Date Balls with a Twist: Boost Your Energy Levels with Tahini Infusion

I love making different energy balls and bars using dates and these Energy Date Balls with tahini are a recent favorite. Yes, you heard it correctly, tahini!

I was a bit skeptical when I came across the dessert and sweet recipes of brownies and chocolate cake that used tahini. I had always used tahini in savory preparations- sauce for falafels, salad dressing, etc. but never in desserts. Tahini is a paste made of roasted or unroasted sesame seeds.  So it’s really like other nut or seed butter. The more I thought about it, just like we use almond or peanut butter in making brownies or cookies, why not try tahini?

As my first recipe, I wanted to make something healthy with tahini. I am a huge fan of energy date balls because they are easy to make, taste delicious, and are a great snack for in-between meals.  So, I came up with this recipe of Energy Date Balls with Tahini. With just five ingredients and a food processor, these energy balls are incredibly easy to make and taste indulgent. I was surprised to see how well dates go with chocolate and tahini adds nice creaminess and depth to the recipe. Since there are such few ingredients, make sure you use the best quality ingredients in the recipe.

So, let’s get started and boost your energy levels and satisfy your snack cravings with my irresistible recipe for Energy Date Balls infused with the creamy goodness of tahini. These bite-sized treats are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients, including dates, nuts, and seeds, to provide you with a natural source of sustained energy. Whether you need a quick pick-me-up during a busy day or a pre-workout boost, these Tahini Energy Date Balls are the perfect solution.

Ingredients used in the Energy Date Balls with Tahini recipe

• ½ lb (1 ½ cups) pitted dates
• ¼ cup tahini
• ¼ cup raw cashews
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• To roll the balls:
  • ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)
  • ½ cup toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Dates

Dates are the main ingredient of these energy balls that cannot be substituted for anything else.  If you have not made energy balls or bars with dates before, you are in for a treat.  They are naturally so sweet that I do not feel the need to add any additional sweetener.  If you like things very sweet, you may want to consider adding 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup. 

I prefer Medjool or Deglet Noor variety of dates. But feel free to use any pitted dates you have.  One word of caution here- even if it says Pitted Dates on your box of dates, just double-check all the dates before putting them in the food processor.  It has happened to me, and any pits that go in the food processor are a recipe for disaster.

Tahini

I prefer toasted sesame Tahini for its added toasted flavor but you can use any store-bought or even home-made tahini for this recipe.  Like other seeds or nut butter, the oils in the tahini tend to separate.  Before measuring out the tahini, mix it well with a spoon to integrate the oils. 

Don’t like Tahini or out of it?- Use peanut or almond butter instead!

Cashews

They provide a nice texture to the otherwise soft energy balls.  If you are out of cashews, try almonds or pistachios instead.  Either raw or toasted nuts would work fine in the recipe, just make sure they are unsalted.  If you have nut allergies, you can make this recipe nut free also. 

Unsweetened Cocoa powder

Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder here.  Cocoa complements the taste and color of the dates well in this recipe. 

Vanilla extract

It provides a nice hint of vanilla to the energy balls but you can leave it out if you are out of it. 

Optional ingredients

You can roll the energy balls in sesame seeds or unsweetened coconut flakes.

How to make energy date balls

1. Place cashews in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to chop them. 
2. Add tahini and unsweetened cocoa powder and pulse a few more times till everything is combined. 
3. Roughly chop the pitted dates so it has a bit easier time in the food processor. 
4. Add the chopped pitted dates and vanilla to the bowl of the food processor with the other ingredients. 
5. Pulse a few times till all the ingredients come together in one mass. 
6. Use about 1 heaping tablespoon measurement to pinch out balls from the date mixture and roll them. If using coconut or sesame seeds to roll in, remove them on a plate and roll the date balls in either sesame seeds or coconut flakes. 
7. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe tips to make these healthy energy date balls

• I recommend the use of soft and plump dates in this recipe but sometimes the dates can get dry over time. If you only have dry dates, no need to worry, place the chopped pitted dates in a glass bowl.  Pour boiling water over it to cover all the dates.  Cover with a plate or a lid and let it sit for 30 minutes.  Drain the dates well to remove all the moisture before using it in the recipe. 
• If you are not a fan of tahini, you can replace tahini in the recipe with peanut or almond butter.
• You could replace cashews in this recipe with raw or toasted (unsalted) almonds. Dates and almonds are also a great combination.

FAQs: Date energy bites recipe

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Recipe Card: Date Energy Balls with Tahini