These Nut Free Cacao Bliss Balls With Coconut are the perfect energy snack to keep the sweet cravings satisfied. They are also great lunch box snack idea that kids will love, to help keep their energy high for a big day of learning.
Nut-Free Cacao Bliss Balls Recipe
I am guilty of having a terrible sweet tooth. It is my one bad habit that I struggle to kick.
When I’m trying to be extra good, this recipe is one of my go-to sweet treats that is practically guilt-free.
It only takes a few minutes to create a batch of bliss balls and they are easily kept in the freezer until you need them. In our case, that’s either for lunch box snacks or for me to avoid reaching for chocolate!
Although watch out… my husband has mistaken them for rum balls, wondering why we were hoarding them from him.
Seriously dear, do you think I’m sending the kids to school with rum-laced treats?
How To Make Cacao Bliss Balls
There is really nothing to it with making the coconut date balls, so long as you have a kitchen gadget that does most of the work for you!
All you need to do is add 1.5 cups of pitted dates, half a cup of desiccated coconut, 1 tablespoon of cacao powder, a pinch of salt and a quarter of a cup of mini dark chocolate chips into a food processor and process until you get a finely ground mixture.
Don’t have a food processor? A blender will work too.
Once your cacao protein balls mixture is ready, form into balls that are around 2.5cm in diameter.
Roll the nut free energy balls in extra coconut. Too easy!
Storing Cacao Energy Balls
Keep your cacao bliss balls in an airtight container and store in the freezer.
We like eating them straight out of the freezer but you can wait a few minutes for them to soften if you prefer.
They also hold up surprisingly well in lunch boxes without falling apart, so they make great bento box ideas if you are looking for some small snacks that fit the smaller sections of your bento boxes.
Bliss Ball Recipe Variations
Like any good recipe, there are plenty of ways you can change up this nut-free cacao bliss ball recipe to suit the ingredients you have on hand already.
You can leave out the chocolate chips to make them dairy-free or switch them with milk or white chocolate for something different.
Not a fan of coconut? Leave it out and instead roll your balls in extra cacao powder instead.
One of the most common variations is using cocoa powder instead of cacao powder to give that chocolate flavour. Either is fine.
What is the difference between cacao powder & cocoa powder?
Cacao powder is the rawest form of cacao beans. This means more calories but less processed too, compared to cocoa powder. So you get extra benefits such as being one of the highest sources of antioxidants and magnesium of any foods. It is higher in fibre and a great source of monounsaturated and cholesterol-free saturated fats and protein. It is essentially giving a superfood boost to your chocolate balls.
Want more snack recipe ideas? Check these out:
- Healthy muffin recipes for kids
- Greek yogurt fruit bark
- 75 lunch box filler ideas
- Mango banana yogurt muffins
- After-school snacks for kids
- Applesauce banana muffins
- Savoury carrot muffins
For measurement and temperature conversions.
Nut Free Cacao Bliss Balls With Coconut
A perfect healthy treat to curb the sweet cravings or a protein-loaded lunch box snack idea that kids will love.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pitted dates
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- 1 tbsp cacao powder
- ¼ cup mini dark chocolate chips
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until a smooth mixture forms.
- Form mixture into balls around 2.5cm in diameter.
- Add extra coconut to a shallow bowl and roll fudge balls until lightly coated.
- Place in an airtight container and freeze.
Notes
You can skip the mini chocolate chips if you want to have a healthier alternative to these cacao balls, or substitute with milk or white chocolate if you prefer.
No cacao powder? Switch it out with cocoa powder instead.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 107Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 27mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 18gProtein: 1g
This is a guide only.