Using dried dates is a smart, sugar-free way to sweeten all sorts of easy vegan date energy balls and truffles, as demonstrated by this impressive array of recipes. Incorporating nuts, nut butters, seeds, coconut, dark chocolate, sweet spices and other good-for-you ingredients, these are delectable treats you’ll feel good about snacking on and sharing with family and friends.
These date energy balls are no-bake and each relies on just a few well-chosen ingredients. They’re perfect as a grab-and-go treat, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up to enjoy with coffe, tea, or plant-based milk, and are even delicious enough to serve for dessert when you don’t have time to bake.
Date varieties
Medjool dates are large, with a soft, wrinkled skin and an exceptionally sugary flavor. Deglet Noor are smaller with a smoother skin. Less common are Zahidi dates, which fall in between the latter two in terms of size; these are less sweet and lighter in color.
There are others, but these three (especially the first two) are the ones most commonly found in Western markets. Though some may beg to differ, these dates may be used interchangeably in recipes.
You’ll find dried dates in natural foods stores or well-stocked supermarkets, in bulk or in containers. See lots more about this amazing fruit in this site’s Guide to Dried Dates.
Dates are a good source of minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium. They contain moderate amounts of vitamins A, B, and C, and are fairly high in fiber.
Thanks to the talented bloggers who participated in this roundup for permission to use their photos and link to their delicious recipes. Do you want more date desserts of all kinds? Make sure to explore …
Easy Vegan Date Desserts — Cookies, Bars, Caramels, & More
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Chocolate Almond Date Truffles: From Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen, serve a plate of these truffles for dessert or just have one to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Vegan Maca Chocolate Nut Butter Truffles: A combination of nut butter, chocolate, dates, and maca root powder adds up to a high-protein snack.
5-Ingredient Chocolate Orange Truffles: From Scrummy Lane, who doesn’t love chocolate truffles? And that chocolate-orange combo… mmm! These raw chocolate truffles are made with just 5 super healthy ingredients, but you’ll think you’re eating a gooey brownie!
Chestnut Chocolate Truffles (Vegan Christmas Truffles): From Blended with Spices, these super simple, delicious, and decadent Christmas truffles are made with chestnuts, dates, cocoa powder, vanilla and dark chocolate. These are SO good with a cup of coffee or tea!
Gingerbread Date Balls: From Two Healthy Kitchens, these easy little no-bake treats that take just minutes to make … and will disappear even faster! Great at the holidays, and any time you need a virtuous but delightfully sweet little treat!
Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Energy Balls: From Good Life Eats, these energy balls will help you satisfy your chocolate cravings with a mix of protein, healthy fats, and naturally sweet dates and coconut. Pop these bite sized treats in your mouth for a quick, healthy snack and energy fix.
Fig and Date Energy Balls: From The Roasted Root, fig and date energy balls with raw cashews, chia seeds, and hemp seeds are a flavor-packed snack. This easy recipe comes together quickly in a food processor and is vegan and paleo.
Date Energy Balls (No-Bake, Paleo, Whole30): From All Nutritious, these date energy balls are a great pre-workout or post-workout treat when you need that extra boost in energy. Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30-friendly.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls: From Happy Kitchen, these naturally sweet chocolate peanut butter energy balls are delicious, healthy and perfect for an after-school snack, or whenever you’re needing a bit of a “pick-me-up” to your day. They are the perfect grab and go treat for any busy family.
Cocoa-Date Energy Balls (with hemp seeds): In these chocolatey date energy balls, the dried fruit provides an appealing texture and sweetness to a truffle-like vegan treat. This recipe also provides a good way to enjoy hemp seeds.
Almond Butter and Jelly Energy Bites: From The Foodie Dietician, These date-sweetened almond butter and jelly energy balls are the perfect energy-boosting snack to power you through the day.
No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites: From No Sweat Vegan, these bites are quick, easy, and sugar-free! The dates add sweetness, the walnuts and pecans offer depth, while the Dutch-process cocoa gives a rich, chocolatey flavor. But the real surprise are the pretzels, which both bind the mixture and give these high-protein energy balls the perfect salty crunch.
Nut-Free Chocolate Bliss Bites: From Goodie Goodie Lunch Box, who loves these delicious chocolate bliss balls sweetened with dates. They’re perfect to grab and go!
Snickerdoodle Date Bites: From Frugal Nutrition, these date bites are cinnamony and delicious with sweet molasses flavor coming from Medjool dates!
Coconut Date Energy Bites: From the Healthy Epicurean, something about these little coconut date energy bites hits the spot. Maybe it’s the characteristic sweetness from the dates. Maybe it’s the loads of shredded coconut, or maybe it’s the nuttiness from the almonds and walnuts. Maybe it’s the chewy texture that brings these little bites together. Or maybe it’s all of the above.
Almond Date Balls: From Pastry and Beyond, make these vegan and gluten-free almond date balls when you want to eat something sweet and good for you — using only 3 ingredients!
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