Posted Jan 19, 2016, Updated Jul 19, 2024 Pregnancy changed my taste buds forever. There are many foods I once enjoyed that I no longer do, but much more noteworthy are the foods that I used to feel nothing about that are now the center of my world. One such food is coconut. I used to not care much about it, but during my pregnancies I craved coconut all the time (so I made these healthy no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies regularly). I don’t know how I ever lived without it. So, I created this Coconut Date Balls recipe because I wanted a healthy snack that was sweet but not chocolate (if you want chocolate, try these chocolate date balls), filled with lots and lots of coconut. They are paleo & vegan, plus, dates are a pregnancy staple that help tone the uterus to prepare for labor!
Coconut Date Balls: Ingredients & Substitutions
There are only 5 ingredients in this cashew energy balls recipe! Let’s discuss them, as well as possible substitutions.
Dates. Use pitted dates, or remove the pits from your dates. I suggest using Medjool dates or Deglet Noor dates. Coconut. Use unsweetened coconut. It can be shredded, flaked, etc. it doesn’t matter because it will be processed with the other ingredients. Cashews. I don’t recommend substituting the cashews (if you want a different energy ball recipe try these or these). But a combination of 1 cup of any nuts will work. Almond butter. Feel free to substitute whatever type of nut/seed butter you prefer. Cashew butter is a great choice.
How to Make Coconut Date Balls
These Coconut Date Balls take 5 minutes to make and it’s really simple. Here are some tips on the process to ensure your success. I always process the dates first for two reasons. 1) I like to make sure there are no surprise pits in them and 2) they take the longest to process well so getting them started first ensures you won’t over-process these coconut date energy balls! Once the dates are slightly processed, add the rest of the ingredients. Process until the mixture starts to clump together. It should hold together when pinched.
Portion and Roll
Once the mixture easily pinches together, use a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to portion out even amounts of the mixture. Then roll them into balls and place them in an airtight container.
Chill
I prefer to eat these coconut date balls cold. So I recommend chilling or freezing them before eating. However, you can eat them at room temperature as well!
Store/Freeze
Store these energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
