Celebrating Ramadan With Date and Peanut Butter Snack Balls
Here at the Foodbank of Southern California, we are committed to serving all communities and offering foods for all cultures. We want everyone to feel comforted by the food they receive, which means providing food that is relevant in a wide variety of cultures. This is why we’re celebrating the start of Ramadan by sharing a recipe.
Ramadan is the Muslim holy month, a period for prayer, fasting, and reflection. Fasting, the abstainment of food or drink from dawn to sunset, is meant to build empathy and show those participating the struggle faced by people who are less fortunate. At sunset, the fast is broken, traditionally with water and dates.
Dates are a naturally sweet fruit full of fiber. They are traditionally used to break fasts during Ramadan because of its many mentions in the Quran, the Islamic holy book. They are also a great source of energy.
We were lucky to have dates available for those who receive our food. So whether you are partaking in Ramadan or just want a healthy recipe idea using dates, we’ve got you covered with our date and peanut butter snack balls. They are great for a quick, sweet snack. The best part is that if you don’t have a food processor or blender, you can still make these! Check the notes for instructions, and read ahead for the recipe.
Date and Peanut Butter Snack Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates (whole or chopped)
- ¾ cup of peanut butter
- ¾ cup quick oats
- Optional: ½ cup of chocolate chips
Instructions
In a food processor or blender, add pitted dates and 1 tablespoon of water. Blend for one minute or until dates are slightly broken up.
Add peanut butter and oats. If you are using chocolate chips, you can add them here, too.
Blend for one minute or until everything is combined into a dark brown mixture. Some chunks are okay.
Grab some mixture and form into a ball with your hands. If it’s too sticky, you can add more oats. If it’s too dry or coming apart easily, add more peanut butter.
Form into balls your choice in size. Recipe yields about 12 medium sized balls.
Eat immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes:
If you don’t have a food processor or blender, this recipe can be made just by mixing everything together, as long as the dates are chopped. The texture will be completely different, but the balls will still hold up pretty well.
Dates are naturally sweet, so no added sweetener is necessary, especially if your peanut butter has sugar.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips were used in this recipe and are perfect for an extra bit of sweetness that isn’t completely overpowering.
