Easy, 3-ingredient chocolate date balls that are sure to fix any chocolate craving you have. Made with minimal ingredients and ready in 15 minutes (or less)!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclaimer for details.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Smooth: Using moist dates ensures these date balls have a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Rich: Raw cacao powder mixed with dates is as rich as it gets.
- Nutrient-packed: Cacao and dates are both nutrient-dense ingredients.
Nutrition For Mental Wellbeing
Raw cacao powder contains iron and calcium. These chocolate bliss balls contain potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin A. One date ball consists of 19g carbohydrates, 1g protein, 0.3g of fat, and 2g of fiber.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study found that flavanol-rich cacao extract promoted positive moods and reduced negative moods in healthy middle-aged women [1].
Another randomized control trial found that consuming 85% dark chocolate improved mood in healthy adults and improved gut microbial diversity [2].
Ingredients + Notes
These chocolate energy balls call for simple ingredients.
- Dates: Mejdool dates are naturally sweet, giving the perfect caramel-like flavor.
- Cacao powder: Raw, unsweetened cacao powder adds a deep chocolate flavor and is packed with antioxidants.
- Chocolate Chips: This is an optional ingredient, but melted chocolate chips drizzled on top is just a chef’s kiss!
Recipe Variations
Enjoy these chocolate bliss balls as is, or make substitutions as needed. Here are some recommendations.
- Nut Butter: A source of healthy plant-based fat, adding nut butter can make these little treats more satiating. I’d recommend peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.
- Coconut: Shredded coconut is a great option. Add it to the mixture or coat the date balls in it.
- Protein Powder: Adding protein powder can take these to the next level. I recommend using my favorite chocolate protein powder.
- Seeds: Hemp hearts or ground flax seeds can be added to the mixture to add healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Salt: A little sprinkle of flake sea salt on top can add a savory punch.
How To Make Chocolate Date Balls
Follow these easy steps for the perfect chocolate date energy balls.
Would you like to save this?
- Add dates and cacao powder to a food processor and blend until well combined and smooth.
- Scoop mixture into a bowl or plate and freeze for 5-10 minutes.
- Roll mixture into small spheres. (Optional: drizzle chocolate on top.)
Servings Ideas
Enjoy this quick, on-the-go snack as is, or pair it with your favorite smoothie or drink.
- Smoothie: For a healthy, sweet treat, pair these date balls with a homemade smoothie. Try this Peanut Butter Smoothie, Blackberry Smoothie, or Acai Smoothie Bowl.
- Drinks: Try this Classic Bubble Tea, Coffee Boba Recipe, or Easy Golden Milk Latte!
Storage Tips
Store these chocolate balls with dates in an airtight glass container to keep them fresh. They can be stored at room temperature for 4-5 days or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
FAQ
No, you can use any type of date for this recipe. However, I am a fan of Medjool dates because they seem to hold their moisture.
If your dates feel dry, then you can soak them in warm or hot water for about 5 minutes or so. They will rehydrate a bit, which is great for making homemade date chocolate balls.
Yes! My food processor broke, but I was able to make bliss balls just fine without it. The big difference is the creaminess. As long as the dates you are using are nice and moist and you have a sharp knife to dice and then mince them, you can make these chocolate date balls just fine without a food processor. (It just takes more time and energy.)
If your chocolate date energy bites are too sticky, add a pinch of salt or a tablespoon more of cocoa powder to the mixture to help absorb some moisture. Alternatively, you can refrigerate or freeze the mixture for a bit longer before rolling.
If you tried this Chocolate Date Balls Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Chocolate Date Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups Medjool dates, pitted (at room temperature)
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips, (optional ingredient)
Instructions
- Add dates and cacao powder to a food processor and blend until well combined and smooth.
- Scoop mixture into a bowl or plate and freeze for 5-10 minutes.
- Roll mixture into small spheres. (Optional: drizzle chocolate on top.)
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
We’d love to see! Tag @raepublic on Instagram!
[1] Murakami, R., Natsume, M., Ito, K., Ebihara, S., & Terauchi, M. (2023). Effect of Flavanol-Rich Cacao Extract on the Profile of Mood State in Healthy Middle-Aged Japanese Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. Nutrients, 15(17), 3843. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15173843
[2] Shin, J. H., Kim, C. S., Cha, L., Kim, S., Lee, S., Chae, S., Chun, W. Y., & Shin, D. M. (2022). Consumption of 85% cocoa dark chocolate improves mood in association with gut microbial changes in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 99, 108854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2021.108854
