My dough is not coming together?

Try blending longer or adding another tablespoon of water. If those options do not work, try adding more soft dates. Weighing the dates for the recipe is the most accurate way to have the correct amount of dates.

My dough is too sticky?

If your dough is too sticky to roll, try blending in more oats.

Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?

I’ve only made these in a food processor. Blending the oats will work in a blender, but you may have to stop the machine frequently when blending in the dates and peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Date Balls - Three Little Chickpeas

Description

These no-bake peanut butter date balls are easy to make and packed with peanut butter, oats, and dates. The recipe is dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and only requires 5 simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups (180 grams) old fashioned oat (rolled oats)
1 tightly packed cup (170 grams) pitted dates
1/2 cup (120 g) natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-5 tablespoons water
1/2 cup (90 grams) vegan chocolate chips
Pinch of salt, if your nut butter does not contain salt

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Instructions

If your dates are not soft, soak them for 15-20 minutes, then drain. The date water can be used in the recipe when it calls for water. (See notes below)
Using a food processor, pulse the oats into a powder.
Then add the dates, peanut butter, and vanilla extract and pulse until it becomes crumbly and the dates and peanut butter are blended in.
Then, start with 4 tablespoons of water and blend until the dough comes together. If the dough doesn’t come together, add another tablespoon of water and blend again.
Once the dough has come together, pulse in the chocolate chips. Alternatively, once the dough has formed, it can be transferred to a bowl, and you can fold in the chocolate chips with a stirring spatula.
Take a spoonful of the dough, squish it to compact it, and then roll it into balls using your hands.
Then, refrigerate until they have firmed up and are no longer sticky, which takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Or freeze for 20-30 minutes.

Notes

Weighing the ingredients will be the most accurate way to prepare the recipe, especially with the dates.

To check if the dates are soft enough, try to mash them between your fingers. If you can mash them easily, then there's no need to soak them.

Even if the dates say pitted, check for pits anyway.

I use natural peanut butter that is just peanuts and salt or sometimes just peanuts. Nut butter with added oils and sweeteners may alter the taste and texture.

When testing with store-bought oat flour, the dough was drier, and I needed 6 tablespoons of water.

I use Deglet Noor dates.

Prep Time: 15 mins (+20 mins chill time)
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: snacks
Method: food processor
Cuisine: american