If you’re new to this blog, you aren’t aware of my love for all things balls. I have a seemingly endless supply of both sweet and savory balls in my freezer. For some reason, I’ve found people outside the blogosphere don’t appreciate eating food with the word ball in the title. So, when I make balls for non-bloggers (which is everyone I know in real life), I call them bites. Or truffles. Or I just flatten the dough into a pan and cut it into squares. Those crazy ‘regular’ people. What’s wrong with a few good balls?!
Coconut Goji Balls
12 jumbo madjool dates (or 24 regular sized madjools), pitted
1/2 c raw almonds, soaked
1/2 c shredded coconut, organic
1/4 c goji berries
Rinse and drain the almonds thoroughly. Add them and the goji berries to a food processor (or a mini-chopper). Pulse until coarsely chopped. Remove and place in a bowl. Then, add dates and coconut to the food processor and pulse until combined. Now you have two choices: either add the almond/goji mix back to the food processor and pulse to combine OR add the date/coconut mix to the almond/goji berry mix and combine with a spoon. (Squishing by hand works best with this method.) Finally, spoon out a big glob and roll it into a ball. Continue until all of the mixture is rolled into balls. Store in the refrigerator or the freezer.
If you choose the freezer, you may have to let them warm for a few minutes before consuming; the goji berries freeze pretty solid and can be a little tough on the teeth.
These travel great. I’ve been carrying them around with me during crazy busy work days, and they don’t melt or squish or get weird at all. And, they’re cheaper than those popular date and nut bars from the store. Plus, you know exactly what’s in them. Bonus!
Veggie V's Vegan Adventure 
These look great – – almost snagged a package of goji berries at Whole Foods the other day, but chickened out. Time to try them!
Annie: they’re kind of sour. At least i think so. And they’re super hard as packaged. At least the ones I’ve found. For these I just use them in their super dry form, but I have a recipe for raw oatmeal coming up where i soak them first in water. It only takes a few minutes for them to plump right up. Biggest downside to goji berries? The price! Ouch. So expensive!
These look really good! I also saw goji berries recently but they were a little on the expensive side so I didn’t get them.
I totally agree! I bought some a while back to try and forgot about them until recently. Hence their appearance on the blog recently 😉 Luckily, I received a free package of berries with a recent date order, so I don’t have to reinvest quiet yet 🙂
I love the idea to pack them as healthy side snacks! yummy!
Made these with cherries instead..AWESOME!
Great idea, Myrna!! I just made another batch 😉
I love goji berries sprinkled on something everyday…some are a little crunchier then others(freshness??) ANY ways I”ve got a trip coming up so I think I will make these for my traveling treat…thx
I made a big batch today to take on a road trip this weekend… Great minds 😉
Are goji berries freeze-dried? Would other freeze-dried fruits work, like that “Just Fruits”/”Just Vegetables” brand? I have some “Just Persimmons” that I’d like to use up.
Fran: I don’t think they’re freeze dried. I think they’re just dehydrated like raisins or prunes. I think. But sure, any other dry fruit would work great!
I love the simplicity of this recipe! So healthy 🙂
Thanks, Gabby! They travel really well, too!
I’m going to have to try this! I had goji berries once about 5 years ago just dried and wasn’t all that impressed, but I think I’d really like them this way.
It took me forever to use the ones I bought too. I don’t care for them on their own, but in stuff they aren’t so bad 😉
I love energy balls…I never thought to add Goji berries. Awesome idea!
Thanks!