3 Easy & Healthy Date Ball Recipes

by | Jun 27, 2017 | Dessert

Date balls have always been my go-to dessert or dish that I bring to an event or gathering, like I did last week! They were a hit and I’m so excited to share with you these 3 variations:
 
Chocolate
Banana Coconut
and Lemon Cranberry.
 
Medjool dates and shredded coconut are what comprise the base of these 3 recipes. You can use nuts as the base, too, but I prefer coconut for a nut-free option. I hope these recipes inspire you to play around with your own flavour combination!
 
Not only do date balls make a delicious treat, they’re wholesome and nutrient-dense, too. Although sweet no doubt, medjool dates are a great source of fibre and minerals, and the shredded coconut provides a nice punch of healthy fats.

Healthy Date Balls

Chocolate

5 from 4 votes
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Chocolate Date Balls

Makes 12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup medjool dates
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp raw cacao powder

Instructions

  1. Add coconut, salt, and cacao to food processor and process until coconut is finely ground, but not quite a flour.

Add medjool dates and process approximately 10 seconds until dough is formed. Do not over process or you will create a paste.

  1.  additional cacao powder to soak up any moisture/stickiness (optional). Store in refrigerator to keep firm. Enjoy!

Banana Coconut

5 from 4 votes
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Banana Coconut Date Balls

Makes 12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup 1 cup medjool dates (pitted and soaked for 1-2 mins in warm water)
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 ripe banana or 1/2 small banana
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon *optional

Instructions

  1. Add coconut, salt, and cinnamon to food processor and process until coconut is finely ground, but not quite a flour.

  2. Add medjool dates and banana and process approximately 10 seconds until dough is formed. Do not over process or you will create a paste. If dough is too wet, add another 1/4 cup shredded coconut. 

  3. Form into balls, and roll balls in additional shredded coconut. Store in refrigerator to keep firm.

Lemon Cranberry

5 from 4 votes
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Lemon Cranberry Date Balls

Makes 12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup medjool dates (pitted and soaked for 1-2 mins in warm water)
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • squeeze of 1/2 lemon

Instructions

  1. Add coconut and salt to food processor and process until coconut is finely ground, but not quite a flour.

  2. Add cranberries and process further until small pieces. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and medjool dates and process approximately 10 seconds until dough is formed. Do not over process or you will create a paste.

  3. Form into balls. Store in refrigerator to keep firm. Enjoy!


Have you ever made date balls before? Let me know if you try these, and which one is your favourite!
Need visual instructions? Check out my how-to video below:

by Meghan Livingstone

Note: this post may contain affiliate links. Learn more here.

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18 Comments

  1. Corinne

    Can’t wait to make them! I’m so glad I came across your web. Can I keep these in the freezer and for how long? Thank you

    Reply
    • Meghan

      Yay! I’m sure you’ll love them. So yummy! And yep you can keep them in the freezer – they’ll last a good couple of months in there. xx

      Reply
  2. Karolína

    Thank you for these recipes! They are so easy to make and my family loved them!

    Reply
    • Meghan

      Yay! So happy you loved them! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Saima

    5 stars
    Hi
    I’m making the lemon and cranberry one
    Don’t have cranberry right now
    Please tell me a subtitue to it or can I void it and still get some nice balls?

    Thanks hun

    Reply
    • Meghan

      Hi there! You could just make lemon balls if you’d like. I haven’t made them without the cranberries but I’m sure they’d be nice like that!

      Reply
  4. Bevetly

    I came across your site and love it . I have make 3 things so farbin the last 3 days. The vanilla chia bites. Delicious. Your salad in the jar. And deviled eggs and avocado. Delious. I am celiac andvveat Paleo. Make your chocholate blob. Hubby loved it. Please if you can help me with some receipes I would love it. I hate eating the samething over aand over. I am very sensitive to everything. This is now 8 yrs gluten free. Love your whole blog. Beverly Milley

    Reply
    • Meghan

      Yum!! I am so happy you enjoyed those recipes. It’s not fun being so sensitive to different foods. I know how tricky it can be!

      Reply
  5. Jody

    Can these be made with dates that aren’t medjool dates?

    Reply
    • Meghan

      I haven’t made these with other types of dates, but I’m sure it would work out fine! Let me know if you try it out 🙂

      Reply
      • Sanna

        The soak dates , after draining water, do you pat it try w/ paper towel?
        Can I skip sea salt?

        Reply
        • Meghan

          Hi Sanna! You don’t need to pat the dates dry after soaking. Just strain them well. And yep, you can skip the sea salt if you prefer (it just helps bring out the sweetness and enhance the overall flavour!) xx

          Reply
  6. Marilena

    My dear Meghan, just recently I came across your YouTube channel, subscribed and find myself amazed by the way you inspire me to eat healthier! I just made all three energy balls mentioned above, and I don’t really think there will be any left by morning!keep inspiring us!greetings from Greece!

    Reply
    • Meghan

      I’m so happy you loved these! I need to make another batch very soon 😛 xo

      Reply
  7. arielle

    thanks. they are delicious!

    Reply
  8. Elena M Wisniewski

    5 stars
    THESE TASTE LIKE CHRISTMAS and my picky husband loved these. They are so very good. It was my first time ever making balls and I’m so glad I chose the cranberry date lemon ball recipe. They make a good, after dinner sweet treat.

    Reply
  9. Prof

    I was wondering how I could store it and revive it after freezing?

    Reply
    • Meghan

      Hey there! You can just simply thaw them after freezing and keep them in the fridge. Or just take a couple out of the freezer at a time as needed and thaw before eating 🙂 I hope that answers your question!

      Reply

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Meghan Livingstone, CNP

Hi, I’m Meghan. I’m a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, blogger, and YouTuber with a passion for healthy, simple living. I’m here to inspire you to listen to your body, eat wholesomely, and create a fulfilling life.