These chocolate bliss balls are so easy to make, nut-free you can use them in lunchboxes! I provide lots of ingredient options so you can tweak the recipe depending on what is in your pantry!
Why This Recipe Works
- Absolutely delicous!
- 5 ingredients, Easy 2 step recipe
- Free from: nuts, dairy, eggs, wheat, gluten
Ingredients you will need
To make my chocolate bliss balls you will need sunflower seeds, dates, raisins, cocoa, and coconut oil. Most of these ingredients can be substituted, I list the ingredient swaps you can make below.
Once made you can roll the chocolate bliss balls in desiccated coconut, cocoa or ground almonds, or you can leave them plain.
Substitutes
- Sunflower seeds: You can substitute the sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds or your favourite nut, almonds and cashews work well.
- Dates: If you don’t like dates, you can leave them out and increase the raisins to replace them.
- Raisins: You can use raisins or sultanas.
- Cocoa: This can be substituted for cacao powder if you prefer.
- Coconut oil: The recipe will actually work with any mild flavoured oil.
I am an ambassador for Countdown supermarket, they support my blog by providing ingredients for recipe creation and testing. I used dates from their range in this recipe.
Step by step instructions
Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make apricot balls, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card or recipe video below.
Step one: Put everything except the desiccated coconut into a food processor
Blitz, be patient it will take around 5 minutes for the mixture to come togeter.
Step two: Roll spoonfuls into balls
Optional: Roll the balls in desiccated coconut, cocoa or ground almonds.
Refrigerate for 1 hr before serving
Bliss balls for kids
I mean there aren’t any ‘nasty’ ingredients in there, no preservatives, additives or overly processed ingredients which is great.
But the thing is most bliss balls, energy balls, protein balls, whatever you want to call them are actually pretty high in sugar. These ones are as well.
The sugar content is because they are made with dried fruit.
Dried fruit isn’t bad per se, but it is quite a concentrated source of energy/sugar/fruit compared to fresh fruit.
I, therefore, think of energy bites as a bit of a treat snack rather than a ‘free reign eat as many as you want as often as you want snack’. But they are yummy, and sometimes yum factor wins out!
The other thing to think about when it comes to bliss balls and/or dried fruit is teeth. Dried fruits are not great for teeth, they stick to the teeth and can cause decay. So keep this in mind as well.
I have a couple of bliss ball recipes that are much lower in sugar, they are lower in sugar because they contain far less dried fruit. So if that is more your cup of tea then check out either my strawberry bliss balls , carrot balls , apple bliss balls, coconut balls or apricot balls.
Making Peanut Free and Nut Free Bliss Balls
As I mentioned my kiddos are starting school. Many schools have nut-free or peanut-free policies. (Not all schools, but quite. few). Nut-free lunch box recipes is one of the things I get asked for the most by my readers.
If you come across a protein ballrecipe that seems absolutely divine, but contains nuts.. a really simple substitute seeds ! Just take out the nuts and sub for sunflower or pumpkin seeds,and boom you will have created your own nut-free energy balls!
My milo balls use pumpkin seeds as a base and taste delicious.
Top Tips
Here is how you can make this bliss ball recipe perfectly every time!
- Be patient, just when you think the mix won’t come together it will, just keep blending.
- If your food processor is not sturdy enough to blitz dried dates, soak your dates in warm water for around 10 minutes, drain them and add these softened dates to your bliss ball mix.
FAQs
Bliss balls typically contain a combination of dried fruits, nuts, and or seeds, they are a concentrated energy source and can be high in sugar.
Bliss balls will last in the fridge for up to 7 days, or they can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Bliss balls are a no-bake energy ball made from a combination of dried fruits, nuts, and/or seeds and flavorings.
Chocolate Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- 150 g sunflower seeds 1 cup
- 150 g dates 1 cup
- 150 g raisins 1 cup
- 20 g cocoa or cacao ¼ cup
- 15 g coconut oil 1 Tablespoon
- Desiccated coconut, cocoa, ground almonds For rolling
Instructions
- Put everything except the desiccated coconut into a food processor
- Blitz, be patient it will take around 5 minutes for the mixture to come togeter.
- Roll spoonfuls into balls
- Optional: Roll the balls in desiccated coconut, cocoa or ground almonds.
- Refrigerate for 1 hr before serving
Video
Notes
Tips
- Be patient, just when you think the mix won’t come together it will, just keep blending.
- If your food processor is not sturdy enough to blitz dried dates, soak your dates in warm water for around 10 minutes, drain them and add these softened dates to your bliss ball mix.
- Bliss balls will last in the fridge for up to 7 days, or they can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Sunflower seeds: You can substitute the sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds or your favourite nut, almonds and cashews work well.
- Dates: If you don’t like dates, you can leave them out and increase the raisins to replace them.
- Raisins: You can use raisins or sultanas.
- Cocoa: This can be substituted for cacao powder if you prefer.
- Coconut oil: The recipe will actually work with any mild flavoured oil.
Have just made this and they are delicious! My fussy 7 year old even thought they were good. Thanks! Next on the list is your strawberry ones ?
Have just made this and they are delicious! My fussy 7 year old even thought they were good. Thanks! Next on the list is your strawberry ones ?
Hi, how long will these keep for in the fridge? Is it okay to freeze them? Thanks, Kate 🙂
They store in the fridge well for 5 days, they also freeze
There are amazing! I confess to stealing a few everytime I serve them to my kids….
Ha ha no shame in that!!