Chocolate Protein Date Balls

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An easy recipe for protein date balls made with whole oats, unsweetened coconut, unflavored whey protein powder, Medjool dates, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and maple syrup. This simple protein ball recipe tastes like a chocolate no-bake cookie! These protein date balls are nutritious AND delicious!

protein date balls in a bowl with a napkin around it

Protein date balls are great for meal prep! They are a perfect pre or post-workout snack, a tasty grab-and-go breakfast, or even a mini, bite-size, dessert. These protein date balls can also easily be made gluten-free using certified gluten-free oats. I also love the macros for this recipe, since a lot of energy ball recipes are high in sugar and low in protein. For each protein date ball, you get 5 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of fat for only 112 calories. Not too shabby!

Recipe Ingredients

Whole oats– aka old-fashioned oats (you can go with gluten-free oats for a gluten-free protein ball)
Unsweetened shredded coconut– regular shredded coconut is high in sugar, so I go with unsweetened coconut to reduce the calories and sugar content
Unflavored whey protein powder– I use and recommend a plain unflavored whey protein concentrate for this recipe. Whey isolate can make recipes too dry, so go for a whey concentrate or a whey protein blend instead
Medjool dates– make sure that you buy the pitted dates or be sure to remove all pits before adding them to the food processor
Peanut Butter– creamy no-stir peanut butter will result in the best texture
Coconut milk– I use the full-fat coconut milk in the can for this recipe. Make sure to shake it up well, because the fat tends to separate
Maple syrup– go with good quality real maple syrup here
Cocoa powder– the cocoa in this recipe gives these whey protein date balls a delicious no-bake cookie taste

Recipe Steps

Step 1. Combine all of the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and seal the lid.

ingredients for protein date balls in a food processor

Step 2. Pulse the ingredients until blended and the mixture clumps together. Don’t get too crazy here, because you want your balls to have some texture, but be smooth enough for rolling. This right here is just right.

protein date ball mixture in a food processor mixed and crumbly

Step 3. Place the mixture in the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes so they are easy to clump and roll into balls.

Step 4. Roll into 12 balls, evenly sized balls, and enjoy!

overhead photo of chocolate protein date balls in a white bowl with a napkin, chocolate chips and oats around the bowl.

How To Store Date Balls

You may be wondering how long do whey protein date protein balls last? You can store date balls in a sealed container, I love these glass storage containers, in the refrigerator for up to 7 days for maximum freshness. Date balls also freeze beautifully, just store them in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. That way you’ll have a tasty healthy snack on-hand whenever the craving strikes.

Recipe Tips

A food processor is the best tool for the job when making this recipe. It’s easy to control the consistency of the date ball mixture when you pulse the ingredients instead of processing them on full blast. I like for the oats to maintain some texture for a good ball consistency.

Recipe FAQ

What kind of dates are best for making date balls?

This recipe calls for Medjool dates. They are the largest of the date varieties and have a sweet, caramel-like taste and texture that make them perfect for protein date balls. Deglet Noor dates are smaller and have a more firm texture. Medjool dates are considered the créme-de-la-créme of all dates. They are typically found in the produce section of the grocery store. If you’ve never stuffed a Medjool date with peanut butter for a snack, you definitely need to try it! So good!

What if my protein date balls are too dry?

If your recipe turns out too dry, the likely culprit is natural peanut butter that was too thick from the oil separating, or the protein powder was a whey isolate protein instead of whey concentrate. Whey isolate protein and plant-based protein powders tend to be more “thirsty” and soak up more of the liquid in the recipe. You can try adding one or two more dates or a little bit of water or maple syrup and pulsing the mixture in the food processor until you get a good rolling consistency.

More Delicious Energy Ball Recipes

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Bites

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss Balls

Nutella Energy Bites

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