blend, stopping here and there to scrape down the sides.
- Keep blending until the mixture is well combined and has a sticky texture that can be pressed together and hold its shape.
- Form the mixture into balls, each about 1 tablespoon in size. Place them on a lined baking sheet and freeze at least 30 minutes.
- Make the coating: place the dark chocolate in a small microwaveable dish. Microwave on high at 20-30 second intervals, stirring between.
- Grab the fillings from the freezer. One at a time, dip the balls into the melted chocolate. Place them back on the lined baking sheet to set.
- You can drizzle any remaining chocolate over the balls and top with a pinch of flaked coconut.
- Store in the fridge or freezer.
Katie
Enjoy!