Chocolate Nut Free Bliss Balls

5 from 6 votes

Made with dates, cacao and oats, these healthy chocolate bliss balls are naturally sweet and full of delicious, chocolate flavour. And they can be made in advance and frozen, making them perfect for lunchboxes and on-the-go snacking!

Prep Time5

Cook Time0

Total Time5

Course: healthy, Snack

Cuisine: Australian

Servings:

Calories: 157kcal

Author: Andrea Geddes

Ingredients

200 grams medjool dates 200 grams = approx. 14 large dates.
85 grams oats use gluten-free oats, if needed.
25 grams desiccated coconut unsweetened.
3 tablespoons maple syrup
3 tablespoons cacao powder unsweetened. Or swap for cocoa powder.
2 teaspoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
pinch salt

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend on high speed until the ingredients break down and start to stick together. This may take a minute or two. The mixture should be sticky (but not too sticky) and hold together easily. If the mixture is still crumbly and dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time until it comes together.
Using a spoonful of the mixture at a time, use your hands to roll the mixture into bite-sized balls. Roll the balls in extra coconut or cocoa (optional).
The balls can be enjoyed immediately, or stored in the fridge or freezer to enjoy later (see notes below for storage instructions).

Video

Notes

This recipe is perfect for making in large batches, ideal for meal-prepping. Make a double, or triple batch and keep them in the freezer to add to lunchboxes or grab for an easy snack.
The mixture should be thoroughly broken down and sticking together before rolling into balls. To test, press some of the mixture between your fingers and see if it holds together. If your mixture is too dry and crumbly, add a teaspoon of water at a time and continue to blend until everything comes together.
If using regular dates instead of Medjool dates, soak them in water first (and drain) to soften before adding them to the food processor. Regular dates are drier than Medjool dates and water may need to be added to the mixture to help it come together.The balls can be enjoyed immediately, but will firm up slightly in the fridge if you prefer to eat them this way.
Variations; Make choc mint bliss balls by adding a few drops of peppermint extract. The balls can be enjoyed plain, or rolled in a coating like hemp seeds, coconut, crushed nuts, sesame seeds, freeze dried strawberries/raspberries or cacao powder.
How to store them; Add them to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Freezing; Store bliss balls in the freezer by adding them to an airtight container, separating any layers with a sheet of baking paper (this helps them to retain their shape and prevent them from sticking together). Freeze for up to 3 months. You can eat the balls straight from the freezer, or sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
Please note that the nutrition information is based on the mixture being made into 10 balls, with one ball being one serve. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
This recipe is made using Australian metric cups and spoon measurements. Any reference to cups or spoons in this recipe is in Australian metric. Due to cup sizes varying from country to country, I advise adjusting if necessary.

Nutrition