Category Archives: dates

Date Protein Balls – vegan

As promised, I am finally getting the protein date ball recipe up! Similar to my homemade larabar (Loribar) recipes:

These are quite easy to make.  I used medjool dates for this, so keep in mind they will vary a bit in moisture depending on the brand and type of dates you use.

Ingredients:

8 ounces of dates

2 oz of cashews or almonds (or any nut, really)

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

2 tablespoons dried unsweetened coconut

1 tsp cinnamon

30 grams of unflavored brown rice protein powder:

In a food processor, grind the cashews up to meal consistency.

Add the dates and pulse to chop, then spin until the mixture blends together:

You actually could form into balls at this point and have a basic Larabar.  Or continue on.  Add in the cinnamon and the protein powder:

Using your hands, knead the protein powder into the mixture as best as you can.  It will still be somewhat dry:

Add in the coconut oil (melted) and the coconut and knead will with your hands until everything is incorporated.  This takes a bit of time for the protein powder to hydrate with the oil.

Roll into ball size of choice, or press into a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap.  You need to use a lot of pressure to keep these formed, so I kind of press into ball shape.  In the loaf pan use something to help press the ‘batter’ in.  If using the loaf pan, lift out the batter and use a pizza cutter to cut into bars:

If you store these in the fridge, the coconut oil makes them nice and firm.  I could see dipping them in chocolate (did I say that??)

I am going to give a total for the entire batch, as you can determine how many pieces you get.  You can do probably about 2 to 3 dozen balls or so?

Batch total: 1102 calories, 49 g of fat, 146 g of carbs, 20 g of fiber, 39 g of protein.

I have to say that I love these!  Easy to pop, though – so be careful, since they are nutrient dense.  If you use a whey protein powder, you may not need as much coconut oil, so experiment away.  I use unflavored protein powder, as I really like the flavor of the dates by themselves, but let me know if you use a flavored one how it tastes!

Larabar redux – Part II

Chocolate Coconut Loribar – proclaimed the best one yet by John (probably because of the chocolate).

This time I soaked the dates. I have noticed a big difference in dates as far as moisture content goes, so keep that in mind when you make these. I currently have Amport Foods Pitted Dates, and these are drier than, say, the Dole brand. I poured boiling water into a dish with some dates, and then let them sit for several hours. Then drained off the water.

Ingredients:
20 grams of dates (about 4)
13 grams of Designer Whey natural
28 grams of almond meal
15 grams of coconut flakes
6 grams Giardhelli cocoa powder

In a food processor, pulse the dates, almond meal and cocoa powder until well combined. It will ball up into the processor, then you will know it’s mixed. Put into a bowl and add the protein powder. Mush thoroughly until well combined. Keep mixing – it will add in, even though it will seem dry at first.

Toast the coconut in a fry pan and allow to cool. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and roll into bars. Divide the coconut in half and roll each bar into the coconut – pressing to make it stick.

Voila – 2 yummy bars! These are almost like under done brownies. A bit chewy, chocolately and good. I really couldn’t taste the dates in these at all with the cocoa.

Stats:

Approximately 175 calories, 10 grams of fat, 15 carbs, 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein per bar.