These Anti-Inflammatory Date Balls aren't just another snack—they're a powerhouse of flavor and health benefits. Made with ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, they’re as functional as they are delicious. Freeze them for a deliciously healthy snack, a quick energy boost, or a guilt-free treat, with proven longevity-boosting ingredients!
Each anti-inflammatory date ball is rich in nutrient-dense superfoods including walnuts, sesame seeds, dates, cocoa powder, and strawberries. They provide a perfect balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
I used fewer dates and added barberries for their delicious tang and anti-aging properties.
This Date Ball recipe was inspired by my Longevity Powder on my site, as well as my healthy Cream with Fruits snack, and this 10-minute Easy No-Churn Ice Cream inspired these longevity energy balls.
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👩🏼🌾 Date Balls Ingredients
- Quinoa adds a crunch and some protein but is optional.
- Dates: Some research indicates that dates can help lower blood glucose levels, reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase beneficial HDL cholesterol. They also appear supportive of a healthy gut microbiome.
- Amla powder (optional) helps lower LDL cholesterol.
- Barberries (optional) contain berberine, which helps boost the AMPK and autophagy anti-aging pathways. (Or use dried unsweetened cranberries.)
- Strawberry Powder (optional) contains fisetin which boosts anti-aging autophagy, helps reduce inflammation, and may help fight cancer.
- Sesamin in sesame seeds helps reduce inflammation by lowering C-reactive protein
- Cloves (optional) are high in antioxidants
- Walnuts may slow the rate of telomere shortening (anti-aging)
- Cocoa powder - regular cocoa flavanol consumption may have positive effects on facial wrinkles and elasticity. I use this high-flavanol brand.
- Flaxseed meal can reduce inflammation by lowering C-reactive protein and is rich in lignans which may help fight cancer
All the ingredients are linked below for convenience, so you can easily find what you need. Check out the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact quantities and step-by-step instructions.
🍓 Substitutions
- Barberries - substitute with unsweetened cranberries.
- Protein powder- Add protein powder to this recipe for more protein. See my favorite storebought brand here.
For more healthy snacks, visit my Healthy Vegan Treats page.
📖 How to Make Anti-Inflammatory Date Balls
For the full recipe with quantities, scroll down to the bottom of the post. This is an overview.
- Optional: Rinse the quinoa and drain well. Transfer the washed quinoa to a large skillet or saute pan. Toast the quinoa over medium heat, stirring frequently. Keep cooking until the quinoa browns and smells nutty.
- Transfer the walnuts to the canister of a food processor fitted with an ‘S’ blade. Pulse until a fine meal forms.
- Add the dates, barberries, cocoa powder, vanilla, flaxseed meal, sesame seeds, strawberry powder, amla powder, ground cloves, and 2 teaspoons of water.
- Pulse until a uniform dough forms. Test the dough by squeezing it to see if it sticks together. Add the additional teaspoon of water if the dough does not stick easily. Scoop out 3 tablespoons of dough for each ball. Roll the dough between your hands to form a ball. Place the ball on a nonstick surface. Repeat until there is no more dough.
- Coat the balls with the toasted quinoa, if using. (Or add the toasted quinoa to the dough before forming the balls.)
- Optional: Refrigerate or freeze before serving.
✔️ Expert Tips
- Add protein powder as desired. See my favorite storebought brand here. You might need to add more water for the balls to stick.
- Pitted dates do not taste as fresh as whole dates. I recommend purchasing them whole and removing the pits yourself.
- For serving: These anti-inflammatory date balls taste best chilled or frozen. Refrigerate or freeze before serving.
- Storage: Store the energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Nisha's Longevity Ingredients
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🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
Strawberry powder is a convenient way to add the benefits of strawberries to energy balls. It contains fisetin which boosts anti-aging autophagy, helps reduce inflammation, and may help fight cancer.
Every ingredient in this recipe is good for you. These healthy energy balls may help reduce inflammation (strawberry powder, flaxseeds, sesame seeds), reduce wrinkles (cocoa powder), reverse aging (barberries, cocoa powder, flaxseeds, strawberry powder, walnuts), lower LDL (amla powder), and fight cancer (strawberry powder, flaxseeds). Plus, they will leave you feeling energized and satisfied for hours.
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📖 Recipe
Anti-Inflammatory Date Balls
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Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons quinoa (optional)
- 1 ½ cups raw walnuts halves and pieces
- 10 Medjool dates pitted
- ¼ cup barberries or dried cranberries
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons strawberry powder (optional)
- ½ teaspoon amla powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon water plus more as needed
Instructions
- Optional for crunchy quinoa coating: Rinse the quinoa and drain well. Transfer the washed quinoa to a large skillet or saute pan. Toast the quinoa over medium heat, stirring frequently. Keep cooking until the quinoa browns and smells nutty.
- Pulse the walnuts: Transfer the walnuts to the canister of a food processor fitted with an ‘S’ blade. Pulse until a fine meal forms.
- Pulse ingredients: Add the dates, barberries, cocoa powder, vanilla, flaxseed meal, sesame seeds, strawberry powder, amla powder, ground cloves, and 2 teaspoons of water. Pulse until a uniform dough forms. Test the dough by squeezing it to see if it sticks together. Add the additional teaspoon of water if the dough does not stick easily.
- Scoop out 3 tablespoons of dough for each ball. Roll the dough between your hands to form a ball. Place the ball on a nonstick surface. Repeat until there is no more dough.
- Coat the balls with the toasted quinoa, if using. (Or add the toasted quinoa to the dough before forming the balls.)
- Chill or freeze before serving for the best-tasting energy balls.
Notes
- See the blog post for where to purchase these ingredients.
- Quinoa adds a crunch and some protein but is optional.
- Add protein powder as desired. You might need to add more water for them to stick.
- Pitted dates do not taste as fresh as whole dates. I recommend purchasing them whole and removing the pits yourself.
- Amla powder (optional) helps lower LDL cholesterol.
- Strawberry powder (optional) contains anti-inflammatory fisetin.
- Barberries (optional) contain berberine which helps reverse an aging pathway.
- Cloves (optional) are high in antioxidants.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is an ESTIMATE only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.
Julie says
We absolutely love these!! Easy to put together and so nice to have a healthy substitute for when we want something sweet! Thanks so much for a great recipe!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
These are my hubby's favorite snack! Glad you are enjoying them too!