Chocolate Coconut Date Balls

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.

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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

If you make this Coconut Chocolate Date Balls or any other snack recipes on Occasionally Eggs, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. For more OE, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, purchase the Occasionally Eggs cookbook, or subscribe for new posts via email.