Looking for a naturally sweetened treat that is easy to make? These coconut date balls (or bites) may be just what you are looking for.
In the past, I have showed you how I make my own Coconut Butter.
One day, when making it, I decided that I was going to add in some dates to sweeten the mix. With only a few dates, you end up with a slightly sweeter coconut butter that you can use as a spread.
Add in some more dates and you end up with a thicker mix that can be formed into balls.
In the winter, the balls will harden up as the coconut oil solidifies in the cold. I used to make them often, calling them coconut date balls.
Lately, though, I have preferred to form them in silicone chocolate molds, forming a more delicately shaped coconut date bite, that can be served when entertaining.
Coconut Date Balls
Ingredients
- 250 g shredded coconut (3½ - 4 cups)
- 8-10 dates pitted
Instructions
- Pour the shredded coconut into a food processor and process on medium speed until you end up with coconut butter. This will take quite awhile (10-15 minutes).
- When it starts to get mostly smooth, add in some dates. If you add in too many, it can get very difficult to form the balls.
- Process for long enough to get a mixture that can be shaped into balls.
- Either roll the mix into balls, or push into silicone candy molds or small ice cube trays. When using molds, placing them in the freezer allows them to harden enough to easily remove them.
- Pop your coconut bites out of your molds.
- Serve.
Notes
The more dates you add, the sweeter the coconut date balls will be, but the mix will also be more crumbly. It's a good idea to add the last few dates one by one to make sure you aren't adding too many, which results in a mix that is difficult to form into balls that hold their shape. If you do add too many, either add in a little more coconut butter, or you could try adding in a little coconut oil to make a mix that will hold together better.
Enjoy!
This recipe has been featured in the community cookbook, Naturally Sweetened Treats!
These sound delicious.! I just read your recipe on how to make coconut milk, flour and butter. When I saw the link to this recipe. My grandson is allergic to nuts and my daughter is lactose intolerant. She is going to LOVE your recipes. I am going to try them first thought. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hello,
Yes, this recipe is great for people with food intolerances.
It inspired the crust for some other fun recipes…
With strawberries in season, this no bake strawberry pie is one of my favorites for people with food allergies. Perhaps they can give it a go. I can’t remember if I added almonds to the crust, but it can be made with only coconuts and dates.
I hope they find more recipes they like. 🙂
Hi there,
How much coconut butter should I start with if not making my own? I buy organic.
Thanks!
Lee
Hi Lee,
Well, despite the fact that the volume goes down, the weight should stay the same when making your own coconut butter, so I probably used around 8.8 ounces of coconut butter.
In any case, don’t get too hung up on the exact recipe. Take a small amount of coconut butter and start to blend in dates until you get a decent consistency with which you can form balls.
If your dates are really dry, you can also consider soaking them for a little while before adding them to the recipe. I noticed that I had a harder time making them the other day and it was because the dates were really quite dry, and found that soaking made the process much easier.
In fact, I’m going to add that to the recipe right now! 🙂
What is the nutritional value of these bites?
To be honest, I don’t ever calculate calories or any other nutritional components for any of my recipes. It is more important to me to try to use the best quality ingredients I can, and limit processed foods and sugars. Dates have quite a bit of natural sugar; I don’t avoid them, because it is a natural sugar, but I do try to limit how many of them I eat.
That said, with this being a recipe with only two ingredients (unless you decide to add in some honey or maple syrup), it should be pretty easy to calculate for whatever it is you are looking for.
Here is the nutritional information for one date (multiply by how many you end up using)- http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/7348/2
Here is the information for 1 cup of desiccated coconut: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3151/2
I hope that helps somewhat.
This recipe looks delicious AND it fits the paleo autoimmune protocol (a rare thing). So, thank you! I recently started a weekly Paleo AIP Recipe Roundtable through my blog, and I would love it if you linked up this recipe. I’m trying to expand resources for the AIP community. Here’s the link: http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2014/02/05/paleo-aip-recipe-roundtable-13/
They look great and can’t wait to try, how long would they keep for in the fridge?
Thanks for your comment.
I would go by the date on your dates as a guideline.
It will depend upon if your dates are fresh or dried, too. I made them here with dried dates that I don’t keep in the fridge, so you don’t even really have to store balls made with those in the fridge if you don’t want to. They last quite a long time, though. I have never had them around long enough to have to worry about it.
great! love coconut!
do these need to be refrigerated? how long will they last either out on the counter or refrigerated?
No, it’s not necessary to refrigerate them. I don’t usually keep my dates or shredded coconut refrigerated either. I do put them in the fridge to help set them up, but even that isn’t necessary in the winter; it does help in the summer.
They will last for a really long time. I would follow the date on the dates as a guideline.
I have never had them last long enough to have to worry about it, though. 🙂