Due to popular demand, here are the recipes for different types of date balls I use to take with me for long runs and races. I received so many individual requests that a dedicated post with recipes seems to make sense 😉
Usually, I prepare 2 batches, each with a different taste, which takes me about 60 minutes in total. I immediately put them into a freezer where they are good for a couple of months. In summer I take them straight from the fridge and wrap them individually in cling wrap before I head out for my run. They are ready to eat within a few minutes.
You can never exactly tell how many dates and almonds you need. I suggest you go with the list I provide and decide, based on how moist it is, to add either some liquidity or nuts.
The salt added to the balls is crucial especially for races in heat. If that’s what you are about to do, add more salt than you would normally do.
Espresso cacao power
I roll them into date balls, but you can also make date bars
12 dates, pitted (I usually take 6 fresh and 6 dried dates)
50g almonds
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 tablespoon cacao nibs
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1 shot of espresso
salt
Blitz all the ingredients in a food processor. If it gets too dry, add some almond butter or almond milk. If it’s too moist, add some almonds and blitz again.
Chocolate orange power
12 dates, pitted (I usually take 6 fresh and 6 dried dates)
50g almonds
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 tablespoon cacao nibs
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1 teaspoon orange juice (to intensify the taste you can add some orange zest)
salt
Blitz all the ingredients in a food processor. If it gets too dry, add some almond butter or almond milk. If it’s too moist, add some almonds and blitz again.
Blueberry lemon chocolate energy balls
1 cup of fresh, dried or mixed (half fresh, half dried) dates
1/4 cup of almonds
1/4 cup of blueberries (can also be frozen)
1/8 cup of cacao powder (more or less, depending on how much cacao taste you like)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed (freshly ground)
1/4 cup unhulled sesame seeds
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp lemon zest (more or less, depending on how you like it)
salt
Except for the blueberries blitz all the ingredients in a food processor. If it gets too dry, add some lemon juice. If it’s too moist, add some almonds or dried dates and blitz again.
Apple cinnamon energy balls
1 small apple
1 cup of fresh, dried or mixed (half fresh, half dried) dates
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup ground flaxseed (freshly ground)
1/4 cup hemp protein
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt
Blitz all the ingredients in a food processor. If it gets too dry, add some apple juice or almond milk. If it’s too moist, add some almonds, dried dates or hemp protein powder and blitz again.
Part of my food and drink supply for a 50 km training run
