Chocolate & Coconut Bliss Balls
These bliss balls have been a great little snack between meals when I’ve felt like something sweet. They are both super easy and economical to make with no fancy-pants ingredients if you don’t want to add them. You can keep them in the fridge or freezer for long-lasting storage. They have been the most magical little breastfeeding snack that also provides valuable nutrients to fuel both me and our little human, who is always hungry!
They are also perfect to add to summer picnics or hiking lunchboxes instead of packaged muesli bars and biscuits. Why not get the kids involved and make a big batch in preparation for summer adventures and going back to school! They will be more inclined to eat and enjoy them if they have helped in the creating part. But I'm sure everyone in the family, both young and older, will love them!
Chocolate & Coconut Bliss Balls – makes ~16 (inspired by My Darling Lemon Thyme)
½ cup raw almonds (can use sunflower seeds if nut-free)
1 cup dried dates, soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes (save the soaking water!)
1 cup raisins (or use an extra cup of dried dates if you don't have raisins)
1/4 cup raw cacao powder or good-quality cocoa powder
1 Tbspn Pic’s Almond Butter (or use peanut butter) - optional
1 Tbspn oil (melted coconut oil, avocado or macadamia oil or even melted butter)
1 Tbspn runny honey or pure maple syrup
½ cup desiccated coconut
1-2 Tbspn water (from the soaked dates if the mixture is too dry)
Coating: 1 cup coconut
Place the almonds into a food processor and blitz until roughly chopped
Drain the dates and squeeze out any excess water with your hands thoroughly
Place the dates along with all of the remaining ingredients (except water and extra 1 cup of coconut) and process until the mixture roughly comes together
If the mixture is too dry and crumbly, add 1 -2 tablespoons of the soaking water from the dates and process until the mixture comes together
Pour the 1 cup of coconut for coating into a shallow dish. Roll the mixture into small balls and then coat in the coconut. Place on a plate and set to chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
Bliss balls will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about a week or in a sealed container in the freezer for a few months.
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free (without melted butter), Egg-Free
