Sesame Orange Date Balls! Say goodbye to processed snacks and hello to a wholesome, vibrant treat that’s as good for your body as it is for your taste buds!
Bursting with flavor and packed with wholesome ingredients, these Sesame Orange Date Balls are incredibly easy to whip up in your kitchen. The natural sweetness of dates blends beautifully with the zesty notes of orange, while the crunchy sesame seeds add a delightful texture that makes each bite an indulgent treat. Whether you need a midday energy boost or an after dinner treat, these Sesame Orange Date Balls are a delicious go-to solution.
Whole Food Plant Based, Vegan, plant based, oil free, refined sugar free, no highly processed ingredients and gluten free.
Hi there, Ameera here!
We absolutely devoured these delightful Sesame Orange Date Balls, and let me tell you, the orange flavor is the star of the show! It’s not overpowering at all; instead, it dances on your taste buds in a totally orangy-licious way. The perfect balance of sweetness and zest makes these little bites an irresistible treat for any time of the day.
You gotta give this one a try!
Tips for Success:
- Flavor Profile: These delicious Sesame Orange Date Balls are easy to make and are both healthy and delicious. They are the perfect snack when you need a quick pick-me-up to power through until your next meal.
- Medjool Dates: We suggest using Medjool dates due to their consistent sticky and soft texture. If using a drier date, consider placing them in a small bowl, cover with boiling water for 10 minutes, then drain off the water and use.
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: We suggest using unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: Be sure to use toasted sesame seeds. If you can’t find toasted sesame seeds, sesame seeds can easily be toasted in a dry skillet. Place the sesame seeds into a large dry skillet, stir constantly over medium heat until the sesame seeds become golden and fragrant. Remove them immediately from the pan to avoid burning. Wait until they have completely cooled before using.
- Orange Extract: We loved the orange flavor in this recipe. It totally made the date balls sing!
- Amount of Sea Salt: We loved that little play on sweet and salty; however, we could see some folks not enjoying this combination. If unsure, start with a pinch or so of sea salt and add more as you go.
- Cashew Butter Substitutes: You can try the typical cashew substitutes: almond butter, other nut or seed butters with the understanding that the flavor and texture will change accordingly. You may need to adjust/add ingredients to compensate. We have not tested any substitutions.
Leftovers and Freezing:
Leftovers will generally keep 5 days in the refrigerator. Store in a covered container.
This Sesame Orange Date Balls freeze well.
Pantry Products:
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: We used Bob’s Red Mill Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (Unsulfured). Feel free to use your favorite unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Cashew Butter: We used Artisana Organic Raw Vegan Cashew Butter. Feel free to use your favorite raw cashew butter in this recipe. Read the label, make sure the only ingredient is raw cashews. Do not use a salted or sweetened cashew butter.
- Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
Kitchen Equipment:
- Food processor
If you try these tasty treats, we would love to know if you enjoy it as much as we do! Please leave us a review! Post a picture on Facebook or Instagram and tag us! We would love to hear from you.
PrintSesame Orange Date Balls
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes (+2hr Rest Time)
- Total Time: 15 Minutes (+2hr Rest Time)
- Yield: 29-30 balls 1x
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Bursting with flavor and packed with wholesome ingredients, these Sesame Orange Date Balls are incredibly easy to whip up in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Food Processor Ingredients:
- 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (approx. 10 dates) *
- ¼ cup cashew butter *
- 2 to 6 teaspoons hot tap water *
Other Ingredients:
- ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut *
- ¾ cup toasted sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
- ¼ teaspoon orange extract *
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon sea salt (+/-) *
Instructions
- Place Medjool dates, cashew butter, and 1 to 2 teaspoons hot tap water into the food processor, process for 30 to 60 seconds, until the mixture starts to break up and then resembles a sticky, thick caramel. If needed, continue to add 1 teaspoon of hot tap water at a time until the mixture resembles a sticky, thick caramel.
- Place the sticky Medjool date caramel into a large bowl, add all the Other Ingredients, stir the mixture together with a sturdy wooden spoon or use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients together.
- Roll the mixture into one-inch balls, place into an air-tight storage container and refrigerate for 2 hours. Keep stored in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Notes
*Please reference the blog post for Tips for Success, Pantry Items Used, Storage and Freezing, and Kitchen Products Used.
*Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
*Servings: Makes 29 to 30 one-inch balls
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These are good! I altered the recipe a bit – I used an actual orange and didn’t need to add water, yum! And a bit of lemon essence, and increased the coconut, so delish!
Hi there Cheryl,
YAYYY!! We are thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much.
-Ameera and Robin
These were awesome. But mine only made about 13 average size balls about 1 inch or less. Once I blended the 10 dates, I first added only 1/4 cup toasted sesame and 1/4 cup coconut with the full amount of chia. Based on the amount of date mix I had that was definitely enough to incorporate. I feel like I missed a step or ingredient because it definitely did not make the 29-30 balls as described. But, what it did make was great!! I love your recipes.
Hi there Gina,
We are so happy that you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much. We appreciate you and your support. <3
-Ameera and Robin
Such a satisfying snack! Love the sweetness of the dates combined with the crunch of the seeds and coconut. The orange flavour is a great compliment to it all. Next time I am going to up the orange extract just a bit.
So yeah, a repeat recipe!
Hi there Sandra,
YAYYYYYY!!! We are so happy that you gave this recipe a try and enjoyed them. Thank you so much.
-Ameera and Robin