Healthy Apricot Balls with Coconut

orange coloured apricot balls rolled in coconut, on a white plate.

5 from 3 votes

Juicy, naturally sweetened and full of flavour, these easy apricot balls are the perfect healthy snack! Packed with dried apricots, juicy dates, coconut and chia seeds, they take only 5 minutes to make and can even be frozen to enjoy later.

Prep Time5

Cook Time0

Total Time5

Course: healthy, Snack

Cuisine: Australian

Servings:

Calories: 111kcal

Author: Andrea Geddes

Ingredients

1 ½ cups dried apricots 360 grams
1 cup medjool dates pitted (approx. 220 grams when the pits are removed/10-11 large dates).
1 cup desiccated coconut plus extra, for rolling
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend on high speed, until the ingredients break down and the mixture is smooth (no lumps) and sticking together. It may take a minute or two for the mixture to fully break down.
Roll the mixture in your hands into firm balls and roll the balls in additional coconut (optional). Store in the fridge or freezer until required.

Notes

Make sure the apricots are soft and not too tough. If your apricots are really dry or not soft, soak them in boiling water for 5 minutes to soften them and drain before using. If you want unsulfured apricots, buy them from your local health food or specialty food store.
Don’t swap desiccated coconut for shredded coconut, as shredded coconut is coarser and more difficult to break down in the food processor.
Medjool dates are stickier and juicier than regular dried dates and can be found in the fridge in most supermarkets, grocers and health food stores. Remove the pits from the dates before adding them to the food processor. Regular dates are too dry and would need to be soaked in boiling water and drained before using.
The mixture will be sticky, but it should hold together when squeezed/rolled. If the mixture is too wet or sticky, add more coconut to dry it out.
If the mixture is a little dry, you can add some more dates or a little maple syrup and blend again.
These are no-bake balls, but you will need a food processor to break down and combine the ingredients. A high-powered blender or a Thermomix can also be used.
If you prefer them a little sweeter, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or brown rice syrup. You may need to add a little more coconut to account for the extra moisture from the syrup.
Add ¼ cup of hemp seeds, sunflower seeds or your preferred healthy seeds of choice.
You can also add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Storage; Keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
Freezing; These balls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply roll the balls and place them into an airtight container, separating any layers with baking paper to prevent sticking. Then grab them from the freezer any time you need a healthy snack or something sweet!
Please note that the nutrition information is based on the mixture being rolled into 14 (50 grams per ball) balls, with one ball being one serve. The nutritional information is an estimate only and does not take into account any additional toppings or sides served with the bliss balls.
This recipe is made using Australian cups and spoon measurements. Due to cup sizes varying from country to country, I advise adjusting if necessary.

Nutrition