Healthy chocolate date truffles are delicious, rich and chocolatey. These easy no-bake chocolate date balls are made with nutritious ingredients and they are vegan too. Dates add sweetness (no refined sugar!), nut butter gives a fudgy texture, and cocoa provides an intense dark chocolate flavour.
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Chocolate and dates are two of my all-time favourite ingredients, so these easy chocolate date truffles are one of my favourite recipes! I often make them around Christmas as an after-dinner treat, or to take as a festive homemade gift. But really, they are healthy enough to eat as satisfying energy balls all year round!
What you'll love about the recipe
- Quick and easy. These healthy chocolate date truffles are ready in 20 minutes with just 4 everyday ingredients, and no baking required
- Naturally sweetened. There are only dates in the recipe, with no refined sugar, syrups or artificial sweeteners
- Diet-friendly. Healthy chocolate date balls are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and easily made nut-free version if needed
- Freezer-friendly, so if you are making these no bake date truffles for gifting or to enjoy over Christmas, you can get ahead and pop them in the freezer
If you are a fan of coconut, you might also like these healthy coconut chocolate truffles. Or you might be tempted by these other healthy chocolate treats.
Ingredients for chocolate date balls
Dates. I used a block of cooking dates to make these healthy sugar free truffles. These are ready stoned and chopped, and they are a much cheaper way to buy dates. However, you can use whichever type of dates you prefer and remove the pits (stones) yourself.
If you use very soft Medjool dates, you can skip the soaking stage as they'll already be soft enough to go in the blender.
Dates are high in fibre and antioxidants, and have less of an effect on your blood sugar than many other sweet foods.
You might also like these homemade nak'd bars with dates.
Peanut butter, or your preferred nut butter. This adds a gorgeous fudgy richness to the vegan truffles and also provides healthy fats and protein. Nut butter is used as a healthy dairy free alternative to the cream or butter that you'd usually find in chocolate truffles.
If you want to make healthy date truffles without nuts, use tahini as an alternative to nut butter. Tahini is made from sesame seeds and will provide a similar fudgy richness in the recipe. You could also use sunflower seed butter if you prefer.
Unsweetened cocoa powder provides a dense dark chocolate flavour. Cocoa powder is a healthy ingredient, high in antioxidants and also a good source of fibre.
You can use raw cacao powder if you prefer, but avoid using sweetened drinking chocolate.
I also like to add an extra coating of cocoa powder to the truffles as it gives a lovely velvety finish.
Vanilla extract adds extra sweetness which complements the flavour of the chocolate.
Variations
As an alternative to vanilla extract, you could also use almond extract, or add a little finely ground coffee powder for mocha-flavoured chocolate date balls.
Or add a Middle Eastern twist with some ground spices such as cinnamon or cardamom, which go well with both chocolate and dates. I love cardamom, so I sometimes add a ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground seeds to the mixture.
You could also make orange-flavoured chocolate date truffles with a little grated orange zest.
How to make healthy date truffles (no bake!)
This simple healthy chocolate truffle recipe is quick and easy to make.
Add the chopped dates to a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak and soften for 10 minutes.
Drain the dates in a sieve to remove all of the soaking water. Press lightly with the back of a spoon to ensure all of the water has drained away.
Add the drained dates to a food processor or blender, along with the peanut butter, cocoa and vanilla extract. Blend well until the mixture is completely smooth.
Using a teaspoon, divide the mixture into 10 roughly shaped balls. Then gently roll each ball between the palms of your hands until smooth.
If the mixture is sticking to your hands, you can moisten them with a little water.
Either place the rolled truffle balls on baking paper, or a plastic lid as I did!
Coatings for chocolate date balls
If you want, you can add a coating of cocoa to the outside of the chocolate date balls which makes them look pretty.
Put a couple of teaspoons of cocoa into a cup or small bowl. Then one by one add the truffles to the bowl and gently spin around until they are fully coated.
If you want to make them look super special for a festive treat or homemade gift, you could coat them in dark chocolate (see here for detailed instructions on how to melt dark chocolate if needed).
You could also roll them in freeze-dried raspberry powder for a fruity tang. Freeze-dried raspberries are now widely available in supermarkets, and you can quickly and easily grind them to a powder in a mortar and pestle.
Recipe tips
If you've got a high-powered blender and the date mixture has gone a little soft, you can pop it in the fridge to firm up for a few minutes before you roll them out.
If you don't have a food processor or blender, you can still make these chocolate date truffles. Use a pre-made date paste in place of dates in the recipe. A good date paste should only have one ingredient - dates!
Warm the peanut butter gently in a pan to soften it, then stir in the date paste, cocoa and vanilla if using. Mix well and make into balls as per the recipe.
Serving and storage
Store your healthy date truffles in the fridge for up to a week. I prefer to serve them slightly chilled as I think it enhances the fudginess:)
Chocolate date truffle balls are perfect as a healthy no-bake mini-dessert served with coffee or as an energising treat at any time of day.
The combination of fibre-rich dates with healthy fats and protein makes these a satisfying (and delicious!) bite-sized snack.
Of course, they'd also make a lovely homemade gift:) Place them in individual paper cases in a decorated box, or wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, these date truffles freeze well. Freeze separately on a tray, then either seal in a re-closable bag or place them in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months and defrost at room temperature.
Yes, you can make date truffles without a food processor. Use a good quality date paste rather than whole dates, and warm the nut butter slightly so that it is easier to mix.
Yes, these date truffles are healthy and nutrient-dense. They are made without cream or refined sugar and each of these satisfying snacks has just 88 calories.
Other healthy no-bake treats
You might also like these other no-bake mini raw dessert balls and snacks. They are all easy to make with just a few simple healthy ingredients.
Why not make a variety and serve them on a dessert board with a selection of fruits and nuts?
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Recipe
Healthy Chocolate Date Truffles
Equipment
- Food processor or blender see notes if you want to make truffles without a processor or blender
Ingredients
- 150 g pitted dates
- 2 tablespoon peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder plus extra for rolling if desired
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the chopped dates to a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 10 minutes.150 g pitted dates
- Drain the water from the dates. Lightly squeeze with the back of a spoon to ensure all the water has drained away.
- Add the soaked dates to a blender or food processor along with the peanut butter, cocoa and vanilla extract. Blend well until completely smooth. If necessary, scrape down the sides of the food processor and re-blend.2 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Using a teaspoon, divide the mixture into 10 roughly shaped balls. Then shape each ball between your hands. Place the truffle balls onto baking paper or a plastic surface.
Optional
- Add a couple of teaspoons of cocoa powder to a small bowl or cup. Add the truffles one at a time and spin them around in the bowl until they are evenly coated.
- Alternatively, you could coat them in melted dark chocolate or freeze-dried raspberry powder.
- I like to chill the truffles, but they can also be eaten at room temperature.
Notes
- To make these truffles without a food processor or blender, use a pre-made date paste in place of dates in the recipe. Warm the peanut butter gently in a pan to soften it, then stir in the date paste, cocoa and vanilla if using. Mix well and make into balls as per the recipe.
- For healthy chocolate date truffles without nut, use tahini or sunflower seeds butter in place of the nut butter.
- As an alternative to vanilla extract, you could also use almond extract or a little finely ground coffee powder. Or add some ground spices such as cinnamon or cardamom which both go well with chocolate.
- You could also make orange-flavoured chocolate date truffles with a little grated orange zest.
Nutrition
Please note nutritional information is per serving and is provided for guidance only.
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