Chocolate Date Balls

Chocolate date balls are so simple to make and a delicious way to not feel guilty about indulging in a sweet treat! This article will teach you how to make chocolate date balls, plus go over some practical tips for making them.

Why dates?

Some of you may know that dates can be beneficial in pregnancy, especially if you are someone who is a mother, like me. 🙂

As I type up this blog article, I am currently 36 weeks pregnant with baby number 3! Spoiler alert, it’s a boy! So I am doing my best to prepare myself for labor. According to pubmed, women who consumed dates had a higher cervical dilation when they got to the hospital as well as a higher rate of going into spontaneous labor.

Additionally, these chocolate date balls make a great snack to have while postpartum too! They store really well and are easy to grab!

Why I love this recipe

If you are looking for a recipe that only has three ingredients, then you’ve come to the right place!

In fact, one of the things that I love about this recipe is how easy it is to make the date balls. You don’t need an oven and the date balls can be put together in about ten minutes. Honestly, the most challenging part of this recipe is waiting for the chocolate to harden!

What do chocolate date balls taste like?

Chocolate date balls are sweet and a little rich. To me, dates don’t have a real distinctive flavor, but they are naturally sweet themselves. With these date balls, you’ve really got the chocolate and the peanut butter that shine through the most. So if you like a peanut butter, chocolate flavor duo, this recipe is for you!

If you top the chocolate date balls with sea salt, then they have a salty-sweet taste to them as well. Also, you could add dried berries or another type of nut, such as pistachios, to add even more of a flavor profile.

Ingredient substitutions and variations

Chocolate: For chocolate, you can use any kind that you prefer! I like to use dark chocolate myself!

Be sure to properly melt the chocolate per the directions on the package. If there isn’t a section with directions, I usually will melt my chocolate chips in the microwave. I do 15 second intervals, stopping each time to stir the chocolate chips even if they are hardly melted. The key is to go slow and steady.

Peanut butter: I try to use creamy peanut butter, but I’m sure that crunchy peanut butter would work in a pinch. I haven’t tried any other nut butters myself, but I think that you could use them as well.

Garnishes: Any type of garnish is optional, but here are some ideas: flaky sea salt, pistachios, finely crushed up or dried berries, like blueberries, a little white chocolate or caramel.

Equipment needed

Food processor

Small, microwave safe bowl- for melting down the chocolate (or double boiler)

Spoon or small rubber spatula

Parchment paper (or wax paper)

Cookie sheet

Ingredients for chocolate date balls

8 ounces of chopped dates

2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter, can be adjusted for stickiness

6 ounces of dark chocolate, for dipping

Sea salt, or any other type of garnish you’d prefer (optional)

How to make chocolate date balls

Start by adding the chopped dates to a food processor.

Then add in the peanut butter. Start with 2 tablespoons and add more tablespoons of peanut butter if needed.

Blend the dates and peanut butter together until it turns into a uniform mixture, and then roll the mixture into ping-pong sized balls.

Next, melt your chocolate chips according to the directions on the package either in a double boiler or in the microwave. Then, dip the date balls into the chocolate and set them onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Once all of the date balls have been dipped in chocolate, add the sea salt or any other garnishes you’d like and place them into the fridge or the freezer to cool and harden.

After the date balls have hardened to your liking, you can remove them from the fridge or the freezer and enjoy!

How to store chocolate date balls

Room Temperature:

Store in an air-tight container out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place for 3-5 days.

Refrigerator:

Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an air-tight container. Be sure to let the chocolate date balls sit out at room temp for about 10 minutes to soften before eating.

Freezer:

Store in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Be sure to set the chocolate date balls out at room temp for about 20 minutes before enjoying.

Tips and tricks

*If stacking the date balls to store them, use a piece of parchment paper between the layers to prevent sticking.

*No food processor? No problem! Just be sure to really finely chop up the dates. This will distribute the sweetness and prevent big clumps of dates.

*When rolling the dates, you can lightly wet your hands to prevent the peanut butter, date mixture from sticking to your hands.

*If using natural peanut butter, be sure to mix very well before measuring and using.

*You could also use a cookie scooper to make the date balls more uniform in size before dipping them into the chocolate.

*Not sure how to melt your chocolate? You can use a microwave. Add your chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 15-20 second intervals. Between the 15-20 second intervals, remove the bowl and mix the chocolate. Be sure to do this step every time! Repeat the microwave process until the chocolate becomes smooth when mixed.

Looking for another nourishing, on-the-go recipe? Then try out my easy coconut, chocolate chip granola bar recipe!

Did you happen to make this recipe? Comment down below how your chocolate date balls turned out! I would love to hear from you! 🙂