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Home » Dessert » No Bake Desserts

Date Coconut Protein Balls

Published: Oct 28, 2022 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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Looking for a nutrient-dense snack?  These delicious date protein balls give you lots of protein and fiber, and are lightly sweet with hints of chocolate, coconut, and date.  Whip these up in your food processor in a flash!

Looking for more healthy snacks? Try these vegan protein balls and coconut protein balls.

person holding half of a date coconut protein ball

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Store
  • Variations
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe
  • Comments

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Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for date coconut protein balls

Curious what you need to make these date coconut protein balls? Here's a look at the key ingredients.

  • Dates: Make sure to use medjool dates rather than deglet noor dates, as they have a slightly different flavor and are more sticky.  Whitish patches on the dates don't mean that they have gone bad; it means that the sugars in the dates have crystallized.  Soak the dates in hot water for 10 minutes before using.
  • Nuts: You can use almost any unsalted nut in protein balls, but we chose to use almonds here.  Feel free to substitute with walnuts, peanuts, or pecans.
  • Seeds: We chose to use flaxseed and chia seeds, but feel free to swap these out for your favorite seeds instead.
  • Protein Powder: We used vegan protein powder made from peas and quinoa, plus some cocoa powder for color and flavor.  Feel free to use your favorite protein powder here.
  • Binders: While the dates are the key binding agent holding these balls together, a lot of times the mixture will be dry and need additional help.  Adding a couple tablespoons of water to moisten the mixture and ¼ cup of honey to sweeten it will help bind everything together.

How to Make

Gather the ingredients for the date coconut protein balls.

blending ingredients in a food processor for date coconut protein balls
  1. Pulse the almonds and the protein powder in a food processor until the nuts are finely chopped.
  2. Pulse the dates until they clump together.
adding more ingredients to food processor and blending

3. Add the remaining ingredients, including ½ cup of the coconut flakes.

4. Pulse until well combined.

date coconut mixture rolled into balls

5. Add the almond mixture, the honey, and some water if needed.  Blend the ingredients together until they form a dough that can hold its shape when rolled into a ball.

6. Roll the mixture into 24 balls, each weighing about 30 grams.

date coconut protein balls with coconut

7. Roll each ball in coconut flakes. You may have a little coconut flakes left over.

8. Enjoy this healthy snack!

Recipe FAQs

Are protein balls healthy?

Yes, they are! This snack is full of nutrients, and is high in fiber and protein to boost energy and aid in muscle growth. Plus, they are often made with superfoods like chia seeds, and usually are lower in sugar than other desserts. They're a great choice as a snack or post-workout food.

How many calories are in a date protein ball?

Each ball (30g) contains 121 calories, 4.6g fat, 18.2g carbs, and 3.3g protein. For the full nutrition facts, please scroll to the bottom of the recipe card.

Are protein balls good for losing weight?

Yes, they are a good healthy snack for those watching their calories. Since these are a nutrient dense, high calorie food, it's recommended to only have one or two balls a day if you're watching what you eat.

Do protein balls need to be refrigerated?

These date coconut balls, like most others, don't need to be refrigerated. However, if you feel that they would keep better that way, you can store them in the fridge.

Store

Storage: Seal the date coconut balls inside of a zip-top bag or airtight container to prevent them from absorbing odors from other foods. Keep them on the counter if you live in a cool climate, or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing: Freeze them for up to 6 months.  Defrost individual balls by letting them sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before enjoying.

Variations

  • Vegan: swap the honey for agave nectar or date syrup.
  • Nut Free: simply leave out the almonds.
  • Extra Chocolate: use chocolate protein powder and add mini chocolate chips to the dough.

Expert Tips

  • Are the dates dried out or crystallized?  Soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before using.
  • Make sure the protein powder doesn't have a strong flavor or aftertaste.
  • Depending upon how sticky your dates are, you may have to add water and/or honey to get the mixture to be rollable.

Other No Bake Treats You'll Love

  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
  • No Bake Cherry Cheesecake
  • Nanaimo Bars
  • Frozen Grasshopper Pie

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Recipe

person holding half of a date coconut protein ball

Date Coconut Protein Balls

These date coconut protein balls are packed with protein, and have a delicious chocolate flavor and chewy texture from the medjool dates. These healthy energy bites are vegan friendly, raw, and no bake.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: energy balls with dates, protein balls with dates
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 24 balls
Calories: 119kcal
Author: Emma

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup almonds
  • ⅓ cup protein powder
  • 2 cups medjool dates, pitted (12 ounces)
  • 1 cup coconut flakes
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup honey, or agave nectar for vegans
  • 2-4 tablespoons water

Instructions

  • Pulse the almonds and protein powder in a food processor until the almonds are in small pieces.
  • Add the whole pitted dates to the processor and pulse until the mixture is chopped and comes together.
  • Add ½ cup of coconut flakes, the cocoa powder, flaxseed, chia seeds, vanilla, salt, and honey, then pulse until blended. If the mixture is too dry to roll into balls, add some of the water, pulsing until the mixture comes together into a dough.
  • Roll the dough into 2 tablespoon-sized balls, each weighing approximately 30g.  Then, roll each ball in the remaining coconut flakes.
  • These balls will keep at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks if they are stored in an airtight container.  They can freeze for up to 6 months.

Notes

  • Are the dates dried out or crystallized?  Soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before using.
  • Make sure the protein powder doesn't have a strong flavor or aftertaste.
  • Depending upon how sticky your dates are, you may have to add the water and/or extra honey.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ballCalories: 119kcal (6%)Carbohydrates: 16g (5%)Protein: 3g (6%)Fat: 6g (9%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mg (1%)Sodium: 54mg (2%)Potassium: 176mg (5%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 12g (13%)Vitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 39mg (4%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Our Date Coconut Protein Balls was originally published on January 8, 2021 and was updated on October 28, 2022.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vicki

    November 23, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    These balls are the bomb!!! Soft, flavorful, coconutty and delicious!! Shared with my Mom and daughter and they are requesting more!! 5 stars!!

    Reply
    • Emma

      November 23, 2022 at 10:05 pm

      That's amazing to hear, Vicki! We're thrilled that these energy bites are such a hit with your family!

      Reply
  2. Alex

    January 08, 2021 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    The protein ball is soft and easy to bite into with a little but of crunch from the chia seeds. I love the flavor of coconut in these balls! The occasional crunch of almond is yummy.

    Reply
    • Emma

      January 08, 2021 at 7:23 pm

      Thank you, Alex!

      Reply
  3. Beth

    January 08, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    5 stars
    The dates and chocolate blend together nicely. I enjoy the coconut flakes on the outside. These energy balls are yummy and fruity, good for snacking when one needs a burst of energy. They're great for keeping in the freezer to pull out whenever one needs them.

    Reply
    • Emma

      January 08, 2021 at 7:23 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed these so much.

      Reply

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