I’ve been making an extra effort lately to get into a pandemic isolation fitness routine, with a combination of walks and online classes. Of course, that makes me hungry! When I need a snack to satisfy that peckish feeling, it doesn’t get much simpler than this, folks — these Coconut Date Bites have only two ingredients.
Sometimes Simple is Best
I know, some of my recipes seem complicated, but that’s usually due to my love of herbs and spices — and lots of them. But don’t worry, you won’t feel like anything’s missing here. These chewy, two-ingredient bites are just the thing when you need a little pick-me-up.
Coconut Date Bites
You might call them energy balls. I just call them good.
They epitomize my sweetly unrefined approach to food these days. Less sugar, and what I use is from more natural and less refined sources than sparkling white sugar.
I like to put a couple of these in a small container in my bag when I’m heading out and about. (Or, at least back in the days when I headed out and about with great frequency. I’ve gotten in my car less than once a week during this time of isolation.)
When I first developed this recipe, I’d been on a special diet for a couple of months, and my former pitstops were out of bounds. (At the moment they’re out of bounds for entirely different reasons!). Not only do these naturally sweet coconut date bites satisfy my hunger pangs, but they keep them at bay for quite some time, too. On a little road trip once, a couple of these plus some almonds allowed me to breeze right past the service centres! These days one of these bites might be just the ticket at the halfway point of a long walk.
Yup, these energy balls work for me!
The trick to making these is to blend the coconut and dates into a thick but smooth paste. It’s pretty sturdy and takes some muscle to achieve, so it’s best to use a powerful blender like a Vitamix. (And no, I’m not being sponsored to say that.) I think a good food processor would work too, although I haven’t tried it yet — my next batch!
Once the paste is made, just form it into balls, roll them in a little more coconut and … voila!
Who knew simplicity could be so satisfying?
These Coconut Dates Bites have only two ingredients. Who knew something so simple could be so satisfying and energizing!
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, plus an extra 1/4 cup for rolling
- 12 medjool dates pitted and coarsely torn or chopped
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Put the two cups of unsweetened shredded coconut and the date pieces into a blender or food processor. Process until it forms a smooth, thick paste. If using a Vitamix, you'll definitely need to use the tamper to keep things going.
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Place the remaining coconut in a small bowl. Then use a tablespoon-sized ice cream scoop or a spoon to measure out the mixture. Roll each scoop into a ball between your palms. Put a few into the coconut at a time and roll them around, pressing if needed to get the coconut to adhere.
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Place in a single layer in a dish, then cover and refrigerate until firm. After that you can layer them into another container. I keep mine in the fridge, which makes them extra chewy and gives me more time to savour them.
Looking for More Ideas for Coconut and Dates?
Here are some more of my favourite recipes that use coconut and dates in delicious, sweetly unrefined ways: Pomegranate Coconut Meringue Bark, a smooooth Almond Smoothie, and Queen Elizabeth Cake.
First published 2017 02 26
Updated & republished 2020 05 28
I need a simple snack like these. Mostly, though, I need to get my blender fixed so I can make these. But when I do, I’m adding these to my repertoire of nibblies.
My blender is sounding like it will be in the shop before long … fortunately, Vitamix has a great warranty and customer service! Glad to hear you’ll be adding these to your snacking repertoire. I gave Little Miss M a bite of one yesterday and she said, ‘Mmm, chocolate.’ I let her think that, lol.
love both the medjool dates and coconut very good receipe….
Thanks Suzanne – I was quite happy with how these turned out.
glad you brought this back yummy to my tummy…
Love that!
Sold my blender when we moved as I just wasn’t using it much. You never know how much you miss something until once it is gone. 🙂 Your little bites sound like a healthy treat.
Oh, I know exactly what you mean. It seems that every time I give away a kitchen tool that I “never” use I have a pressing need for it within months! At least you can use your food processor to make this treat!
Definitely making! Soon — I need this kind of pick-me-up.
I hope you like them! I like that they’re naturally sweet. They don’t rev me up, lol.
Sounds like a winner, Mar. Love the idea of taking some along in the car. I look for this type of treat wen I’m traveling to Michigan. As you mentioned, they’re far better than stopping along the way. I always end up with fudge that never seems to make it to my destination. 🙂
Ah, the mysteriously disappearing fudge! That’s not something I’ve ever eaten a lot of; even in my raging sweet tooth days, I found that a little went a long way. I’m glad you like the idea of these bites as a substitute. Of course, it’s possible to scarf them down too, but so far I’ve managed to restrain myself 😇
[…] Coconut Date Bites from Urban Cottage Life […]
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[…] sweet treats here at Urban Cottage Life, and here are a few that make a fine snack or pick-me-up: Coconut Date Bites, Strawberry Marshmallows, and Chocolate Mousse, Avocado Style (that’s right, it’s […]
Well it certainly doesn’t get any easier than that although I’ll have to use a processor.
I’m going to try this in my food processor next time, too.