EN DE FR ES PT IT
Peanut Butter & Date Energy Balls with Desiccated Coconut
Recipe

Peanut Butter & Date Energy Balls with Desiccated Coconut

Dessert • South Africa

Quick no-bake energy balls made with soft dates, peanut butter and oats, rolled in desiccated coconut for a satisfying sweet bite.

Why smarter

Portion-controlled and naturally sweetened with dates, with oats and peanut butter for staying power—no butter, cream or deep-frying needed.

Chef tip

If the mixture feels dry, add 1–2 teaspoons warm water; if it’s sticky, chill 10 minutes or add a spoon of oats.

Soft line

A sweet little bite that actually feels filling.

Ingredients

# Ingredient Text Amount Unit Ingredient Name Notes
1 Pitted dates (soft, packed) 120.000 g Dates, pitted If dry, soak in hot water 5 minutes, then drain well
2 Smooth peanut butter 45.000 g Peanut butter About 3 tablespoons
3 Rolled oats 30.000 g Rolled oats About 1/3 cup
4 Desiccated coconut, plus extra to roll 20.000 g Desiccated coconut Reserve ~10 g for coating
5 Ground cinnamon 1.000 tsp Cinnamon Optional
6 Salt 1.000 pinch Salt Optional, brings out sweetness
7 Warm water (only if needed) 2.000 tsp Water Add gradually to help it blend

Method

  1. If your dates are a bit firm, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
  2. Add the dates to a food processor and pulse until they form a rough paste.
  3. Add peanut butter, oats, 10 g desiccated coconut, cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
  4. Pulse until the mixture comes together and can be pinched into a ball. If it’s crumbly, add warm water 1 teaspoon at a time and pulse again.
  5. Scoop and roll into 8 small balls (about 20–25 g each).
  6. Spread the remaining desiccated coconut on a plate and roll each ball to coat lightly.
  7. Chill for 10–15 minutes to firm up, then serve 2 balls per person.
  8. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.