Date Balls For The Kids (Raw, Vegan. No Bake, No Salt)

What a fun project this was today. Super easy, quick, healthy AND delicious. Can't beat this date balls recipe. Oh wait, yes I can, they are also kid-approved and mom-approved. My kids devoured them in minutes. They are raw, vegan, gluten-free and there's not baking or cooking required.

Your kids should like them as well. Of course I can't guarantee it, but give it try.

My sons love dates by themselves and of course chocolate, too, what kid doesn't love chocolate? I don't allow them too much chocolate though so this was an extra treat.

If your kids like to help out in the kitchen, like my oldest son does, then this project is a great one for a rainy day. It's a basic recipe, nothing complicated, so the kids can get hands-on without being frustrated or screwing up the dish.

And best of all, there is no baking or dehydrating involved, so they are instantly ready to eat. 

Optional Recipe Variations

Try adding cacao powder, hemp seeds, goji berries, coconut flakes for topping. If you don't mind them eating chocolate chips, you can try adding those as well.

We love all kinds of cookie balls and protein balls around here. They make the perfect snack because you don't have to bake or cook them and they are a great source of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and carbohydrates to keep their brains running smoothly. 

A few other protein ball recipes you might love

• Peanut Butter Protein Balls
• Cardamom Tahini Protein Balls 
• Flourless No-bake Chip Cookie Dough Balls

DATE BALL INGREDIENTS

½ c sprouted walnuts {or just raw walnuts}
½ c sprouted cashews {or just raw cashews}
20 dates 
2 Tbls date sugar {optional}
1 ½ Tbls lemon juice {or water if don't have this}

Optional: cacao powder, hemp seeds, goji berries, coconut flakes for topping

DATE BALL INSTRUCTIONS

In a Vitamix blend the dates, date sugar and lemon juice until it turns into a paste. Like 1 minute or so. 

In a Cusinart or food processor chop nuts on high until so fine that they almost turn into a flour. 

Using your hands and fingers roll 1 teaspoon or 1 Tbls of date paste into the nuts until it forms a ball. Then lightly roll that ball again through the chopped nuts. {see photos}

I decided to do a layer of raw cacao powder. You can use regular toasted cocoa powder if you want as well. It gave them a dark truffle sort of a look. 

You can roll them in coconut powder, goji berries or even hemp seeds if you feel like it. 

Refrigerate balls for about 2 hours. 

NOTE: If you have any of the chopped nut flour mixture left, save it, I'm making raw vegan banana bread and it calls for this same mixture. 

Enjoy & Happy Weekend!