When you’re craving something sweet and chocolatey, these Chocolate Date Balls are ideal. Made with cocoa powder, pumpkin, and Medjool dates, they are sweet, rich, and provide a great energy boost in the afternoon. Simple to make and requires no baking!
- The Amazing Chocolate Balls
When you’re craving chocolate but don’t want just sugar, you can eat these chocolate balls, also known as date energy balls, as a snack or dessert. They’re incredibly rich and delectable and only require a few ingredients: dates, walnuts, pumpkin puree, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract.
As a quick treat, they will satisfy your chocolate craving, but they’re also satisfying enough to make a great afternoon snack and are ideal for hikes or long car rides.
You might also enjoy these no-bake fudgy snowballs or these pumpkin pistachio date balls.
- Reasons to Love This Recipe for Date Balls
These chocolate balls are AMAZING. Here are some explanations.
No baking is necessary. Simply mix the ingredients, roll the dough into balls, and refrigerate. No stove or oven is needed.
Customization is simple. You can personalize these date energy balls in a variety of ways to suit your tastes. Below is a list of suggested modifications.
Keep well-stored. You can always have these on hand for when you have a craving for chocolate because they keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week and in the freezer for months.
- Things You’ll Need
It only takes a few ingredients to make these date balls. For measurements, scroll down to the recipe card below:
Walnuts: The majority of the walnuts end up mixed in with the other ingredients. Crush the remaining chocolate energy balls and coat them with the nuts.
Dates: Ten pitted Medjool dates are required.
Pumpkin: Use a quarter cup of homemade or canned pureed pumpkin.
Salt: To counterbalance the sweetness, add a pinch of sea salt.
Cocoa Powder: Any type will do, but I used Dutch process cocoa powder.
Vanilla extract: added flavor, add a half teaspoon of vanilla extract.
What distinguishes Medjool dates from regular dates?
Compared to regular dates, also called Deglet Noor dates, which are firmer and less sweet, Medjool dates are larger, softer, and richer. I like Medjool the best, but you can use regular ones instead. It might be necessary to add a few extras because they are smaller than Medjool.
- How to Make Energy Balls for Dates
It only takes a few simple steps to make these chocolate balls. For more thorough instructions, make sure to scroll down to the recipe card:
Make the Walnut Coating: In a food processor, grind a third cup of the walnuts until they resemble coarse sand. For later use, move them to a small bowl.
Prepare each ingredient: Put the rest of the walnuts in the food processor and grind them until they are fine. After adding the dates, pumpkin, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla, process the mixture until it is smooth and well combined.
Construct Balls: After scooping out the mixture, roll it into eight golf-ball-sized balls. In the reserved walnuts, roll each one. You can either serve them right away or keep them in the fridge or freezer.
- Variations of Date Energy Balls
There are numerous ways to personalize these chocolate balls once you have mastered the basic date ball recipe. Here are some recommendations.
Nuts: Use almonds or pecans instead of walnuts.
Nut Allergies: You can use hemp or pumpkin seeds if you’re allergic to nuts.
Pumpkin: Use it in place of mashed banana or another pureed fruit.
Dates: Since they’re smaller than Medjool, use regular dates instead, but add a few extra. Or substitute prunes.
Cocoa Powder: For additional protein, use protein powder instead of cocoa.
Coconut: Mix the dough with the shredded coconut.
- How to Keep Date Chocolate Balls in Storage
Refrigerator: For up to seven days, keep your date energy balls in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Put in the freezer: Additionally, you can freeze them for up to three months. To keep them from sticking together, I suggest flash-freezing them on a baking sheet before moving them to a freezer container or Ziploc bag. Before eating, place them in the refrigerator to thaw or leave them out on the counter for a little while.
- Additional Delicious No-Bake Dessert Recipes
1- Cheesecake Without Baking
2- (Nice Cream) Banana Ice Cream
3- Yogurt Pops with Berries
4- Cream and Strawberries No-Bake Crepe Cake
5- Blueberry, White, and Red Trifle
Instructions:
- Fill a food processor with a metal blade and add 1/3 cup of the walnuts.
- Process until coarse sand-like nuts form. Move to a small bowl and reserve.
- Put the rest of the walnuts in the food processor and grind them until they are fine.
- After adding the dates, pumpkin purée, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla extract, process the mixture until it is smooth.
- Scoop and roll the mixture into eight equal golf-ball-sized balls using a spoon or your hands.
- Serve right away or keep in the refrigerator or freezer after rolling each ball in the reserved walnuts.
Variations:
Nuts: Use almonds or pecans instead of walnuts.
Nut Allergies: You can use hemp or pumpkin seeds if you’re allergic to nuts.
Pumpkin: Use it in place of mashed banana or another pureed fruit.
Dates: Since they’re smaller than Medjool, use regular dates instead, but add a few extra. Or substitute prunes.
Cocoa Powder: For additional protein, use protein powder instead of cocoa.
Coconut: Mix the dough with the shredded coconut.
