Don't these look like chocolate munchkins or doughnut holes you can buy from Dunkin Donuts?
If you have never heard of them before they are little balls of doughnut cut out of a large doughnut when making a hole in it sold at many coffee shops in New England. My kids LOVE them and I try to limit how often they can have them. They may not be a lot of calories but are full of white flour and white sugar I would prefer they don't have frequently.
Also for awhile now I've been wanting to come up with a no bake dessert. I've seen a bunch on Pinterest, but of course many contain nuts my boys can't have. I thought about combining the two ideas and came up with this recipe using dates to sweeten them. They are much heavier in texture than doughnut holes from the coffee shop and my kids loved them AND I loved I didn't have to bake them! Easy to whip up in a food processor in no time at all.
If you are able to have nuts they would give this a yummy crunchy inside. You could replace the chocolate chips with any nuts of your choice. You could also roll these in crushed nuts on the outside, that would be delightful!
My goal in the making of these was not low calorie or low fat but something nutritious as an alternative to doughnut holes at the coffee shop. Enjoy!
These would be perfect in the summer when you don't want to heat your house! If you're in the mood for more chocolate , you could make some fabulous Sugar-Free Brownies, or Dairy Free Sugar Free Chocolate Mousse ( no oven required for that either!)
My oldest pickiest 11 year old boy LOVED them so that is saying A LOT!
- 1 ¼cup coconut flakes, shredded, unsweetened
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips*
- 1 banana, mashed
- ½ teaspoon chocolate liquid stevia
- 9 dates, pitted, chopped
- Blend one cup of the coconut flakes with the banana and cocoa in a food processor.
- A small amount at a time add the chopped dates to the food processor.
- Once thoroughly combined until smooth mix in the stevia, vanilla extract and salt.
- Place mixture into a bowl and stir in the chocolate chips.
- Place the ¼ cup of coconut flakes onto a plate.
- Make 14 small chocolate balls from the mixture then roll them into the coconut flakes. Refrigeration is not necessary, but if you are not eating them right away I would keep them in the fridge to stay firm until you are ready to eat.
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Olivia @ Liv Lives Life
Wow, this recipe just made my day! I love coconut + chocolate, and the fact that these are egg and nut free (I'm allergic) make them that much better!
Brenda
I love how easy they are to make. JOY!
Ashley
Can I freeze them if I'm not going to be eating them within the next 3-4 weeks?
Brenda
Yes absolutely!
Joyce
Thanks, these sound wonderful! I just found out that my thyroid is extremely hypo active (barely functioning), so in addition to taking essential supplements, I want to change over to a healthy way of eating. I won't say what I've been eating for more than five decades, but I'm a really good cook and baker...Ahem! That says it all right there 😛
Will try these very soon--I love dates, so am glad they're part of this recipe.
Tara
Going to try these but maybe skip the coconut as my little one doesn't like coconut. Might try with the oats but if I roll them in oats or nuts, she's not going to eat them. She is so picky. But I think they'd be just as good without rolling them in anything, do you think so?
Brenda
they are good but a bit sticky. you could roll them in cocoa powder instead.
Rebecca Poppe
Wow! When I read the title of this recipe I thought, well sheesh what could possibly be IN this snack!? But reading it over I thought, wow, yum, and perfect!! Thanks!!
Courtney
My daughter is dairy/casein, gluten free... for the chocolate chips, what is grain sweetened?
Brenda
I found them at Whole Foods and the brand is Sunspire, sweetened with barely malt is what it says on the package.
karen
You just have to be careful. Barley malt is not gluten gree. Enjoy life brand chips are allergen free, but sweetened with evaporated cane juice.
Erin
We've substituted yams for bananas in recipes with good results. It may work here! You have to cook and cool them first.
Erin
Oops! The yam comment was for a post further up!! For chocolate chips you can try Ambrosia chocolate chips from Costco, they're dairy free. Or Velata dark chocolate. Its dairy free, gluten free and made in a nut free factory. Its also Belgian so its delicious.
Keri
can it substitue truvia powder sweetner for the liquid stevia? If so, how much would be appropriate?
Brenda
I don't use truvia but the dates alone make this pretty sweet so maybe one packet is all you need.
Jessica Johnson
This might be a stupid question but if I don't like stevia what can I substitute for that. Just regular sugar? I don't know what it is but stevia tastes super super sweet to me and it drives me nuts lol but all the other ingredients sound delicious.
Brenda
Honey would be my choice, maybe about 1/4 cup.
Chris
These are all over the web, but I like the banana addition here.
Brenda
Also, MOST of the other recipes use some kind of nut or nut flour which we can't have since my boys are allergic. I didn't find any or only a few recipes that were without them when I was looking around the web.
Michelle
These look amazing & thank you for posting the nutrition info! Quick question: is the 134 cals, 7g fat, etc. per ball, or for the entire batch?
Brenda
yes for one.
Ali
I have substituted agave nectar for the stevia in multiple other recipes. I just use the same amount as suggested for the stevia 🙂
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal
These look wonderful. I have no allergies but I like leading a healthy lifestyle and these look like they would be right up my alley. Thank you for sharing. Pinned!
Meg
In my pantry, I have honey, agave nectar and coconut crystals. Think any of those would work as a substitute for the stevia? If so, how much?
Brenda
I have not experimented with other sweeteners in this particular recipe and I am not sure if those would change the texture and make them mushy. Sorry you will have to experiment with it and let me know 🙂
Jenn
Just made these and wow!! They taste great, and they remind me of cake balls, only healthier. Thanks for a great recipe!
Amber
Oh boy do these looks amazing.
Thank you for sharing this week on AFW! Be sure to check back next week for reader favorites and hostess picks.
Be Well,
--AFW Hostesses
Di
Wow. If I swap out the choco chips for nuts, I could eat these during Lent and be eating something healthy. Can't wait to try them.
christine
any thoughts on a substitute for the banana? my son is allergic to bananas in addition to gluten, dairy, and eggs. would love to try this recipe though.
Brenda
Someone mentioned using pumpkin, but of course it isn't sweet like banana, but you could add more stevia sweetener.
Diana
You might try sweetened or unsweetened applesauce
June
I was wondering if applesauce would work too! I'm allergic to bananas too and I see a lot of recipes with banans in them! Some work with applesauce and some don't because the applesauce is wetter. These look SO yummy!
Nancy @Real Food Allergy Free
Wow! Please, please share these at allergy free Wednesday! http://www.realfoodallergyfree.com/2012/02/allergy-free-wednesday-229/
Kate @Type1Momma
wow, these look fabulous! I think I am going to try the sub you mentioned and sub out the chocolate chips for nuts to make it a little more diabetic friendly - I'm thinking almonds? I will have to try this out and let you know how it goes. Thanks for a great looking recipe!
angie
mm looks like a winner to me!
Heather
Yum except for coconut. Hmmm - I wonder what else I could sub in place for it.
Brenda
You could sub oats instead, that should work.
Heather
Perfect- I think I will give it a try. Just ordered some vanilla creme stevia today to try.
Debbie Hughes
I'm thinking I need new glasses! Ha!
Karen
These look delicious! Any suggestions on a substitute for the dates? I do not like dates. Or can you not taste them? Thanks for all the wonderful recipes. 🙂
Brenda
I don't think you'll notice the dates at all, they sweeten it nicely. The biggest flavor is the coconut so if your not a fan of coconut you may not like
them.
Karen
Ok..Thanks, I do love coconut. And I would probably add pecans. YUMMY!
Brenda
Is there a replacement for dates? My body doesn't process dates. My body reacts the same was as it does with gluten, not worth the week out of work. 🙂
This recipe looks delicious and many less calories than store bought.
Brenda
Possibly plums?
Karissa
What if you tried dried apricots? Still sweet but not overly sweet and about the same texture as dates!
Laurie Bouley
these look fab! even I would eat them! gooey! mm mm
Debbie Hughes
how much stevia?
Brenda
It's listed there as 1 teaspoon, vanilla creme stevia.