• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Healthy World Cuisine logo
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Health and Diet
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Health and Diet
  • Contact
  • About
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Desserts » Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls

    Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls

    Published: Nov 28, 2019 · Modified: Feb 5, 2021 by HWC Magazine · 66 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls / https:www.hwcmagazine.com

    Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls are a 2-bite healthy no bake dessert. Prepared with dark rich cocoa, espresso, dried figs and toasty almonds for a guilt free, no added sugar, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan dessert.

    Plate of chocolate Espresso Fig Balls on a white plate with a but out of the one in the front.

    One bite of these caffeinated bliss balls and you will be hooked and might have to go back for a second. It is completely okay as each ball rounds in at only 90 calories each. If staying caffeinated is your "JAM", try our Dairy Free Pumpkin Ice Cream Affogato and that will get you up and going.

    Bliss Balls

    Easy no bake dessert

    No refined sugar

    Freeze well

    Can be made ahead

    Make fantastic gifts

    Vegan

    Gluten-free

    Dairy-free

    Kick of caffeine

    Quick chocolate fix

    Cocoa powder getting dusted over the Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls.

    Refuel your mid-day slump

    We know that around 2p or 3pm our bodies want to go into hibernation. Do you feel wiped out and ready for a nap but have a honey do list longer than Santa? We totally get it and that is why we created these delicious healthy alternative Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls.

    Toasted almonds give this ball an extra dose of protein to keep you feeling full. With a good jolt of caffeine and dark cocoa you will be ready to tackle the rest of your day.

    Toasted whole almonds in a white bowl.

    When you are sitting at your desk at work, grabbing something from the vending machine may seem like the only alternative. However, think again dear friends. If you have 25 minutes, you can make a delicious batch of portable on the go Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls. They are lightly sweet with a good caffeine buzz.

    Plate of chocolate espresso fig balls with hot pu-erh tea and a brown napkin.

    Homemade gifts

    This is a gift you can feel good about giving. These little Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls are gluten-free, vegan and dairy free. Wrap them up in a little box with a big red bow and give to all your family and friends.

    These little treats are way better than any store-bought truffles. If you like the idea of making no bake treats for holiday gifts, you are going to love our No Bake Cranberry Bliss Balls.

    Close up photo of a dried mission fig.

    Fabulous Figs

    Do you like fig newtons? They are these little cookies that have a delicious figgy chewy center surrounded by a cookie dough. Our Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls are like kicked up fig newtons minus the carbs of the cookie dough.

    You will want to soak your figs in hot water for about 15 minutes and drain before mixing in the food processor to make them soft and pliable. Don’t forget to remove the little stem from the fig as well.

    We used Sun-Made California Mission Dried Figs. In addition, we also added in some dried dates to make a larger batch of treats. Dates are a great way to add sweetness and chewiness to a recipe. Be sure to try our Healthy Pumpkin Muffins (Dairy Free and Sugar Free)

    Chocolate Espresso Fig balls just rolled into a nice little ball. Held in hand.

    No Refined Sugar

    Both figs and dates are naturally sweet. However, when you add a dose of espresso powder and unsweetened cocoa powder, you may want to add in a little maple syrup or honey to sweeten to your desired preference. We will leave that up to you. Adding a little pinch of salt makes the natural sweetness from the figs and dates pop.

    Top down shot of chocolate espresso fig balls with cocoa powder dusted on top with one ball removed.

    How to Store

    If you have room in your freezer, we suggest storing your Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat or have unexpected guests that pop by, just take out what you want out and place in a dish at room temperature. In about 15 minutes, they will be perfectly chewy and ready to eat.

    Step by Step photo on how to prepare the chocolate espresso fig balls in a food processor.

    The Magic of the Food Processor

    Do you have a food processor? If not no worries as you can finely chop and use a mortar and pestle to combine the ingredients. However, if you have a food processor this recipe is a complete breeze.

    First, grind the nuts. We used toasted almonds. However, you could use any nuts your little heart desires.

    Next, add the soaked and drained figs, dates, instant espresso granules, unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, a pinch of salt and a drizzle of maple syrup (only if you wish) and puree in the food processor.

    Roll into little 1.5 inch balls and dust with a little unsweetened cocoa powder and you are done. How easy was that?!

    More delicious holiday cookies and treats...

    Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies (GF, Vegan)

    Chewy Mandarin Orange Cookies

    Chewy Black Sesame Cookies (GF)

    60 Cookies From Around the World

    Gingerbread Girls and Boys

    Did You Like Our Recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. Your feedback is always appreciated! Follow us for more delicious recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for our email list for more free recipes.

    5 chocolate espresso balls on a white plate.

    Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls

    Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls are a 2-bite healthy no bake dessert. Prepared with dark rich cocoa, espresso, dried figs and toasty almonds for a guilt free, no added sugar, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan dessert.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 90kcal
    Author: HWC Magazine

    Ingredients

    • 5.3 oz dried figs
    • ¾ cup dried pitted dates
    • Boiling water
      enough to cover the figs and dates to soften
    • 1.5 cups dry roasted almonds
      toasted
    • 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 3 teaspoon espresso instant coffee
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
      (optional or honey)
    • 2 teaspoon hot water as needed to get the mixture to blend
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Remove the stems from the figs. Place your dried figs and dried dates in a bowl and cover with boiling water and let set for 15 minutes. (Set aside a few tablespoons of water for blending) Drain water from dates and figs. Set aside.
    • In the meantime, put your dry roasted toasted almonds (or nut of choice) in the food processor and grind until fine granules. Do not over churn or your will have almond butter.
    • Place your soaked and drained figs and dates into the food processor with your ground almonds. Add in unsweetened cocoa powder, espresso instant coffee, ground cinnamon, salt and maple syrup to sweeten as desired. Blend ingredients with food processor. You may need to scrape down the side of the food processor. This blending process takes about 1-2 minutes. You may need to add 1-2 teaspoons of the hot water used to soak the figs and dates to get the figgy paste moving in the food processor. Only add a very small amount of water. Your goal is a very thick paste that you can roll into balls.
    • Remove blade from food processor. Roll your thick paste into about 1.5-inch balls and place on a waxed paper line baking sheet. Dust with a little unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Freeze or refrigerate until ready to serve. Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can keep them in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. However, we like to freeze them as we prefer their firmer texture.
    • When you are ready to serve your Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls, remove from the freezer and allow to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You can also make this recipe without a food processor. You will need to chop everything finely and then use a mortar and pestle to incorporate everything into a paste.
    We only like our treats delicately sweet. Sometimes, we do not add any maple syrup at all but just enjoy the natural sweetness of the figs and dates. However, we are certain you may like it a little sweeter. Both unsweetened cocoa powder and espresso granules add a punch of flavor but are not sweet. Our suggestion is to first taste test a little bit the recipe without any maple syrup or honey first. Then, add the maple syrup or honey sweetener to your preferred sweetness level. Maybe start out with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey, blend, test it and then add a tablespoon at a time until you hit your target level.
    We used Medaglia D’oro espresso instant coffee granules in our recipe. You could also try instant coffee as well. If you do not like coffee flavor, then just omit this ingredient.
    Toasted almonds are really delicious in this recipe. Toasted macadamia nuts are also fabulous in this recipe. However, use what you enjoy and have fun with the recipe.
    If you find that you did not drain the water well enough or your paste is too thin, just add a few more ground almonds until you get to that thick, easy to roll consistency. On the other hand, if your paste is just too thick to get going in the food processor, add a teaspoon at a time of water until you can get the paste to blend. Scrape down the sides of the food processor frequently and try again.
    Can you exchange cocao powder for unsweetened cocoa powder? You bet. However, please start out with ½ tablespoon and increase as desired. We find cocoa powder is a little more bitter than the processed cocoa powder.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 143g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 37g | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 25g | Sugar: 105g
    Did you make this recipe?Tag us @HWCMagazine or hastag us #HWCMagazine!

    More Desserts

    • Pumpkin spice coffee sauce in glass jars with a spoon pour with spices, prunes and coffee around the jar.
      Pumpkin Spice Coffee Sauce
    • Crispy strawberry jam roll cookies on a brown plate topped with powdered sugar.
      Crispy Strawberry Jam Roll Cookies
    • Black sesame nice cream in a scoop and in clear dish.
      Black Sesame Nice Cream
    • Homemade black sesame paste thick and slowly flowing from a spoon onto a white bowl.
      Homemade Black Sesame Paste

    About HWC Magazine

    Join our Healthy World Cuisine medical editors (trained in both Western and Eastern Medicine) and learn how to EAT your way around the WORLD from the comfort of your own kitchen. Grab free health tips, recipe ideas, meal plans and gain a better understand how eating choices can affect your health. Be the healthier and happier YOU!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Mimi Rippee says

      November 21, 2024 at 12:33 pm

      Just printed your recipe! Can’t wait.

      Reply
      • HWC Magazine says

        November 28, 2024 at 8:37 pm

        Thank you Mimi! These are that little 1-2 bite treat to satisfy that craving at the end of a meal and also are a great addition to the holiday cookie tray. Take Care

        Reply
    2. Yvonna says

      February 08, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      5 stars
      Hi! Is it possible to use melted dark chocolate instead of the powered cocoa? Many thanks, Yvonna

      Reply
      • HWC Magazine says

        February 08, 2021 at 1:17 pm

        Hi Yvonna, we have not tested our Chocolate fig Balls with melted chocolate. However, adding melted chocolate may very well change the texture of the balls. You may need to increase the amount of roasted almonds to compensate for the increase in liquid melted chocolate. If you decide to test this recipe swap, let us know how it goes. Stay well and take care

        Reply
    3. Raul says

      November 30, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      5 stars
      Hard to believe these can be made without sugar. So few ingredients and NO OVEN!!! Wow.

      Reply
      • HWC Magazine says

        December 02, 2020 at 12:53 am

        Thanks so much Raul. The dried dates and figs naturally sweeten these little treats. We love to store them in the freezer and when you need a little healthier sweet treat, we take one, two or three out to enjoy. (smiling) Take Care

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    WELCOME

    Hi There!
    Are you ready to explore new culinary frontiers, eat healthier, and save time – Then, you have come to the right place. Join Healthy World Cuisine (HWC) Magazine and learn how to EAT your way around the WORLD from the comfort of your own kitchen. Grab free health tips, recipe ideas, meal plans and gain a better understand how eating choices can affect your health. Be the healthier and happier YOU!

    Discover more about HWC Magazine →

    FOURTH OF JULY RECIPES

    3 no bake boozy cherry cheesecake jars topped with bourbon cherry compote on a white plate.

    No Bake Boozy Cherry Cheesecake Jars

    Tea smoked chicken legs on a plate garnished with oranges.

    Tea Smoked Chicken Legs

    Healthy summer salads with fruits displaying 5 different recipes.

    Healthy Summer Salads with Fruit

    Plate of deliciously grilled watermelon and cucumbers tossed in a Thai dressing on a white plate with a red and white polka dot napkin.

    Grilled Watermelon Salad (Thai Style + Video)

    SUMMER TIME FAVORITES

    4 ingredient keto okra on skewers grilling on a gas grill.

    Keto Grilled Okra with Tajín

    Black sesame nice cream in a scoop and in clear dish.

    Black Sesame Nice Cream

    Orange glazed air fryer salmon bites piled high on a black plate served with rice.

    Orange Glazed Air Fryer Salmon Bites

    3 no bake boozy cherry cheesecake jars topped with bourbon cherry compote on a white plate.

    No Bake Boozy Cherry Cheesecake Jars

    Footer

    ↑ BACK TO TOP

    • About
    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Contact/Work with Us

    Copyright © 2011-2025 HEALTHY WORLD CUISINE Privacy Policy

    EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF MEDIAVINE FOOD

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.