Name: Coconut Date Balls Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 8 pitted dates; 1/4 cup almond meal; 1 tablespoon protein powder; 1 cup hazelnuts; 1/4 cup water; 1/2 cup melting chocolate; 1 tablespoon chia seeds; 1 tablespoon cacao powder; 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

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If you like Ferrero Rocher chocolate candy, you must try these coconut date balls. Add these protein balls with dates to your list of no-bake energy bites right away.

Homemade protein balls are fun to make and delicious to eat. Date energy balls are the perfect snack to grab when you crave a sweet treat.

date balls in a bowl with hazelnuts and other ingredients

Date and Coconut Balls – Copycat Ferrero Rocher Bites

I don’t like to claim that any food is “healthy” these days, but I will say these protein balls are at least healthier than candy.

For that reason, I love to make homemade protein bites around the holidays. When you’re surrounded by all the holiday candy and cookies, it’s nice to have the option to grab a coconut date bite for a better fuel source.

Reaching for a date ball will still satisfy your sweet tooth without as much of a sugar crash that you may get from candy.

Ingredients for Coconut date balls

(Exact measurements are in the recipe card below)

Pitted dates
Almond meal
Protein powder
Hazelnuts
Water
Melting chocolate
Chia seeds
Cacao powder
Unsweetened shredded coconut

Date energy balls Directions

Soak the dates in water for about 10-15 minutes or until soft.

Roast the hazelnuts in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Leave 12 hazelnuts whole to place in the center of the balls.

Chop some hazelnuts to mix into the melting chocolate.

dry ingredients into wet for energy date bites

Place the softened dates, water used to soften the dates, remaining roasted hazelnuts, almond meal, protein powder, chia seeds, and cacao powder in a food processor. Blitz and combine.

rolling the date mixture into energy balls

Roll the mixture into balls.

rolling date balls and placing a hazelnut into the center

Place a hazelnut into the center of each ball.

stirring melted chocolate and coconut in a pan

Melted the chocolate in a pan. Add in the coconut and chopped hazelnuts. Stir well.

Coat the date balls in the melted chocolate mixture. Place coated bites onto parchment paper to cool.

dipping date bite into chocolate and coconut mixture

Place the energy balls into the fridge to harden. Or in the freezer for an icy version.

chocolate covered coconut and date bites

Recipe notes and FAQ

What flavor protein powder should I use?

Vanilla protein powder is used here. You can use any protein powder you have on hand. Plain, vanilla, or chocolate are the flavors that will probably taste the best.

What’s the difference between cacao powder and cocoa powder?

Cocoa powder and cacao powder are similar, but are processed differently. Cacao powder has a stronger, more bitter flavor, but a higher nutritional content. You can use cocoa powder instead of cacao powder in this recipe.

overhead image of date balls and bowls of hazelnuts and other ingredients

How long do homemade date balls last?

Store your coconut date balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or the freezer for up to 2 months.

holding a date ball above other coconut balls and hazelnuts in the background

Yield: 12 balls

Coconut Date Balls Recipe

Coconut and date energy bites that taste like Ferrero Rocher candy.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 25 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

8 pitted dates
1/4 cup almond meal
1 tablespoon protein powder
1 cup hazelnuts
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup melting chocolate
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

Instructions

Soak the dates in water for about 15 minutes.
Place hazelnuts on a baking pan in a single layer and roast them for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Allow hazelnuts to cool. Set aside 12 whole hazelnuts for centers. Chop additional hazelnuts for chocolate mixture.
Add soaked dates (with the water), almond meal, protein powder, chia seeds, remaining hazelnuts, and cacao powder into a food processor. Mix well.
Use a cookie scoop to make balls from the mixture. Press one whole hazelnut into the center of each ball.
Melt the chocolate in a pan. Mix in the coconut and the chopped up hazelnuts.
Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and coat well. Place them onto parchment paper to cool.
Place the balls into the refrigerator to set and cool.
Store the date balls in the refrigerator or the freezer for an icy treat.