No-Bake Date Balls are naturally sweet and packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats; they are a delicious, healthy sweet treat. They’re raw, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and are made using only 4 ingredients!
If you are looking for more easy healthy no-bake date treats, try my chocolate salami or the chocolate hummus recipe next!
Why You'll Love These Date Balls
Naturally sweet, fudgy, and made with just 4 wholesome ingredients, these no-bake date balls are one of the easiest snacks to keep on hand. Dates and a little coconut oil bind everything together, while walnuts add protein and healthy fats. Just toss everything into a food processor, blend, and roll into balls—no baking required!
They’re raw, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and they store beautifully in the fridge or freezer for weeks. Enjoy them as a pre-workout snack, an afternoon pick-me-up, or anytime you need a quick energy boost.
If you’re looking for more delicious healthy sweet treats, be sure to check out my other Healthy Dessert recipes!
-maria doss
★★★★★
"Thank you for such a detailed recipe!!! Made it today, so delicious!! Thank you!!"
-JASMYN
Jump to:
Date Balls Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Dates – I prefer using Medjool dates for their rich, caramel-like flavor and soft, chewy texture, which blends smoothly and naturally sweetens the date power balls without the need for added sugar like honey or maple syrup.
- Walnuts – Raw walnuts bring a rich, earthy flavor and provide healthy fats, making the energy bites more satisfying and nutritious.
- Cocoa Powder – I use Dutch-processed cocoa powder because it’s smoother, less bitter, and better suited for raw recipes. I explain more in the roundup post of cocoa powder recipes!
- Coconut Oil – A small amount of coconut oil helps bind the mixture together and allows the bliss bites to firm up perfectly when chilled, while also adding healthy fats.
Tips for Success
- Use soft dates – Medjool dates are ideal for this date chocolate balls recipe thanks to their sweet, caramel-like flavor and natural moisture, which helps the dough bind. If you're using dry Deglet Noor dates, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain well before blending.
- Blender tip – If you're using a blender instead of a food processor, start by grinding the walnuts and cocoa powder into a fine powder first. Then add the dates and coconut oil and pulse until the mixture comes together.
- Remove the pits – It may seem obvious, but don’t forget to remove the pits from your dates before blending!
- Customize the recipe – For a deeper, richer chocolate flavor, simply add more cocoa powder to taste.
- Storage - Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. They also freeze well and will keep for about 3 months in the freezer. Just thaw in the fridge before eating—or enjoy them straight from the freezer (I often do!).
More Yummy No-Bake Dates Recipes
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below, and we’ll send the link straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more creative recipe ideas every Sunday!
Date Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts
- 6 large Medjool dates (3.2 oz or 92 gms without pits)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Grind. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend for 1–2 minutes, or until finely ground and the mixture starts to come together.👉 Stop the food processor and scrape down the sides as needed, then continue blending until as fine as possible. Don’t add water or milk, even if the mixture looks dry at first. As it blends, the natural oils from the walnuts and coconut oil will release and provide enough moisture to bring everything together.
- Knead. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and gently knead it a few times with your hands until it comes together into a cohesive dough. The warmth from your hands helps bring everything together and makes the mixture easier to shape.
- Shape. Use a 1-tablespoon measure to portion the dough, then roll each portion between your palms to form smooth balls. The mixture may feel slightly sticky or greasy as you roll, but don’t worry—it will firm up nicely once chilled. Store the date balls in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make date balls?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
1 & 2. Add dates, cocoa powder, walnuts, and coconut oil to a food processor. process for 1 to 2 minutes or until finely ground.
3 to 5. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and mix with a spoon, to combine. Make 1 tablespoon measure balls, pinch them with your fingertips to hold them together, and roll them into balls, between the palm of your hands. Store in the refrigerator.
Pro tip: The date nut balls might be slightly sticky, and a bit greasy when rolling. However, they will firm up upon refrigeration.
Date Balls Variations
- Different Nuts – Switch things up by using toasted almonds, cashews, pecans, or even shredded coconut for a different flavor and texture. I also have a pecan date balls recipe using toasted pecans!
- Spices – Add warmth and depth with a pinch of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, or a splash of vanilla extract—perfect for giving your energy balls a cozy, fall-inspired twist.
- Seeds – Mix in chia seeds, flax seeds, or hemp seeds for extra crunch, fiber, and a boost of nutrition.
- Chocolate Chips – Stir in a handful of mini chocolate chips before rolling for an extra hint of indulgence.
- Cover them - Roll the freshly rolled date chocolate balls in shredded coconut, minced walnuts or cocoa powder. We did the same for our no bake oatmeal balls!
Dates Balls FAQ'S
Not at all! Medjool dates are naturally sweet with a delicious caramel-like flavor, but the walnuts and unsweetened cocoa balance that sweetness beautifully. The result is a rich, chocolatey bite that tastes sweet without being overly sugary.
A food processor is the easiest option because it breaks down the dates and walnuts evenly and gives you more control over the texture. But you can use a high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix, with a few adjustments.
First, blend the walnuts and cocoa powder into a fine, crumbly mixture. Then add the dates and coconut oil and pulse until everything comes together. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides a few times, since the mixture can be quite thick.
If the mixture is crumbling, it may just need more processing. Return it to the food processor and blend until the dates and walnuts break down into a soft, pliable mixture that holds together when pressed.
If it still feels dry, your dates may have been on the firmer side. Add 1–2 more dates and process again. If it’s still difficult to shape, add 1–2 teaspoons of melted coconut oil to help bring everything together.
Yes, but keep in mind that Deglet Noor dates are smaller and firmer than Medjool dates, so they don’t provide quite as much moisture or stickiness.
If you’re substituting, use the dates by weight rather than counting them. Soak them in water for at least 30 minutes, then drain well and pat completely dry before adding them to the food processor.
If your Medjool dates are soft and sticky, there’s no need to soak them. But if they’re dry, firm, refrigerated, or difficult to process, soaking can help soften them and make blending much easier.
If you do soak the dates, drain them very well and pat them completely dry before processing. Extra moisture can make the date balls too soft and can also shorten their shelf life.
Date balls are simple no-bake bites made by blending dates with nuts and other ingredients until the mixture becomes sticky enough to roll into balls. Dates naturally provide both sweetness and binding, so you don’t need much else to make them come together.
Whether you call them date balls, date nut balls, date protein balls, cocoa date balls, or date and walnut balls, they’re an easy, wholesome snack to keep on hand whenever you need a little something sweet.
More recipes using dates
If you love naturally sweet, no-refined-sugar treats, you’ll want to try these healthy Medjool date recipes. From no-bake snacks to better-for-you desserts, dates add natural sweetness, fiber, and richness—making them a perfect ingredient for wholesome, guilt-free indulgence. Here are some delicious ways to use them:
- Almond joy stuffed dates have all the classic flavors of the beloved almond joy candy — only so much healthier! Soft Medjool dates are filled with a creamy coconut mixture, dipped in dark chocolate, and topped with a whole almond.
- Raw chocolate salami is the healthiest treat you'll eat! Made with 4 wholesome ingredients like dates, cocoa powder, nuts, and coconut oil, it is my favorite go-to snack to store in the fridge.
- This chocolate hummus recipe is the healthiest sweet hummus dip you'll make at home. It is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened using dates.
- This date and banana smoothie is naturally sweet, nutrient-packed, and surprisingly decadent—thanks to soft Medjool dates.
- No bake date and nut bars are made using wholesome, nutritious ingredients and are amazingly healthy. They are raw, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and require only 5 minutes of prep time.
- This date caramels is the healthiest homemade candy ever!
MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💚 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love to hear your feedback! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Facebook.
Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Divya Ganapathy
Thank you
I made it yummy
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
cindy3539
Delicious. I used pecans.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
Jasmyn
Thank you for such a detailed recipe!!! Made it today, so delicious!! Thank you!!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡
Kim
I’ve made this numerous times now and love it. I do not add oil as I find it gets greasy enough from the walnuts once it’s mixed fine enough. I also add a few more dates and sometimes dried cherries.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡
Martie Summerfield
Is there something I can substitute for the coco powder as I really do not like chocolate but I do like the id a bit d the balls.
Thanks.
Maria Doss
Hi Martie, You can skip the cocoa powder and try the recipe without it, but you might want to increase the walnuts a bit to balance out the sweetness, since the cocoa powder helps cut it. Hope it helps - Maria