Energy Balls with Medjool Dates (2024)

By Marjory Pilley Published May 29, 2024 · Updated May 29, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe

Healthy energy balls with Medjool dates are no-bake, raw bites packed with wholesome ingredients like oatmeal and sunflower seed butter. They will put a smile on your face and just might give you a surge of energy, too!

Tasty little protein balls, enjoyed as a snack or for breakfast, are not new at my house, but the way they're sweetened is. Instead of honey or agave nectar, we used Medjool dates.

Where have these delicious dates been all my life? I should have known how much I'd love them because I'm a big fan of raisins.

But Medjool dates are even better. They're larger, plumper, and sweeter than other dates, with an almost caramel-like taste. You can gobble them up like pieces of candy!

Even better, dates are an incredibly delicious, all-natural sweetener, too!

Now, I make jars of date paste to store in the refrigerator, effortlessly sweetening treats like chocolate date balls and rice krispie date balls or whipping up date cream cheese frosting.

Jump to:

Ingredient Notes
Directions with Pictures
Troubleshooting
Storage
More Healthy Medjool Date Recipes
📋 Recipe

Ingredient Notes

Here's what you'll need to make Medjool date energy balls:

Of special note:

Medjool dates - Buy them pitted or make a slit down the center and remove it. Deglet Noor dates can be used but are not as sweet. Honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup will also work.
Oatmeal - We used old-fashioned rolled oats because they're the least processed. Quick oats will work, but don't use steel-cut oats because they are too hard.
Ground flaxseed - Buy already ground flaxseed meal, or buy whole flaxseed and process it in a coffee grinder. A high-speed blender or food processor will work for larger quantities. Chia seeds are a good alternative.
Sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, almond butter, or any nut butter you enjoy will work in this recipe.
Coconut flakes - We used unsweetened flakes. Sweetened flakes add sugar and make the energy balls a little sweeter.
Chocolate chips - Mini-sized chips are ideal for these little balls. Nuts or dried fruits, like raisins or cranberries, can be used for a different flavor profile.

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

Directions with Pictures

Follow these steps to make energy balls with dates and oats:

Step 1. Medjool dates are naturally very soft. Still, it doesn't hurt to soak them for a few minutes in hot water while assembling the other ingredients.

Step 2. Add the dates and a little soaking water to a small-sized food processor and pulse to create a date paste. Add additional water as desiredto thin the consistency.

Step 3. Add oatmeal, flaxseed, coconut flakes, and mini chocolate chips to a large bowl.

Step 4. Add sunflower seed butter, pureed dates, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. The mixture will be thick.

Step 5. If the date oat mixture is soft, refrigerate it for about ten minutes to firm it up so it will be easier to work with. Next, start rolling the dough into lots and lots of balls. Depending on how small you make them and how many bites you take in between, you can make between 25 and 30 tablespoon-sized balls.

Troubleshooting

If the mixture doesn't stick together, add another tablespoon of nut butter.
If the mixture is too soft, refrigerate the dough for 10-15 minutes before rolling it into balls. You can also add additional oatmeal, flaxseed, or coconut flakes.

Storage

Store Medjool date energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Although the individual ingredients in these balls don't require refrigeration, they are best cold. They tend to get sticky when stored at room temperature for too long.

To prevent the balls from sticking to each other, separate the layers with parchment paper.

More Healthy Medjool Date Recipes

Chocolate Date Balls {No-Bake, Vegan}
Date Balls with Rice Krispies Recipe
Carrot Cake Date Balls
Healthy Cream Cheese Date Frosting

Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

📋 Recipe