Easy No-Bake Cashew Energy Balls with Dates and Cocoa

Cashews and dates are a natural pair: the dates bring sweetness and stickiness, and the cashews bring creaminess and crunch. Blend them together and you can roll the mixture into bite-sized balls with no cooking.

1 cup (about 150 g) of cashews, about 10 soft pitted dates (if they're hard, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and drain), 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, and desiccated coconut for rolling. Makes about 14 balls.

Pulse the cashews in a food processor until they're in small crumbs. Add the dates, cocoa and salt, and process until the mixture clumps together when you press it. If it's too dry, add a teaspoon of water or one more date; if it's too sticky, add a few more cashews.

Roll tablespoon-sized portions between your palms into balls, then roll them in desiccated coconut. Chill for 30 minutes to firm them up. They keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.

Swap the cocoa for a little cinnamon and cardamom for a spiced version, add a spoonful of cashew butter for extra richness (see how to make cashew butter), or press in a few chopped cashews for crunch. Using roasted cashews gives a deeper, toastier flavour.

If the mixture will not hold together, the dates are probably too dry. Soak them in warm water for 10 minutes, drain well and process again, and add one date at a time until the mixture clumps when pressed. If it is sticky and clings to your hands, add a few more crushed cashews, or chill the mixture for 15 minutes before rolling. Wet hands help with shaping, and so does rolling the balls on a plate lightly dusted with cocoa or coconut.

A food processor gives the smoothest result. If you do not have one, chop the cashews finely and mash soft dates with a fork, then knead everything together.

Roasted cashews give a deeper, toastier flavour that stands up to the cocoa. Raw ones give a milder, creamier ball. Either works, so use what you have. Unsalted, plain cashews are best, because the dates and cocoa supply the flavour and you control the salt.

Keep the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. They also freeze well, so you can make a double batch and take a few out as needed. Pack two in a lunchbox or take them on a walk or a trip.

Because they contain cashews, label them clearly if you are sharing them, as some people have a tree nut allergy. See tree nut allergy and cashews.

They're nutritious but rich, so one or two make a snack. As we explain in how many cashews to eat a day, cashews are best in small portions. Try our Oven Roasted Cashew or Cashew Powder in this recipe, and find more ideas in 5 ways to use roasted cashews.