Date and Walnut Protein Balls

These cute date and walnut protein balls are an excellent source of protein and keep you full and energized longer. You make these date protein balls with excellent nature candy, dates, and superfood, walnuts. Delicious and nutritious, these date protein balls and energy balls are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, to name a few! And they are ready to bite into in no time!

Who says dessert can not be healthy and sweet, well, very sweet?!

Munching on these date protein balls while making them is the way to go!!

These simple healthy date protein balls are soft, buttery, flavorful, and great for dessert. The orange zest has added a lovely orange flavor, and they have an excellent sesame seeds crunch.

These homemade date protein balls are the best no-bake sweet treats. These power balls are made easily with just a few excellent ingredients, and they are great for various occasions:

• Ideal sweet high protein snack for school and work lunch box.
• Make this nutrient-dense snack ahead and pack them for a potluck or picnic this spring and summer.
• Make these whole foods, no sugar bites ahead and pack them for your next road trip snack.

These walnut energy bites are plant-based, raw, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, kids-friendly, and on-the-go DIY protein snacks.

Find more simple healthy sweet treats:

• Watermelon banana popsicles
• Healthy tropical smoothie bowls

Ingredients

• Medjool dates. Medjool dates make these protein balls the best. Adds lots of natural healthy sweetness. Leftovers can be used up in my delicious date scones, another great recipe.
• Walnuts. Buy halves walnuts and chop them. Walnuts add crunch, protein, and lots of healthy fat and antioxidants.
• Orange Zest. It adds lots of flavor and aroma.
• Water. It helps when shaping the protein balls from sticking to the hands.
• Oil. I used avocado oil.
• Sesame seeds. As needed for garnishing.
• Dash of kosher salt. Salt brings out more flavor.

How to Make Date and Walnut Protein Balls

First, grind the walnuts in a food processor until smooth consistency forms. Then, add dates, water, salt, and oil. Grind them all together. I like to leave little chunks. You can grind them to a smooth consistency. Mix in the orange zest with a spoon.

Pour some water into a bowl. Take a spoonful of the mixture. Wet your hand and make a walnut-date ball. Place sesame seeds into a bowl. Place the walnut-date ball in the sesame seeds and keep rolling until it gets covered all around. Set it aside and continue with the rest of the mixture.

Let them chill in the fridge if you like. ENJOY!

Tips

• Pit the dates first and discard the ones with black mold inside them.
• Use halves walnuts. They tend to be fresh. Already store-bought chopped walnut tends to be bitter. When walnuts become rancid, they taste bitter.
• Roast sesame seeds in a pan for extra flavor.
• Use warm spices or herbs.
• Add into the mixture the pan-roasted flour of choice.
  • For example, I take a half cup of wheat flour and roast it on low heat over the stovetop until it becomes slightly brown with a nutty and toasty aroma.
• Add coffee or coconut powder for the adult version.
• Add more orange zest.
• Using water while making the date protein balls lessens the stickiness of the mixture.
• Using water and oil in the food processor helps with the grinding process.
• A dash of kosher salt brings out more flavor.

Substitutes

• Substitute dates with dried cherries, figs, apricots, raisins, cranberries, or prunes.
• Replace walnuts with cashews, peanuts, brazil nuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts…
• Use orange juice, lemon, or lime zest instead of orange zest. Or leave it out.
  • Use sweet, warm spices such as allspice, anise, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and aromatic herbs such as mint, basil, parsley, and cilantro. Or spices or herbs you like.
• Substitute sesame seeds with chopped sunflower or pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, or hemp seeds.

• You can mix in pan-toasted wheat flour, oat flour, or other flour you like. Cocoa powder is another option.

How to remove dates’ pits

Take a knife and cut the dates a long way in the middle. Make sure there is no sign of black mold or sugar crystals in them. Discard the ones with black mold or sugar crystal. Then, remove the pits of the good ones.

Benefits of Medjool dates

Medjool dates are healthy nature’s candies full of vitamins and minerals. They are an excellent source of fiber and keep you full longer. Read more about Medjool dates.

Benefits of walnuts

Walnuts are full of polyunsaturated fats like Omega-6 and Omega-3. A heart-healthy superfood with antioxidant properties. You can read more about walnuts.

Storage

You can keep this protein energy ball in an air-tight container in the fridge for a month. I do not recommend freezing them.

How to serve

Serve them as a delicious sweet treat after lunch or dinner. Or serve them as a sweet treat for breakfast or a snack.

What did you substitute? How did your family and kids like it? Let me know in the comment below your favorite combination. I love to hear from you!

Find more simple healthy sweet treats:

• Watermelon banana popsicles
• Healthy tropical smoothie bowls

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