Make your kids’ day by adding these rich, chocolate nut free bliss balls to their lunchboxes! Made with healthy, kid-friendly ingredients including oats, dates and chia seeds, these nut free bliss balls make the perfect snack for kids and adults alike.
Nut Free Bliss Balls
Due to a range of allergies and safety reasons, a lot of schools are ‘nut free zones’. But that doesn’t mean finding delicious snacks for your kids to enjoy should be difficult. In fact, there are so many amazing recipes out there with nut substitutions!
These healthy bliss balls make the perfect nut free finger food! Being bite sized, they are easy for tiny fingers to hold and they make a great, portable travel snack for kids on the go. Because they are dairy and nut free, they also make a safe lunchbox addition.
Being a busy mum of four, I am all about snacks that are simple and fast to make, while also being healthy and affordable. And of course, they also need to taste amazing for my fussy eaters! Snacks that can be frozen for convenience are also a must. Any lunchbox fillers that can be grabbed from the freezer and thrown into school bags on those busy school mornings are a huge time saver!
These nut free bliss balls tick all of the above boxes. They are a favourite snack to make in my home because there is no baking involved, they make minimal mess (just throw the ingredients together in a food processor!) and they can be made and ready to eat within minutes!
What are Bliss Balls?
Bliss balls are little bite sized balls of healthy ingredients which have all been broken down together in a food processor. They are sometimes rolled in coconut, cacao or seeds and they make a fantastic and nutritious snack, perfect for keeping concentration and energy levels up.
They are my favourite thing to reach for in the afternoon when those familiar chocolate cravings hit! Bliss balls make a healthy snack option, because they contain lots of familiar wholefood ingredients rather than store bought snacks (which usually contain a long list of hard to pronounce ingredients!).
Making them yourself, you control exactly which ingredients go into your bliss balls, so they can be tailored precisely to your own taste and dietary requirements. Most bliss balls make a healthy vegan snack option and you can keep them free from nuts, gluten, dairy and other common allergens too.
Commonly, bliss ball recipes contain cashews or almonds (or other nuts) as a binding agent. But to keep them nut free, try other ingredients like sultanas, honey, dates, maple syrup or oily seeds like sunflower seeds. Oats, quinoa or other seeds can also help to bind the bliss balls together.
How to Make Healthy, Nut Free Bliss Balls
These bliss balls are made without nuts. They are held together by mixing dates, oats and brown rice syrup with coconut, chia seeds, cocoa (or cacao) and vanilla. For a healthier chocolate fix, they make the most perfect rich and chocolatey snack.
Just try to stop yourself from eating the mixture straight from the food processor like I do! Although if you do, please make sure the blades are no longer running! #safetyfirst.
This nut free bliss balls recipe contains the following ingredients;
- Oats. Use gluten free oats if required.
- Desiccated coconut.
- Brown rice syrup. Or other sweetener of choice (maple, honey, stevia).
- Unsweetened cocoa. Or swap for raw cacao if you prefer.
- Chia seeds.
- Medjool dates. The sticky dates help to bind these bliss balls together. They can be substituted for regular dried dates which are soaked in water and drained first. If regular dates are used, a little water may be required to help mix the ingredients.
- Vanilla.
- Salt.
If you have never made bliss balls before, you won’t believe how simple and easy they are to make! Just place all of the ingredients together in a food processor and blend until the they break down and the mixture becomes smooth and slightly sticky. Then, roll a spoonful of the mixture at a time in your hands, making perfect, chocolatey bite sized balls. You can even roll them in coconut, cocoa or seeds for extra flavour and texture.
Can you Freeze Bliss Balls?
These healthy chocolate nut free bliss balls can be made ahead in batches and frozen in an airtight container for up to three months. This recipe makes around 10 balls and can be easily multiplied to make more.
Because they are so quick and easy, I make large batches of different bliss balls to stock up my freezer every school holidays. Within an hour, I have enough to last for an entire school term! For super exciting lunchboxes, try these chocolate bliss balls with my lemon delicious bliss balls and nut free apple pie bliss balls.
To freeze bliss balls, simply add them to an airtight container and separate the layers with baking paper. On busy school mornings, they can be added to lunchboxes in no time at all- and be thawed by snack time. No wrapping required!
Try some of these Healthy, Nut Free Lunchbox Snacks;
To save your time and sanity on busy school mornings, try making some of these healthy, freezer friendly snacks in bulk and storing them, ready to grab-and-go!
- Veggie packed nuggets
- Homemade guacamole
- Chocolate zucchini muffins
- Healthy banana berry breakfast cookies
- Vanilla bean chia pudding
- Easy berry overnight oats
- Nut free apricot balls
- Homemade sausage rolls
- Cheese and Vegemite scrolls
For more lunchbox preparation tips and recipes, check out these great time saving tips for delicious school lunches, or my e-book full of 50 freezer friendly, nut free school lunch snacks.
Chocolate Nut Free Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup oats
- ¼ cup desiccated coconut
- 2 tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple syrup)
- 3 tbsp cocoa unsweetened, or raw cacao
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 15 medjool dates
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until the ingredients break down and start to stick together. This may take a minute or two.
- Roll the mixture into balls, a spoonful at a time. Roll in extra coconut or cocoa (optional).
- Enjoy! These balls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 10 days, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try these nut free bliss balls, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to leave a comment or review below, or send me a message. For more food inspiration, tips and to share your own recipes and creations, head over to my Facebook Recipe Group.
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Ashley says
What would be a good substitute for the dessicated coconut? There is a nut allergy (including coconut) in my son’s class but I’m looking for a substitute for our regular peanut butter protein energy balls.
Andrea Geddes says
Hi Ashley! You could try adding some extra oats or crushed Weetbix to the balls. Although you may need to tweak the dry:wet ingredients slightly to get the consistency you desire. I hope that helps, let me know how you go! Andrea.
Lauren says
They are deelish, but 3 tbsp of cocoa? Is that correct?
Andrea Geddes says
Hi Lauren! Yes, I use 3 tbs of cocoa or cacao. You can use less if you prefer 🙂
Robyn says
These look delicious, I love that they are nut free making them suitable for kiddie lunchboxes. And even better that I don’t have to switch the oven on to get a chocolate hit – and one that is healthy!
TheCookingCollective says
Hi Robyn! They are certainly quick and easy! Five minutes is all that stands between you and a delicious (and healthy) chocolate hit!
Sylvie says
Yuuum yes please!! I love making bliss balls, they always make such a delicious treat – and these one look SO delish! Love that they are nut free too
TheCookingCollective says
Thanks Sylvie! I love having them on hand in the freezer for the perfect sweet treat, anytime!