Looking for a nutrient-dense snack that's packed with fiber and protein? You're in the right place! These delicious date protein balls give you lots of protein and fiber, and are lightly sweet with hints of chocolate, coconut, and date. They only take a few minutes to whip up in your food processor, and you'll be munching on this healthy snack in no time.
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Ingredients
- Dates: Make sure to use medjool dates rather than deglet noor, 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 them in hot water for 10 minutes before using.
- Nuts: You can use almost any unsalted nut in protein balls, but I chose to use almonds here. Feel free to substitute with walnuts, peanuts, or pecans.
- Seeds: I chose to use flaxseed and chia seeds, but feel free to swap these out for your favorite seeds instead.
- Protein Powder: I'm using 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 protein 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 protein balls.
- Pulse the almonds and the protein powder in a food processor until the nuts are finely chopped.
- Pulse the dates until they clump together.
3. Add the remaining ingredients.
4. Pulse until well combined.
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.
7. Roll each ball in coconut flakes.
8. Enjoy this healthy, high-protein snack!
Recipe FAQs
Why are date protein balls good for you?
- Full of nutrients
- High in fiber and protein to boost energy and aid in muscle growth
- Often made with superfoods like chia seeds
- Usually lower in sugar than other desserts
How many protein balls should I have in a day?
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. Each date protein 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.
How do you store protein balls?
It's best to keep protein balls sealed inside of a zip-top bag or airtight container to prevent them from absorbing odors from other foods.
How long do date protein balls last?
Keep them on the counter if you live in a cool climate, or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also 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.
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Recipe
Date Coconut Protein Balls
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
- 2-4 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Pulse the almonds and protein powder in a food processor until the almonds are in small pieces. Pour the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- Add the whole pitted dates to the processor and pulse until the dates are chopped and clump together.
- Add ½ cup of coconut flakes, the cocoa powder, flaxseed, chia seeds, vanilla, and salt and pulse until blended.
- If the mixture is too dry to roll into balls, add the honey and 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 protein ball in the remaining coconut flakes.
- These protein 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.
Alex
These energy balls are chewy and chocolatey. The coconut adds a nice, sweet flavor on the outside.
Emma
Thank you, Alex!
Beth
The dates and chocolate blend together nicely. I enjoy the coconut flakes on the outside. These are yummy, soft energy balls.
Emma
I'm glad you enjoyed these so much.