These cocoa date balls are healthy, clean and the perfect allergy-friendly, vegan option for a gut-friendly snack all year long. These soft brownie date balls are made with 4 ingredients, high in protein and fiber, and coated in a snappy chocolate shell or sprinkles.
These no bake cocoa date balls are mixed easily in a single bowl, pressed into a mold or cupcake pan, and ready after only 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
These rich brownie date balls are dairy free, gluten free, vegan and even refined sugar free. And there is no flour involved so no need to heat treat raw flour! Dates are awesome sweeteners in no bake desserts because they are naturally sweet, high in fiber and rich in amazing nutrients.
If you love brownies, I have more! Try my Oreo Brownies, No Bake Peanut Butter Brownies, my no bake Chocolate Hazelnut Bars, and No Bake Chocolate Brownies.
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Ingredients for Cocoa Date Balls
- Dates. Use medjool dates found in containers in the produce area. Soak them about 5 minutes in just-boiled water, pit and add to a food processor or blender.
- Peanut butter. Any nut butter works, or even sunflower seed butter or tahini (sesame seed butter) to keep the date balls nut-free.
- Cocoa. This is unsweetened cocoa. Or use cacao powder for more nutrition.
- Almond flour. Or oat flour for a nut-free option. This provides structure to your no bake brownie date balls.
- Milk. Use your favorite! I use almond milk. Or use oat milk for nut-free.
- Salt
- Chocolate chips. Use your favorite or even a semi sweet chocolate bar chopped up. You'll be melting this for the coating.
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Steps to Make Date Cups
For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Prep: Boil a pot of water, then turn off heat. Add the dates and soak for 5 minutes, then drain and pit the dates.
Step 1: To a blender or food processor, add the dates and milk and blend into a paste. Then add the cocoa powder, flour, peanut butter, vanilla and salt.
Step 2: Divide the batter into 6 balls. Go melt the chocolate chips in the microwave.
Step 3: Dip each ball into the melted chocolate with a fork.
Step 4: Line the coated balls on parchment paper and refrigerate until set about 10 minutes.
How to blend dates in a blender: To avoid straining your blender motor, first soak the dates, pit them, then add them dates and milk to a blender and blend into a paste. Then add the rest of the ingredients to your blender and blend up the brownie date ball batter.
Storage
Keep these cocoa date cups refrigerated for 4 days or freeze for 3 months.
Variations
I will be making more date ball flavors but you can customize these by making these adjustments:
- Use oat flour or even coconut flour instead of almond flour, but you'll have to use ¼ cup more because they are more absorbent.
- Add other mix-ins to increase the protein including chia seeds or hemp seeds.
- Add flavor extracts to change flavor profile such as mint extract or almond extract.
- Add instant coffee to make a mocha cocoa date cup.
FAQS
These no bake date balls do not contain any white flour, only almond flour which is safe to eat raw.
No this cocoa date balls batter does not have baking soda to help it rise. Try my gluten free brownies or my oreo brownies instead.
More Brownie Recipes
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📖 Recipe
No Bake Cocoa Date Balls
Equipment
- food processor or blender
Ingredients
No bake date cups
- 6 dates soaked and pitted
- 2 tablespoon peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- ¼ cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (75g) almond flour or 1 ¼ cup oat flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon milk your favorite
Chocolate coating
- ½ cup (90g) chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
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Instructions
Prep
- Soak dates in a pot of just-boiled water for 5 minutes, then drain, pit the dates and add them to a food processor.
Make date cups
- To a blender or food processor, add the dates and process into a paste. Add milk if needed to blend. The add the rest of the ingredients and process.6 dates, 2 tablespoon peanut butter, ¼ cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup (75g) almond flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoon milk
- Roll batter into 6 balls and line them on a pan.
Make chocolate coating
- Add the chocolate chips to a heat-safe measuring cup, microwave for 1 minute. Stir until thick and creamy.
- Dip each ball into coating. Sprinkle with salt.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes and serve.
Dee Dine
These cocoa date balls are only 4 ingredients, no bake, and ready in 15 minutes.