These healthy pistachio date balls are made with just 5 ingredients - all paleo, vegan and gluten free. They have a chewy date and pistachio filling that's coated in dark chocolate. This is the perfect dessert to stash in the freezer and grab when a sweet craving hits.

Date and pistachio balls dipped in chocolate.

Not going to lie, I kinda like that both pistachios and dates are having a "moment".

I feel like the last few years, both foods have taken over social media. While I tend not to hop on board trends, I do love both of these foods and creating a dessert using the two was an easy "yes" for me!

These pistachio date balls have a sticky, chewy filling that's made with dates and pistachios. They're encased in a dark chocolate shell and I love finishing them with a pinch of flaked salt (optional, but so good).

Even better, these balls are gluten free, paleo and vegan friendly; so fit most dietary needs. They store well in the freezer, so you can make them ahead of time for an event or just keep a stash for when those chocolate cravings hit.

Why You'll Love these Pistachio Date Balls

5 ingredients - you can't go wrong with a 5 ingredient dessert that tastes this good!
paleo and vegan - made with simple, minimally processed ingredients you can feel good about eating
easy to make - just blend filling, roll into balls, freeze and then dip in melted dark chocolate.
store well - I love stashing them in the freezer, where they maintain their chewy texture and decadent taste.

Holding a date ball that's been cut in half.

Ingredients

You can find the full recipe for these date and pistachio balls in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need:

Dates - you'll need to remove the pits from the dates or buy ones that already have the pits removed. I used Medjool dates, but any variety will work.
Pistachios - I used roasted and salted pistachios. If you use ones without salt, then I recommend adding a pinch of salt to the filling mixture.
Vanilla Extract - optional for added flavor.
Dark Chocolate - to coat the filling. If you don't want a chocolate coating, then you can roll the balls in shredded coconut or hemp seeds instead. The filling is pretty sticky, so I would recommend some sort of coating for them.
Coconut Oil - to thin the chocolate, making the fillings easier to dip

Ingredients needed to make pistachio date balls.

How to Make Pistachio Date Balls

The filling for these pistachio date bites is made in a food processor and then rolled into balls. They're frozen, then dipped in melted dark chocolate. Here are the step by step instructions:

Soak the dates in hot water. To do this, place the dates in a small bowl and heat a pot of water. Once hot, pour the water over the dates, fully submerging them. Let the dates sit for 5 minutes, then drain the water.

Place the dates, pistachios and vanilla in your food processor.

Blend, stopping every so often to scrape down the sides, until the mixture forms a sticky ball in the food processor.

Roll the mixture into balls, each about 1 tablespoon in size. Then place them in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil. Grab the balls from the freezer and dip them in the melted chocolate.

Optional: drizzle any remaining chocolate over the balls and top with a pinch of flaked sea salt.

Tips and Tricks

Soak the dates. Soaking the dates in hot water will soften them, making them easier to blend and giving the filling a sticky caramel texture.
Have patience rolling the balls. The filling is quite sticky - it will coat your hands. If you want, you can dust the balls in coconut flour and then roll them to help with this.
Freeze the balls before dipping them in dark chocolate. This step will make dipping the balls SO much easier! They will hold their shape and the chocolate will set faster.
Store in freezer. I prefer storing these in the freezer, especially if adding salt. Flaked salt will melt in a humid environment, but will maintain its shape in the freezer. The date balls don't get rock solid in the freezer - they keep their chewy texture.

Coated and decorated pistachio date balls.

Storage

These bites need to be stored in an airtight container or baggie. They can be kept at room temperature for a couple days, in the fridge for a couple weeks, or in the freezer up to three months.

I like keeping these pistachio balls in the freezer, as they keep their chewy texture and the salt doesn't melt due to moisture.

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