Name: Chocolate Coconut Energy Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup shredded coconut; 1 cup raw almonds; 20 large medjool dates, pitted; 1/3 cup cacao or cocoa powder; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp salt; (Optional) 1/2 cup shredded coconut, to decorate

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These chocolate coconut energy balls are so easy and tasty! It’s a quick recipe made in 10 minutes with vegan and gluten-free ingredients. You can satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy manner with just dates, coconut, almonds, and cacao. Each bite-sized ball is perfect for an afternoon snack or as a nutritious dessert!

chocolate coconut energy balls inside a white bowl

Chocolate and coconut – a winning combination in everyone’s hearts! I’ve paired these two ingredients to create a simple, nutritious, beyond easy recipe. It’s great for a post-workout bite, afternoon snack, or as a healthy dessert. These will satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking your diet plan!

These chocolate coconut energy balls are:

Soft and chewy
Made with 6 ingredients
Vegan and gluten-free
Refined sugar-free
Ready in under 10 minutes

chocolate coconut energy balls on a white marble board

What ingredients are in chocolate coconut energy balls?

Shredded coconut. Otherwise known as desiccated coconut or coconut shreds, it’s one of the main ingredients in this recipe. Coconut is a healthy source of fats and fiber.
Medjool dates. These chocolate coconut balls are naturally sweetened with medjool dates instead of processed sugar. Dates contain iron, magnesium, B vitamins, and more.
Raw almonds. Almonds provide various nutrients including vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium.
Cacao powder. Either cocoa powder or cacao powder can be used for this recipe. Learn more about the difference between these two ingredients here.
Vanilla extract. We’ll use a dash of pure vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of all other ingredients.
Salt. I prefer using pink Himalayan salt because it contains several minerals. However, regular table salt works perfectly fine.

small white bowls filled with raw almonds, medjool dates, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and a teaspoon of salt on a marble board

How to make chocolate coconut energy balls

For the full recipe, scroll down to view the recipe card below.

First, add all of the ingredients to a food processor. This includes raw almonds, shredded coconut, cacao powder, pitted medjool dates, vanilla, and salt. Then, process the ingredients until a sticky dough is formed.

medjool dates, raw almonds, cacao powder, and desiccated shreds inside a food processor

no bake date cacao dough inside a food processor

Next, use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the dough into 18 rounds. With clean hands, roll the dough into balls. If desired, decorate by rolling half the chocolate coconut energy balls in additional shredded coconut.

a mini cookie scoop containing no bake cacao date dough

hand dipping a chocolate date ball in coconut

Enjoy! These can be consumed immediately or stored in the refrigerator. They will firm up a bit and take on a chewier texture once refrigerated!

a hand holding a date ball covered in shredded coconut

Tips for making this recipe

Create a sticky dough. The ingredients should form a sticky dough once combined in the food processor. If your dates are quite dry and hard, you may struggle to get the ingredients to stick together. If so, no worries! This is an easy fix. Simply add 1-2 teaspoon water or melted coconut oil and process again. The extra moisture should allow the ingredients to fully combine. As long as you can pinch the dough together and it sticks, you’re good to go!
Decorate! Feel free to decorate each ball. I rolled half in shredded coconut and kept the other half plain. In addition to making the balls look pretty, rolling them in another ingredient is a great way to add more nutrients! Some healthy options include hemp seeds, chia seeds, and maca powder. If you are a major chocolate lover, you can even drizzle melted chocolate on top.
Store in the refrigerator. Store these chocolate coconut energy balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Once refrigerated, they will take on a firmer and chewier texture. Personally, I think this makes them taste even more delicious!

coconut chocolate date balls on a white surface

two stacks of coconut chocolate energy balls inside ceramic bowls

More chocolate energy balls

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