These easy Vegan Coconut Caramel Energy Balls are a healthy 3 ingredient snack that you can whip up in minutes in your food processor. Samoa Cookie Bites in 5 mins! Naturally sweetened, paleo, and the perfect healthy treat both kids and adults will love. Jump to Recipe
To make these healthy date caramel coconut balls, all you need is a food processor and 4 ingredients, one of them being salt, so it’s really more like 3 ingredients. No baking required!
They are wonderfully soft and creamy and taste a bit like salted caramel candy / samoa cookies! thanks to the combination of toasted coconut and fiber-rich dates. A healthy snack I feel good about reaching for any time. These babies are wholesome and decadent at the same time!
You can also give these away as gifts. Stick them in a jar and tie a pretty bow around it for a lovely healthy present from your kitchen.
Ingredients for making vegan energy balls:
- shredded coconut, small to medium shreds and the fresher the better. The baking aisle is where you should find them. To keep these bites refined sugar-free, make sure they are unsweetened! Sometimes shredded coconut is in the natural food aisle, but you may also want to look in the bulk section of the store
- dates – Medjool or regular dates. Medjool dates are bigger, softer and have a more caramelly flavor than regular dates so do get them if you find them at a good price. You can also find soft dates in Indian stores that might be smaller but are usually fresh and soft.
- almond butter or sun butter. Sun butter is made from sunflower seeds and safe for people with nut allergies and a great sweet lunchbox treat for nut-free classrooms.
- salt helps bring out the sweetness of the dates and makes these taste a bit like salted caramel candy, so don’t skip it.
Tips and Substitutions:
- For a gourmet-looking treat, you could also roll the coconut balls in shredded coconut or cocoa powder before chilling. Or roll them in hemp, sesame or chia seeds.
- Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or chai spice to the mix. Vanilla paste is also a great addition. Some cardamom and finely ground fennel seeds would also work really well and add an Indian twist to these.
- Add the zest of half a lemon or orange for a bit of zing.
- For mess-free eating, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- If your dough isn’t sticky enough, add a couple more dates and pulse until it feels nice and sticky.
How to make Vegan Coconut Caramel Bites :
Toast the coconut over a skillet until golden, keep stirring after the first minute. Let the coconut cool for 10 mins.
Add the coconut to food processor and process to make smaller shreds.
Add the dates and process until dates are evenly distributed over the coconuts.
Add the salt and the almond butter and process again until the mixture forms fat, crumbs that stick together easily.
If the mixture is not sticking together easily, add some more almond butter or if it is too crumbly then add a tsp of oat flour or regular flour.
Pulse a couple of times to combine, then shape into balls.
How long do homemade vegan energy balls last?
You can store these for up to a week in the refrigerator and a month in the freezer
More vegan snacks from the blog:
- Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites – When you want a blueberry muffin without baking.
- Carrot Cake Bites – They taste like Carrot Cake!
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls with Rice Krispies– Cannot get any better than pb and choc
- Seedy Chocolate Snack Bars – no dates!
- Golden Sesame Balls – Because turmeric
- Mojito Energy Balls – so fresh and zesty!
Recipe Card
Vegan Coconut Caramel Bites
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups (120 g) coconut shreds , small to medium shred, unsweetened and fresher the better
- 1 heaping cup of dates 11-12
- 1/4 cup (65 g) almond butter or sun butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Toast the coconut over a skillet until golden, keep stirring after the first minute.- Let the coconut cool for 10 mins.
- Add the coconut to food processor and process to make smaller shreds, then add the dates and process until dates are evenly distributed over the coconuts- Add the salt and the almond butter and process again until the mixture forms fat, crumbs that sticks together easily.
- If the mixture is not sticking together easily, add some more almond butter or if it is too crumbly then add a tsp of oat flour or regular flour.
- Pulse a couple of times to combine. then shape into balls.
- Store them for up to a week in the refrigerator and a month in the freezer.
Notes
- For a gourmet-looking treat, you could also roll the coconut balls in shredded coconut or cocoa powder before chilling. Or roll them in hemp, sesame or chia seeds.
- Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or chai spice to the mix. Vanilla paste is also a great addition. Some cardamom and finely ground fennel seeds would also work really well and add an Indian twist to these.
- For mess-free eating, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- If your dough isn’t sticky enough, add a couple more dates and pulse until it feels nice and sticky.
Martha
This is the BEST recipe-writer! As it happens, I’ve alrea dy eaten these (they’re great). So tonght,I read the recipe for it, and was wowed by the writer’s comprehensive review plus on-target photos. Good job!
Vegan Richa Support
thanks martha
Robertson
It looks yammy. I am definitely going to try this vegan energy ball.
Mandy Ross Screven
Yes Richa these are the bomb!
Here’s is my Facebook post about them!
This weeks sweet Treat is super yummy, Coconut Caramel Balls- By VeganRicha-
We actually formed them into bars and sprinkled some Cacoa Nibs on top.
If you already have almond butter on hand it will be very quick treat. However I made it from scratch and that took way longer than any other nut butter I’ve ever made, (probably 45 minutes for it break down into butter) Really put my Cuisinart through it’s paces. It’s kind of like making coconut butter as you think it will never turn to creamy but just be patient and the results are worth it.
Sreeja
Can I use freshly grated coconut?
Richa
Yes, store it in the fridge though
Anusooya
Thank you very much for the recipe. Taste delicious.
I added a pinch of cinnamon and cardamon and rolled in sesame seeds.
Vegan Richa Support
Thank you for trying it out! oh sesame seeds – nice twist!
Keani
We made these today with cashew butter and they were a hit!! The decadent side of me wants to dip these in melted chocolate sauce. 😄 Totally not necessary but sure sounds delicious!
Keani
Do you think cashew butter would work well for this? I’m tempted to try this with it before making sun butter. My four year old and I are excited to make this!!
Vegan Richa Support
I think so, yes!
Vegan Richa Support
yes!
Tracy E Henry
OMG, just made these. These are fantastic!!! And filling!
Thank you so much,. They are not my go to snack. 🙂
Jennifer
If I don’t have dates, could I use something Else?
Thanks!
Vegan Richa Support
dried figs or raisins would work
Ghulam Mohyudin
Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.
Richa
amesome!
Shweta
looks do yum!! Definitely gonna try this out.
Vegan Richa Support
I hope that you do – thank you!
Olivia
Interesting Article. Thanks
Vegan Richa Support
thank you!
Dale
I love these – so simple!
Vegan Richa Support
exactly – thank you!
Raymond
Hello Richa,
which kind of food processor are you recommending?
Best greetings
Richa
any food processor 5 to 8 cup size.
Sara Ross
Easy to make,taste good too, no sugar. Great simple recipe.
Vegan Richa Support
thanks! simple is best
Tamara
Yay! These are PERFECT snacks for my vegan keto diet!!! I will make these today, to stave off any carb cravings!
Richa
they are so delicious!