Easy Date Protein Balls are the perfect snack packed with protein and energy. These are great for adults and kids, easy to make and you can also freeze them for later. Dates, almonds and coconut are rolled together to the perfect bite sized treat!
Do you ever feel like you just aren’t satisfied? No matter how many snacks you eat, you are still hungry! I think we have all been there. I am sharing one of my favorite go-to snack recipes that gives you both protein and energy and will help you feel satisfied.
These Easy Date Protein Balls are naturally sweetened, super easy to make and they are freezer friendly.
Make a double batch and you will always have one on hand when you need them.
My kids love these in their lunch boxes or as an after-sport snack.
You might remember these Cranberry Almond Energy Bites, Peanut Butter Oatmeal No Bake Bites and these Peanut Butter and Jelly No-Bake Snack Bites which are also my kids favorites!
The best part of energy bites or protein balls is that they are an easy snack that you can keep on hand and feel good about eating and giving to your family. Today’s Date Protein Balls are naturally sweetened with the dates which makes them a great choice! You can easily add dates into your smoothies like in this Banana Date Smoothie or tanginess style dishes like these Moroccan Chicken Thighs.
Recipe Ingredients 
For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.
- Almonds: I used whole roasted, unsalted almonds to help control the salt.
- Medjool Dates: You will want to either buy pitted dates or pit the dates yourself. I really like using medjool dates. When I shop for dates I look for ones that are in the produce or refrigerated section. They should be squishy. The ones that contain pits stay the freshest, longest. If you don’t have soft & squishy dates soak the dates in a bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes to help them soften up and make them easier to work with. Drain the water, then use the dates as directed.
- Desiccate Coconut: I find that if you can use desiccate coconut that works best but you could also use shredded if that is all you have.
- Vanilla Extract: The vanilla extract adds a nice rich flavor to the date balls but isn’t necessary.
- Cacao Powder: I use unsweetened cocoa powder-I suggest you use you use unsweetened cocoa powder and not hot cocoa mix or other cocoa that has been sweetened.
How Do You Make Protein Balls?
These date balls are so easy to make! You will make these time and time again because they are the perfect snack to have on hand.
Step 1: Add Ingredients to Food Processor: Put all ingredients into food processor and blend for a few minutes until everything has come together into a slightly sticky dough.
Step 2: Roll into Balls: Roll a tablespoon of mixture at a time into a ball and set aside on a plate.
Step 3: Dip in Coconut: Dip each ball into a bowl of desiccated coconut to coat every side.
Put the balls in an airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer.
What Can I Use Protein Balls For?
There are so many uses for protein balls in your daily life. Here are some ways we use this snack:
- Camping
- Hiking
- Lunch Boxes
- After-school or sport snack
- Gifts for friends, family or teachers at the holidays
- Add to a snack or appetizer table
Storage Tips
Store the date protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They typically last for about a week. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to three months.
Recipe FAQ
If the mixture is too sticky, add more dry ingredients like oats, nuts, or additional protein powder. If it’s too dry, add a small amount of water, almond milk, or a nut butter like almond or peanut butter.
A food processor is the best tool for blending dates with other ingredients. It ensures a smooth and well-mixed consistency. If you don’t have a food processor, a high-powered blender can work too.
After mixing, chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes. This makes it easier to roll into balls and helps them hold their shape better.
To prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands, slightly dampen your hands with water before rolling the balls.
More Snack Recipes
Vegetarian
Frozen Greek Yogurt Fruit Bites
Vegetarian
Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
Vegetarian
Peanut Butter Oatmeal No Bake Bites
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Easy Date Protein Balls
Video
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup medjool dates
- 1/3 cup desiccated coconut, plus extra for coating
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons cacao powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla protein powder, optional
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend for a few minutes until everything has come together into a slightly sticky dough.
- Roll a tablespoon of the mixture at a time into ball and set aside on a plate.
- Dip each ball into a bowl of desiccated coconut to coat every side.
- Put balls into an airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- If you find that your dough isn’t sticking togther you can add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey or as much as you need to create a sticky dough. Mine dough never needs this but it is a good choice if yours needs it.
- If you find the dough hard to use you can chill the dough in the refrigerator after mixing. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes. This makes it easier to roll into balls and helps them hold their shape better.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks for sharing a useful blog on Easy Date Protein Balls. You mentioned the tasty and healthy ingredients and gave instructions, which will help to prepare it at home easily. It is healthy and delicious. I like your blog and also prefer organic products. Keep up the new and innovative work! I look forward to more of your posts.
This came together so well! I made a few small changes just to use up the ingredients I wanted to use. Didn’t have coconut but I added chestnuts and dried cranberries. So so good! You don’t want to over process them so check your progress as soon as the ingredients are no longer hard/loose in the processor bowl.
I am so glad you enjoyed these! Love the idea of adding chestnuts.
I needed to add quite I bit of extra wet ingredients to make this come together. 2 spoonfuls almond butter and 1 spoonful honey. In the end i was able to make it into balls!
I wonder how these would turn out if I used almond flour instead of grinding up almonds? My food processor isn’t the best, but I do have almond flour… thoughts? Maybe I’ll just give it a whirl and see what happens!
I think you could try it and see! Let me know how it works.
Hi Julia. These are great! Any chance you have the nutritional breakdown per ball?
I don’t – sorry! But you could enter it into a fitness tracking app or website and try to get the nutritional breakdown that way. Sorry!