Okay so we’ve all come across the average date truffle or energy date balls. But a lot of them are just a mouthful of dates. These Cardamom & Tahini Energy Date Balls are certainly not! The cardamom and tahini work so well to balance the dates, the toasted sesame on the outside is magical, and you also get some crunch in the middle from some chopped almonds. So delicious and they’re really easy to make.

Once you use up all your dates in this recipe, you have to try my Date-less Energy Balls next! And if you love cardamom as much as I do, be sure to try my Cardamom Shortbread Cookies.

Date Truffles on a platter on top of a gold tray

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I came up with this recipe when I was about 8 months pregnant with my daughter. Everyone told me I had to eat a lot of dates to make my labor easier, and I did. But a girl is going to get bored eating date after date, even if I do like them in general. I had to jazz them up a little bit. Enter these cardamom & tahini energy date balls!

I knew that tahini is a classic pairing with dates. Back home, we actually eat tahini and date molasses for breakfast with pita bread – it’s so good! And my favorite spice to add to desserts is definitely cardamom. But after making them, they looked like they were missing something. Which was the toasted sesame seeds.

Toasting sesame seeds really takes their nuttiness to another level! I would highly recommend you don’t skip this step. You’re going to get addicted – I’ve warned you.

Date Truffles on a platter on top of a gold tray

How to make date balls recipe in under 10 minutes

  • You start by pulsing your almonds in a food processor to achieve a chopped consistency. You want to retain the coarse texture so you can add some crunch!
  • You then pulse the pitted dates along with the cardamom and tahini in the food processor until a dough forms. It should only take a few minutes. If the dough is too dry to form into balls, add a few tablespoons of water to help it along.
  • Transfer the dough to a bowl, add in the chopped almonds, and shape into medium sized balls.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a pan on low heat until they’re lightly golden.
  • Roll the date balls in the sesame seeds and enjoy!
  • I store them in an airtight container and in the fridge. They will keep well for at least 1 week.

If you tried these recipes, please consider leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page – I’d love to hear from you! You can also hop on over to Instagram and say hello!

For more easy desserts, check out:

A close-up of assorted energy date balls coated in sesame seeds and ground pistachios, arranged on a gray plate atop a gold tray with a beige cloth underneath—an inviting display inspired by a classic date balls recipe.
5 from 3 ratings

Cardamom and Tahini Energy Date Balls

Yield: 15 balls
Prep: 10 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
These no-bake cardamom and tahini energy date balls are perfectly balanced and so easy to make. Have them for an energizing breakfast or as a sweet treat! 
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups pitted dates
  • 1/2 cup whole raw almonds
  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons cardamom powder
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup pistachio powder, optional

Instructions
 

  • Start by chopping the whole almonds in a food processor by pulsing them a few times. You want a coarse chopped consistency to give a crunch in the mixture, therefore don’t process them too much.
  • Remove the almonds and set aside.
  • Add all the dates, tahini and cardamom in the food processor and pulse until a dough forms. If required, you can add a few tbsp of water to help the dough form. 
  • Transfer the dough into a bowl and add the chopped almonds. Mix well.
  • Form into even sized balls using your hands.
  • Toast the sesame seeds in a pan over low heat, stirring continuously for a few minutes until lightly golden.
  • Roll the balls in the toasted sesame seeds.
  • You can also roll in the pistachio powder for a variation (optional).

Notes

  • The toasted sesame seeds give this recipe a great dimension – if you have them on hand don’t skip this step.
  • You can also roll these balls in other toppings such as coconut, chopped nuts, or cacao powder.
  • Store the date balls in an airtight container and in the fridge. They will keep well for at least a week.
Serving: 1ball, Calories: 146kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.001g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 216mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 8IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 1mg
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