These are at the top of my list of tasty, high-energy, go-to hiking snacks. They travel well at moderate to low temperatures, can be stuffed in a baggie in your pocket or pack, and taste good no matter what. If crushed, you have a tasty bag of coconut date goodness. Avoid high temperatures – the coconut oil will melt and your baggie will become soft-but-tasty coconut-date-whiz. But you might like that!
Something about the combo of coconut oil and dates just makes my taste buds do the happy dance. I love that these little snacks provide a fast kick of date sugar, while also providing some long-lasting fat. Perfect for those moments between full meals when you need to keep blood glucose up and mental clarity sharp. Add some almonds for protein and you never need to eat anything else. Well, not really, but I like to imagine it…
The inspiration for this recipe comes from Mickey Trescott’s fabulous book The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook. The basic recipe is in the recipe card below, with some options for alternate recipes and higher protein below the card. For those of you with unstabilized blood glucose, be aware that one date has 16 grams sugar; these little dreams can be a gateway food to excessive sugar snacking if you’re not mindful!
AIP NOTE: Dates are an item that some people reintroduce after the initial AIP elimination phase. They are very high in sugars and may not be appropriate for those with unstable blood glucose. Once you test okay for them, they are fine in moderation. Listen to your body.
- 8 Medjool dates
- ⅓ cup coconut oil
- 1 cup coconut shreds
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ plus ¼ tsp cinnamon
- Pit the dates, cut in half and soak in warm water for 10 minutes.
- Drain the water off.
- Put dates, coconut shreds, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor (a blender will not mix this).
- Melt the coconut oil over low heat, and pour in food processor when just warmed.
- Blend the ingredients till everything is well mixed and the dates are in tiny pieces.
- Remove food processor bowl from machine then take the blade out. Take about 2 Tbs of mix at at time and roll into small, firm balls. Refrigerate for 1+ hour on a plate to solidify the coconut oil.
- Alternate Shaping Method: Place blended mix in a bread-loaf size pan, and press VERY hard into a brick. Cool in refrigerator for 1+ hour, then knock the brick out and slice into bars.
Alternate Recipe Options:
Gingersnap Bliss Balls (these are my all-time favorites!)
Add to basic recipe:
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger
A pinch of nutmeg (not AIP)
Almond Bliss Balls
Add to basic recipe:
1/4 cup chopped almonds or your favorite nuts (not AIP)
Other Tasty Variations
Add to basic recipe:
1 Tbs powdered maca root (not AIP)
-or-
1/2 cup dried blueberries or your favorite dried berries
These taste great! I didn’t melt the oil or blend the mixture. LOVE!
Great! I’m curious how you managed without blending the mixture. Did you just chop everything and mash them into bars?
You don’t state how much cloves go into the recipe
Hi Tamara; The clove amount is in the optional ‘gingersnap’ recipe below the main recipe. I meant to leave the cloves out of the main recipe instructions, and have removed it; thanks for the catch!
Hi Susan. Why is maca not aip?
Hi Jo;
At the time I wrote the post, it was not considered widely accepted on AIP. I think if you perused the online AIP resources now, you’d find differing opinions on maca root. Sarah Ballantyne (of thepaleomom.com and the book The Paleo Approach) has it on her accepted list for AIP. The “IF”s:
1. Maca is an adaptogen known for having strong effects on hormonal function for women. My ND is particular about recommending maca, as there are specific varieties (I’m not familiar with the details/names, sorry), and some support male hormone vs female hormone function. For a woman taking the one that supports (typically) male hormones, testosterone levels can climb too high. So best to research the variety and make sure you are getting the right one. Many companies that sell maca don’t differentiate on the label.
2. It is also an immune booster – which for some, isn’t ideal, depending on what your immune system is doing in relation to the autoimmunity.
In my opinion, it’s one to test like a reintro and see how your body does, ie: take it 3 times in one day, and then wait 72 hours before introducing any other unknowns, watching for any changes, whether physical, mental, energetic, etc.
So, as you can see, my answer goes all over the map. You’d have to find out how your body responds to it. If you decide to try it, please let us know how it turns out!
These taste incredible and hit the spot. I followed the recipe exactly and they came out perfect. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe.
Hi Amber; Thanks for trying the recipe! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed them. They become kind of an addiction. It’s fun to experiment with different additions too, like dried fruits and other spices. If you are not reactive to nuts, they add a nice touch as well. I like almonds or pecans, ground or chopped small.