Ginger Protein Balls with Dates

Hand holding ginger protein ball with a bite missing.

Easy to make healthy ginger balls! Dates and fresh ginger make these full of flavor - like a healthy gingerbread cookie! This snack is high in protein from the almonds, oats, and hemp hearts.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Servings: balls

Author: Danika Vanderpyl

Equipment

1 food processor or high-power blender

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates or about 10-13 Medjool dates
1 cup almonds I use unroasted, unsalted
2 cups rolled oats
½ cup hemp hearts
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger (or 1 tablespoon of powdered ginger)
1 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoons melted coconut oil

Instructions

Start by placing the dates in a small bowl and pouring hot water over them to soak for at least 10 minutes. Then drain the water from the dates and set them aside.
In a food processor or a high powder blender place the almonds and the oats and pulse until there are almost no chunks. Add the hemp hearts, cinnamon, and salt, then blend until everything looks like coarse sand.
Add the grated ginger, maple syrup, coconut oil, and dates to the blender or food processor and pulse until a dough starts to form. It will become quite thick and hard to blend so not everything will be mixed together. When this happens dump this whole ginger date mixture into a medium bowl.
Use your hands to knead the dough. There will be crumbs - keep kneading the dough until all the dry oats and nuts are mixed into the dates, forming one dough ball.
Using a tablespoon of dough at a time, roll into balls. Store the ginger date protein balls in an airtight container in the fridge (for 2-3 weeks) or the freezer (for up to 3 months). I like eating these ginger bites frozen! Enjoy!

Notes

Measuring dates: I use about 10-13 Medjool dates for this recipe, press the dates lightly into the measuring cup until you get 1 cup.
If you do not have hemp hearts you can use ground flax seeds (it may have a stronger taste) or any protein powder.
As seen in the photos, I made a glaze for these protein balls, this was solely to make the balls look pretty. To make the glaze, mix together 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil and 3 tablespoons of sifted powdered sugar. Drizzle this thin mixture over the balls.

Nutrition