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    Home » Desserts

    Raw Chocolate Date Balls (Healthy Vegan Truffles)

    Published: Dec 15, 2022 · Modified: Jun 29, 2023 by Janelle Hama

    Jump to Recipe

    Sweet raw chocolate date balls aka healthy vegan truffles are made with all natural ingredients including cacao powder, Medjool dates and hidden avocado.

    a champagn glass filled with chocolate date balls covered in either pistachio, cacao or coconut
    Raw chocolate date balls

    This website receives a commission/fee for each purchase bought through the affiliate links on this website.

    Jump to:
    • 😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • 🥑Ingredients You’ll Need
    • 🍫 How to Make Chocolate Date Balls
    • 🌟Pro Tips
    • ❓FAQ
    • 🍫Related Recipes
    • Raw Chocolate Date Balls (Healthy Vegan Truffles)

    😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Minimal all natural ingredients used
    • The texture is of a vegan truffles rather than energy balls
    • Can be coated in your favorite coatings, see suggestions below
    • These make an ideal healthy gift
    • Dietary friendly - vegan, gluten free, dairy free, nut free*, soy free, oil free, refined sugar free, flour free, egg free

    🥑Ingredients You’ll Need

    an avocado, dates, cacao powder, salt and vanilla laid out on a white background

    Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

    Medjool dates are meaty and super sweet, making them ideal as no additional sweetener is required. Make sure your dates are at room temperature.

    Ripe avocado adds a creaminess. As they are virtually flavorless, it is a great way to hide additional fruit.

    Cacao powder and not cocoa powder which is generally filled with added sugars. 100% raw organic cacao powder (affiliate link) is unrefined powdered chocolate in its purest form. This may also be labeled as unsweetened cocoa powder. You can find this ingredient in the health food section of your super market if you don't purchase through my above link.

    Vanilla to help with flavoring.

    Salt a smidge is used to elevate the taste of these healthy truffles.

    Boiling water helps the dates to soften and blend into a smooth paste.

    Coating Suggestions

    Below are some suggestions for coating your healthy vegan truffles, however, they can also be left uncoated;

    Crushed nuts of any kind, pistachio is shown in these images

    Seeds such as sesame seeds or sunflower seeds

    Cacao powder (affiliate link) gives a bitter flavoring which is nice with the sweetness of the vegan truffles

    Desiccated coconut is lovely for the contrast in color along with the flavor

    Maca powder for a malt flavor. I always recommend when using powders in your food to ensure they are organic and with nasty fillers. I like using this Tropeaca maca powder (affiliate link), their range has many certified organic powders and blends.

    one chocolate ball with a bite missing  surrounded by other ballslaid out on a white background

    🍫 How to Make Chocolate Date Balls

    Step 1 - In a food processor, add all ingredients and blend until smooth. You will need to scrape down the sides several times to ensure everything has been processed evenly.

    Step 2 - Spoon out a spoonful of the vegan truffle mixture and roll in your wet hands (use small amounts of water at a time to wet hands as the batter is very sticky). Each ball should be about 1-2 bite sized. Roll the ball in your desired coating and place on a lined tray. Repeat until all is complete. Ensure balls are not touching each other in the tray. Cover tray with baking paper and place in the fridge, for at least two hours, overnight yields best results. Enjoy cold.

    a bowl with brown sticky batter and a black spatula
    uncoated brown balls in a tray
    brown balls coated in either crushed pisatchio, desiccated coconut or cacao powder in a tray

    🌟Pro Tips

    The mixture of these healthy vegan truffles is quite sticky and soft, using a little bit of water on your hands will help the mixture not stick to your hands when rolling them into shape. 

    Gently roll the balls in your preferred coating, as the mixture is quite sticky, the coating will stick with ease.

    The ideal size for these are 1-2 bites, as they are quite sweet. The texture should be soft.

    fingers picking out one truffle ball out of a champagne glass

    ❓FAQ

    How to store chocolate date balls?

    Once the balls have somewhat hardened in the fridge, place them in a single file, not touching in an airtight container for up to a week. These will also store well in the freezer for up to 1 month in an airtight freezer friendly snap lock bag. They will not freeze solid, but stay cold and can be eaten immediately.

    🍫Related Recipes

    These healthy vegan truffles are fabulous during the festive season, you may also wish to check out these vegan gluten free gingerbread cookies.

    For more recipes using cocao powder, check out homemade cocoa oat milk or persimmon chocolate pudding.

    Another recipe using dates is my easy black sesame cookies.

    Or enjoy these with a drink from this mimosa bar.

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      Healthy Chocolate Bliss Balls Without Dates
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      Matcha Balls (5 Easy Ingredients)
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      Vegan Crunchy Nuts Clusters (with Seeds)
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      Fudgy Dairy-Free Brownies (Oil-Free and Gluten-Free)

    Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.

    a champagne glass filled with chocolate date balls covered in either pistachio, cacao or coconut

    Raw Chocolate Date Balls (Healthy Vegan Truffles)

    Sweet raw chocolate date balls aka healthy vegan truffles are made with all natural ingredients including cacao powder, Medjool dates and hidden avocado.
    Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American, Australian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Resting Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 14 balls
    Author: Janelle Hama

    Ingredients

    • 20 Medjool dates pitted, room temperature
    • ¼ cup Cacao powder
    • ¼ large Avocado
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 1 smidge Salt
    • 2 tablespoons Boiling water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a food processor, add all ingredients and blend until smooth. You will need to scrape down the sides several times to ensure everything has been processed evenly.
      20 Medjool dates, ¼ cup Cacao powder, ¼ large Avocado, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, 1 smidge Salt, 2 tablespoons Boiling water
    • Spoon out a tablespoon of the mixture and roll in your wet hands (use small amounts of water at a time to wet hands). Each ball should be about 1-2 bite sized. Roll the ball in your desired coating and place on a lined tray. Repeat until all is complete. Ensure balls are not touching each other in the tray. Cover the tray lightly with baking paper and place in the fridge, for at least two hours, overnight yields best results. Enjoy cold.

    Video


    Notes

    Yield may vary as it is dependant on the size of the balls made. 
    Time listed is only for 2 hours refrigerator time. The texture is soft, storing these raw chocolate date balls in the fridge overnight will yield best results
    Coating suggestions - crushed nuts, desiccated coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, maca powder, cacao powder
    Don't over wet your hands when handling the batter, which is quite stick, only a small amount is needed to ensure the batter doesn't stick to your hands
    You may also be interested in chocolate bliss balls or matcha balls.
    US cups and spoons measurements have been used. 1 cup is 240ml, 1 tablespoon 15ml, 1 teaspoon 5ml.

    Equipment

    1 food processor

    Nutrition

    Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 56IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

    N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.


    Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Janette

      December 17, 2022 at 1:53 am

      5 stars
      How long will these keep in the fridge, and could you freeze them. They look really good for a Christmas treat.

      Reply
      • Janelle Hama

        December 18, 2022 at 8:16 am

        They will keep in the fridge for a week. Yes, they can be placed in a freezer; place them individually on a lined tray with a sheet of parchment paper on top and freeze over night. They can be eaten within minutes of taking them out of the freezer, they will be very cold but still edible (not frozen solid). I am still testing out how long they will keep in the freezer, will update that when ready.

        Reply

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    Hello, I'm Janelle, a culinary enthusiast with over two decades of cooking experience and a keen interest in creating delicious vegan Lebanese recipes.

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