Chocolate and coconut date balls combine two of my favourite things in an easy, on-the-go snack. I usually make energy balls with sunflower seeds or a combination of seeds and nuts – my walnut cookie dough energy bites were my top pick until this recipe came along.
The base of these is made with hemp hearts, so these are creamy bites with plenty of coconut and a rich chocolate flavour. The hemp just mixes right in with everything else and you don’t even notice it, so it’s more like a chocolate coconut truffle.
Of course dates are pretty high in fruit sugar so don’t go crazy, but it’s still better than a bar of milk chocolate. The protein, fat, and fibre help with slowing down your absorption of the sugars so you shouldn’t crash.
For some more coconut snacks, try this chocolate chip coconut banana bread, chocolate coconut overnight oats, or an easy triple coconut bread.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Dates: this can be any type of date. I usually use the less expensive deglet noor. Soak for half an hour in hot water and drain before blending if the dates are quite dry.
- Coconut: this should be unsweetened and either shredded or desiccated. Don’t use flake coconut.
- Cocoa: any kind is fine. Dutch process will give a milder overall flavour than using raw cacao, but both taste good in the balls.
Recipe Notes
It’s optional to roll the balls in chocolate, and does take a little more time, but adds to the recipe. They are also easier to transport if they have been rolled in coconut and last longer at room temperature this way.
How to Store
Storage: keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freezing: freeze in an airtight container for up to three months. These can be eaten from frozen.
Newsletter
Expert Tips
- Add milk: if the dates are a bit dry, or you sub something else for the hemp, the balls might need a splash of milk to hold together.
- Use hemp hearts: these are hulled hemp seeds, and are soft as is. Hemp seeds contain the hull and are hard and crunchy, not suitable here.
More No-Bake Snacks
Chocolate Chia Mousse
Chocolate Puffed Quinoa Bars
Peanut Butter Puffed Wheat Squares
Chocolate Hemp Energy Bites
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Chocolate Coconut Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- 80 grams hemp hearts
- 50 grams shredded unsweetened coconut
- 120 grams dates soft
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla powder optional
- Tiny pinch salt
- Additional coconut for rolling
Instructions
- Place the hemp, coconut, dates, cocoa, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt into a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, or until a dough that holds when pressed forms.80 grams hemp hearts, 50 grams shredded unsweetened coconut, 120 grams dates, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla powder, Tiny pinch salt
- Use your hands to form small balls, about the size of walnuts, and roll them in the extra coconut. Store in the refrigerator up to one week or in the freezer for up to three months.Additional coconut
* For American cup measurements, please click the pink link text above the ingredient list that says ‘American’.
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
Sabina Husain says
Tastes good! Didn’t hold together so I had to add two splashes of oat milk. Also substituted sunflower seeds for hemp seeds. Thanks!!! 🙂
Alexandra says
Happy to hear it, Sabina! Yes, you’d definitely need some extra moisture if switching out the hemp for sunflower seeds.
Glenn Sadowsky says
made this with the following modifications, as i had some ingredients I wanted to try with this.
1TBS Espresso ground coffee
1TBS Roasted Maca Powder
1TSP maple syrup
substituted 2 Tablespoons of Tahini for the Coconut Oil
added 1TBS Coconut Butter
Incredible! thanks for the idea…
Alexandra Daum says
Absolutely! Unfortunately it's super difficult to find anything in bulk in our city, and everything comes in tiny packages, maximum a kilo! I buy flour several times a week, hah. The less waste the better. Thanks, Traci!
Traci | Vanilla And bean says
So many good things in these little bites, Alexandra. Rob loves having things like this on hand too… you know, when you're hangry, you just want to pop something this good in your mouth! I'm with you on the dates. I buy medjool because they're the only ones in bulk 😀 I've had deglet too and they are good! Beautiful captures my dear! xo
Jessica Hoffman says
Anything with chocolate and I'm in! They look delicious!