I had bought some dates and was trying to think of something to make with them. Dates are in most vegan recipes but they are really expensive so I hadn’t bought them. Then the coupon I had was about to expire so I bit the bullet and decided to buy them. Then I saw the awesome protein balls around on Pinterest and decided to try the dates in that. Here are my 3 Ingredient Protein Balls.
First off let me say that dates look like cockroaches, especially while soaking, and it totally freaked me out and I almost threw them all away! Then I took them out of the water to take out the pits and the skins come off – I threw up a little because it totally looked like the big ones. Now I am not a total scardy-cat, but I have had the big suckers in my apartment. Totally scared of them, I admit it. Creepy!
The three real ingredients are just dates, walnuts and oats. The add-ins I used were cinnamon and vanilla – and really I can’t even taste the cinnamon or vanilla so it isn’t necessary. This recipe is a lot easier than I ever thought it would be!
~
~
~
Soak some dates, then squeeze the pits out. Toss them in the food processor with the walnuts and pulse. I added the vanilla and cinnamon-the vanilla added enough moisture so they got grooving. Then I poured everything into a bowl and added the oats and mixed everything with my hands. Wet hands then roll the mixture into small balls and place on plate. Refrigerate until firm; be sure to leave in fridge in a ziplock baggy so they won’t go bad.
3 Ingredient Protein Balls, 24 servings
1 C Dried Dates, soak and de-pit
1 C Fishers Walnuts
1 C Oats
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1. Soak dates in water for 2-3 hours.
2. Drain dates and carefully squeeze out pits. Toss dates into food processor.
3. Add walnuts and pulse. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Turn processor on low and mix.
4. Pour mixture into a bowl and add oats.
5. Have a plate out and ready.
6. Mix oats and date mixture with hands.
7. Once all mixed, wet hands with a little water and roll mixture into balls. Line up on plate.
8. Refrigerate for a few hours. Store in ziplock baggy in fridge.
9. Enjoy.
Stats:
Calories: 63
Total Fat: 4g
Sodium: 0mg
Carbs: 8g
Protein: 2g
Fitting Into Vegan 
I am going to do this!! I needed a recipe like this…thanks so much Megan for keeping us healthy!
These were awesome and the dates added the perfect amount of sweetness! No problem-I love helping others!!!
Yum, been trying to find a better alternative to high sugar granola bars on the market and this may fit the bill…need to try 🙂
Me too! With not buying processed stuff I knew I needed a clean and healthy version of the old fave, and didn’t want to spend too much money on buying the store versions.
It never occurred to me that these look like cockroaches – but they kind of do! Ha! Still delicious though – and love these bars!
It’s true! Or maybe I just have ugly cockroaches on the brain. I do the pre-walk in the kitchen (look before stepping) before going in 🙂 These were good though!!!
Cockroaches, that’s hilarious! I love this simple, raw recipe! Would you share it at Raw Foods Thursdays? We’d love to have you!
http://www.glutenfreecat.com/2014/01/raw-foods-thursdays-12914/
Hope to see you there!
Heather
Thanks so much for participating in Raw Foods Thursdays. I’m going to feature your treats at this week’s event!
Heather
Pingback: Raw Foods Thursdays: 2/6/14 | Gluten-Free Cat
These are very useful and contain my favourite ingredients of oats and walnuts.
i will do half of this recipe as I could not eat this but I have a vegetarian friend coming Sunday and she will have this in her “goodie-bag” to take home.
I think ginger may be good instead of the vanilla…….what do you think? I am mad about ginger and I think it would go with dates perfectly.
Sorry forgot to ask!
Could you please say how long things will keep in the fridge?
I would have one of my six every other day you see.
Also could you tell us if things will freeze as the amounts either need keeping for a while (safely) or, somehow dividing to make for one person.
This is a wonderful site and I follow this with great enthusiasm but need a little help with these issues please.
off subject a little, but have you a flatbread recipe you can recommend at all? I love spreads and TOAST of some description. No yeast ir gluten, no eggs of course!
Sorry for all the questions but I am brimming over with desire to eat certain things but to stay as much as I can within parameters.
Pingback: 3 Ingredient Protein Bite Recipes For Vegans - afewTHICKbodies.com