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This post is all about the best chocolate coconut dates balls. These are the perfect snack for on the go or serve as an appetizer to make for friends.
The Best Chocolate Coconut Date Balls
If you follow us on Instagram, we asked you if you wanted the recipe to these delicious coconut energy balls, so…we’re giving you what you wanted!
Energy balls are one of our favorite snacks. They are packed with nutrients and give you and energizing boost. We love making these to take with us on the go. They are perfect road trip snacks or for traveling on the plane!
These chocolate coconut dates balls are perfect for serving as an appetizer at parties as well. Your guests will love these rich and chocolatey bites.
What’s in this recipe?
Dates: The dates are what give these energy balls a rich and decedent sweetness. They complement the chocolatey flavor of the cacao powder, and creates a sticky base for the other ingredients to gel together.
Slivered Almonds: Slivered almonds add a raw and crunchy texture to the energy bites. When making energy balls, we prefer to use almonds over other types of nuts. Feel free to substitute almonds with your nut of choice, if you prefer something different. However slivered almonds seem to blend a little better in the food processor.
Cacao Powder: Cacao powder adds the chocolate flavor the date balls. It’s bitter flavor melts so well together with the sweet dates and shredded coconut.
Shredded Coconut: We added the shredded coconut in the date ball and dusted the outside with it. The shredded coconut adds the perfect flavor to the recipe as well.
Why You Should Use a Food Processor
We’ve tried using every sort of tool to make energy balls. From choppers, to blenders and mini food processors, we’ve done it all. Through trial and error, we can say that using a larger food processor is the way to go.
When we were testing out this recipe to put on the blog, we still had a mini food processor. The downfall to the mini food processor was that it didn’t fit all the ingredients for the recipe, and it didn’t have enough power to blend all the ingredients. In fact, as we were blending all the ingredients together, the motor began to smoke and we had to quickly run it outside before it caught fire!
All that to say, we now only recommend using a large food processor. This will help for sure fit all the ingredients in this recipe and have the power to blend the ingredients without overpowering the motor.
This is an affordable food processor we have our eye on and are looking into purchasing. It’s budget friendly and will get the job done!
These energy bites are the perfect combination of chocolate, almond and coconut. If you love the taste of Almond Joys, you will love these! It’s a much healthier option for a snack, and will satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
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The Best Chocolate Coconut Date Balls
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 8 oz pitted dates
- 2 cups almonds
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- a sprinkle salt
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 3 tbsp coconut milk
Instructions
- Pour dates into food processor or small high powered blender. Blend until dates clump and form a ball.
- Disperse dates in food processor with hands, add in almonds, cocoa powder, shredded coconut and salt. Process ingredients until well blended. It may help to scrape the sides to help process the ingredients better.
- Add almond extract and almond milk to the food processor. Blend the ingredients until well blended (A somewhat sticky, balled mixture should form)
- Remove mixture from food processor and roll into equal sized balls. It should make between 10-12 energy balls.
- With the additional 1/4 cup of shredded coconut, add it to the food processor. Blend for 30-60 secs or until shreds form a dusting of coconut. Pour coconut dust into a bowl.
- Roll each energy ball in the coconut dust. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate (up to 7 days).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Cuisine: American
That’s all for this post, showing you how to make the best chocolate coconut date balls! Happy baking!
Let us know in the comments below if you’ve tried them and what other snacks you would like to see us make + share with you!
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