Date Energy Balls
Updated Jun 14, 2025
Date energy balls made with 3 ingredients, including medjool dates, pecans, and a little salt. Roll in coconut to finish them off. Takes 10 minutes to make!
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My date energy balls are so good!
These Date Energy Balls are one of my favorite simple pantry recipes for quick snacking. I love having a batch of these energy bites in my fridge to grab and go when I need a fast snack! Plus, they’re vegan, gluten-free, and Whole30 compliant… and I only need three ingredients (though you can add in as many mix-ins as you like, but I usually just go with dates, pecans, and coconut flakes).
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Date Energy Ball Ingredients
- Pecans: I love the meaty texture of pecans for this recipe, but you can use any kind of finely chopped nuts you like… or even nut butter!
- Dates: Dates are a natural sweetener for the energy balls, but feel free to add in raisins, apricots, or cranberries if you have them as well.
- Coconut: I like to use desiccated coconut, which is finer in texture, think ground vs. shredded, but shredded coconut works just as well. I prefer unsweetened, but you can use sweetened if you like.
- Extras: I love customizing these with whatever I have in the pantry! Things like rolled oats, seeds (chia, flax, hemp, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds), chocolate chips, or even warm spices (nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, or cloves).
How to Make Date Energy Balls
Date Energy Balls
Video
Ingredients
- 10-12 medjool dates
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- Pinch sea salt
- ¼ cup desiccated coconut or shredded coconut
Instructions
- Pit the medjool dates and soak them in warm water for 10 minutes until they soften
- Place the pitted dates and pecans in the bowl of a large food processor. Blend on high until a thick “dough” is formed and the mixture feels sticky.
- Scoop about 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture and use your hands to roll it into a ball. If you have time you can let them set in the fridge for 5 minutes.
- Roll the energy bites into desiccated or shredded coconut pressing gently so they adhere. Makes about 12-14 bites.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
If you try this Coconut Date Balls recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe.
Recipe Tips
- Add extra sticky ingredients if your mixture is too dry. If my base isn’t rolling into a ball easily, I usually add more sticky ingredients like dates, nut butters, or honey/maple syrup. You can also add a couple tablespoons of water to help.
- Add extra dry ingredients if your mixture is too wet and gooey. Oats, almond meal, and protein powder are all great additions if your batter is feeling too dry. Just be sure to throw them in the food processor to help the mixture set well.
- Soak your dates before blending. I like pre-soaking my dates in water to help them soften and plump up so they combine easily with the other ingredients.
- Allow 30 minutes for your mixture to chill. Chilling will make your mixture easier to roll into balls! Plus, it’ll help your flavors set.
FAQs
Once you’ve made your energy balls, separate them by layer with parchment paper in an airtight container. They’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 10 days!
Yes! You can freeze your date balls in the same way for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat ’em, just defrost them in the fridge overnight before enjoying.
I’d definitely recommend using a blender because it’ll chop and combine your ingredients most thoroughly, but you can chop everything as finely as possible and mix it all together by hand.
Comments
I’ve added a whole hazelnut inside each of the balls then covered them in 85% cocoa chocolate and sprinkled them with fine cut walnuts. The sweetness of dates goes perfectly with dark chocolate!
Yum, that sounds so good!! Love your tweaks, Aleksandra! Thanks for the inspiration!!
What other nut can I replace pecans with?
Walnuts or almonds would be delicious!
I used pistachios and they were delicious
What amount of pistachios did you use in lieu of pecans? Thank you
I used the same amount as listed for the pecans, 2 cups!
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