Date and Walnut Energy Truffles

Date and Walnut Energy Truffles

Mia

These Date and Walnut Energy Truffles are a Mediterranean-inspired treat that perfectly balances natural sweetness with wholesome nutrition. Made with just a handful of simple, whole-food ingredients, these no-bake bites harness the caramel-like richness of Medjool dates combined with the earthy crunch of toasted walnuts. The addition of cacao powder provides deep chocolate notes and antioxidants, while bright orange zest adds a citrusy lift that cuts through the sweetness.

Rooted in the Mediterranean tradition of using dates and nuts as energy-dense foods, these truffles are ideal for pre-workout fuel or as an afternoon pick-me-up. Unlike processed energy bars loaded with refined sugars and artificial ingredients, these bites deliver sustained energy from healthy fats, natural sugars, and fiber. The walnuts provide omega-3 fatty acids and protein, while dates offer quick-digesting carbohydrates and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium.

Rolled in shredded coconut for a delicate finish, each truffle is a perfect two-bite morsel that satisfies sweet cravings while nourishing your body. They're incredibly easy to make in a food processor and require no baking, making them an accessible recipe for anyone. Store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, and you'll always have a healthy snack ready when energy levels dip.

These truffles embody the Mediterranean diet's emphasis on whole foods, healthy fats, and natural sweetness from fruits. They're perfect for active lifestyles, providing the kind of clean energy that powers your workouts without the crash that comes from processed snacks.

Nutrition

20 minutes
None servings
110 calories
Fat 5.50g
Carbs 15.00g
Protein 2.00g

Ingredients

1 cupraw walnuts
12 ozMedjool dates, pitted (about 16-18 dates)
2 tbspunsweetened cacao powder
1 tsporange zest, freshly grated
1 tspvanilla extract
1/4 tspsea salt
1/2 cupunsweetened shredded coconut, for rolling
1-2 tbspwater, if needed for consistency (optional)

Equipment

Food processor
measuring cups and spoons
microplane or fine grater
airtight container
plate or baking sheet
skillet
shallow bowl or plate
tablespoon or small cookie scoop

Ancestral Diet

Perfectly aligned with ancestral eating principles, these truffles contain only foods that would have been available to hunter-gatherers—dates, walnuts, and coconut. They're free from grains, dairy, legumes, and processed ingredients, providing natural energy from whole foods that humans have consumed for thousands of years.

Cave Man Diet

Perfect for the Cave Man Diet, these truffles use only gathered whole foods—dates, walnuts, and coconut—that would have been available to our prehistoric ancestors. They contain no grains, dairy, legumes, or processed ingredients, providing pure, natural energy from nutrient-dense whole foods.

Clean Eating

These truffles epitomize clean eating with just seven whole-food ingredients in their natural state—no refined sugars, artificial additives, or processed components. Every ingredient is recognizable and minimally processed, from the whole Medjool dates to the raw walnuts and unsweetened cacao, providing pure nutrition without any artificial ingredients.

Daniel Fast

These truffles are fully compliant with Daniel Fast guidelines, containing only whole plant-based ingredients—dates, walnuts, cacao, coconut, and natural flavorings—with no animal products, refined sugars, leavened bread, or processed ingredients. They provide wholesome energy from fruits, nuts, and seeds in their natural, unprocessed forms.

Evolutionary Diet

These truffles follow evolutionary diet principles by using only whole foods available to our ancestors—dates, walnuts, and coconut—without any grains, dairy, legumes, or processed ingredients. They provide nutrient-dense energy from natural sources that align with our evolutionary biology.

Flexitarian Diet

These truffles exemplify flexitarian eating by featuring only whole plant foods—dates, walnuts, cacao, and coconut—that provide sustained energy and nutrition. They're minimally processed and emphasize the plant-based ingredients that form the foundation of a flexitarian diet.

Gluten-Free Diet

Naturally gluten-free, these truffles contain no wheat, barley, rye, or any gluten-containing ingredients. Made from whole foods like dates, walnuts, cacao, and coconut, they're a safe and delicious option for those avoiding gluten while providing wholesome nutrition and natural energy.

High-Fiber Diet

Rich in dietary fiber from dates, walnuts, and coconut, these truffles provide substantial fiber per serving to support digestive health. The combination of whole dates and nuts delivers both soluble and insoluble fiber in their natural, unprocessed forms.

Hunter-Gatherer Diet

Ideal for a hunter-gatherer approach, these truffles contain only foraged foods—dates, walnuts, and coconut—that would have been available through gathering. They're completely free from agricultural products like grains, dairy, and legumes, providing natural energy from whole, unprocessed plant foods.

Intuitive Eating

These truffles honor intuitive eating principles by offering a satisfying treat made from whole, nourishing ingredients without restriction or guilt. They provide both pleasure and nutrition through natural sweetness and healthy fats, demonstrating that all foods can fit into a balanced approach to eating.

Mindful Eating

Perfect for mindful eating, these truffles engage multiple senses with their rich chocolate aroma, varied textures from crunchy walnuts and chewy dates, and bright citrus notes from orange zest. The whole-food ingredients and two-bite portions encourage slow, conscious consumption and full appreciation of flavors and textures.

Neanderthal Diet

Aligned with Neanderthal eating patterns, these truffles contain only forageable whole foods—dates, walnuts, and coconut—with no grains, dairy, legumes, or processed ingredients. They provide concentrated natural energy from nuts and fruits that would have been available to our ancient ancestors.

Paleo Diet

These truffles are perfectly Paleo-compliant, using only whole-food ingredients like dates, walnuts, and coconut—all of which would have been available to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. They contain no grains, dairy, legumes, or refined sugars, relying instead on the natural sweetness of Medjool dates and nutrient-dense nuts for sustained energy.

Paleolithic Diet

These truffles are fully Paleolithic-compliant, made exclusively from dates, walnuts, and coconut—all foods that could have been gathered by pre-agricultural humans. They exclude all grains, dairy, legumes, and processed ingredients, offering natural sweetness and sustained energy from whole, unprocessed plant foods.

Pegan Diet

These truffles align with Pegan principles by featuring whole, unprocessed plant foods with no dairy, gluten, or refined sugars. The dates provide low-glycemic natural sweetness while walnuts offer anti-inflammatory omega-3s and healthy fats, creating a nutrient-dense snack that supports stable blood sugar.

Plant-Based Diet

These energy truffles are 100% plant-based, made entirely from whole plant ingredients including dates, walnuts, cacao, and coconut. They provide excellent nutrition from natural sources without any animal products, making them a perfect vegan-friendly snack that's both nutritious and satisfying.

Primal Diet

These truffles fit the Primal Diet by using only whole, unprocessed foods—dates, walnuts, and coconut—that are free from grains, legumes, and refined sugars. They provide natural energy from fruit and healthy fats from nuts, aligning with primal eating principles that emphasize nutrient-dense whole foods.

Raw Food Diet

These no-bake truffles are completely raw, with all ingredients remaining unheated and preserving their natural enzymes and nutrients. The simple preparation involves only blending raw dates, walnuts, cacao powder, and coconut—making them a perfect raw food snack that's both energizing and nutrient-dense.

Stone Age Diet

These truffles are Stone Age compliant, featuring only dates, walnuts, and coconut—foods that could have been gathered in prehistoric times. With no grains, dairy, legumes, or processed ingredients, they provide natural, nutrient-dense energy from whole foods aligned with Paleolithic eating patterns.

Vegan Diet

Completely vegan and free from all animal products, these truffles derive their nutrition entirely from plants—dates for natural sweetness and minerals, walnuts for omega-3s and protein, and cacao for antioxidants. They're a wholesome, cruelty-free treat that proves plant-based snacks can be both indulgent and nourishing.

Vegetarian Diet

These naturally vegetarian truffles contain no meat, poultry, or fish, relying entirely on plant-based whole foods for their nutrition. The combination of dates, walnuts, and cacao provides a satisfying blend of natural sugars, healthy fats, and protein without any animal-derived ingredients.

Instructions

1
10 min

Place the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

2

While the walnuts cool, check your dates to ensure they're all pitted. If the dates are dry or firm, soak them in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften, then drain and pat dry.

1 min
3

Using a microplane or fine grater, zest the orange to get 1 teaspoon of fresh orange zest. Set aside.

1 min
4

Add the cooled toasted walnuts to a food processor. Pulse 8-10 times until the walnuts are coarsely chopped into small pieces, but not turned into a powder.

1 min
5

Add the pitted dates, cacao powder, orange zest, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the food processor with the walnuts. Process for 45-60 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until the mixture comes together into a sticky dough. The mixture should hold together when pinched. If it's too dry, add water 1 teaspoon at a time and pulse until it reaches the right consistency.

2 min
6

Place the shredded coconut in a shallow bowl or plate for rolling.

7

Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, portion out the date mixture into 16 equal pieces, about 1 tablespoon each.

2 min
8

Roll each portion between your palms to form a smooth ball, then roll in the shredded coconut to coat evenly. Place the finished truffles on a plate or baking sheet.

5 min
9

Refrigerate the truffles for at least 30 minutes to firm up before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months.

30 min

Frequently Asked Questions