Process: Add almonds, dates, lemon juice, zest, vanilla and sea salt into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the S-shaped blade. Pulse until almonds are chopped and a soft “dough” forms, you may need to scrape the sides of the processor a couple times between pulses.
Form balls: Once mixture is combined, use your hands to form the dough into balls, using about 1 Tablespoon of dough for each ball.
Roll in coconut: Put shredded coconut into a small bowl and roll each ball into the coconut until evenly coated. Enjoy right away or store for later.
To store: Place balls into a sealed storage container and store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Hard/dry dates: If your dates are hard and dry, you can soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften. Just drain them well before using.
Crumbly dough: If your dough seems too crumbly to stick together after processing even when squeezing it together with your hands, you can try adding a couple more dates or adding 1 teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture starts to hold together well enough to form into balls. See note above.