These 6 ingredient Lemon Coconut Bliss Balls with Cashews are the perfect healthy snack to make at home. They're naturally sweet without any added sugars, and they're a healthy and filling snack for any time of the day.Â
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Recipe Highlights
- They're moist and chewy and full of tangy lemon flavor and hints of coconut
- No Sugar, just the natural sweetness of the datesÂ
- They're healthier than store bought bliss balls and other processed snacks
- They're quick, easy, and cost effective to make
- You can make 11 large bliss balls, or 22 small bliss balls
- They're only 6 ingredients + water
- They keep in the fridge for up to 7 days
- They're freezer friendly
Ingredients
Cashew Nuts, Medjool Dates, Unsweetened shredded coconut, Coconut Cream/Milk Powder, Cashew Nut Butter, Lemon Zest
Ingredient Substitutions
- Nuts:Â Instead of cashews, other suitable nuts are walnuts, hazelnuts, or Almonds
- Dates: Whilst medjool dates are definitely the best as they are sweet and juicy, other dates will work, although you will likely need to use a few more to get the same level of sweetness. Deglet noor dates are also a good substitute for Medjool dates.
- Nut Butter:Â Whilst cashew butter tends to have the most neutral taste, you could use a natural peanut butter, or almond butter, even coconut butter if you have it in the cupboard.
Top Tip
The lemon is the star in these lemon energy balls, with the intensity of the lemon flavor coming from the zest. Choose good quality juicy lemons with good unblemished skins if you can.
Storage
Once you've made them, its best to let them fully firm up in the fridge for a few hours before eating. Store Lemon Energy Bites in an airtight container in the fridge for upto 7 days.Â
Other Bliss Ball Recipes
- Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
- Nut Free Bliss Balls
- Almond Butter Bliss Balls
- Lemon Cheesecake Bliss Balls
- Apricot Bliss Balls
- Cocao Bliss Balls
- Date Free Bliss Balls
- Chocolate Coconut Date Balls
How To Freeze Bliss Balls
- Choose Storage Containers: Select plastic or silicone ziplock bags, Chinese containers, or plastic containers with lids. Glass or sturdy plastic containers are preferable to prevent squashing in the freezer.
- Seal and Label: Ensure containers are tightly sealed. Label bliss balls with the name and a "use by" date (6 weeks from preparation).
- Freezing: Place containers in the freezer.
- Defrosting: To defrost, let them thaw naturally at room temperature, covered. Alternatively, place them in the fridge overnight for consumption the next day.
- Avoid Microwave: Don't use the microwave for thawing, as it may affect the texture negatively.
How To Make Bliss Balls Without A Food Processor
Soften the dates: Remove seeds from dates, place into a bowl with hot tap water and let soften for 5- 10  minutes. Squeeze all the water out of the dates after 5 or so minutes and mash with a fork so it turns into a date paste.
Mix It Up: Add the date paste to a large mixing bowl, along with the nut butter, shredded coconut, coconut cream powder, and lemon zest. Stir Vigorously until it comes together.
Check consistency: If too wet, add more shredded coconut or coconut cream powder. If too dry, add a little water (a tablespoon at a time). It should the like a "sticky" dough.
Roll away: roll into 11 generous sized bliss balls, or 22 smaller bliss balls
Optional: roll the balls in desiccated coconut for that extra hit coconut goodness.
Variations
Protein Boost: Add a scoop of unflavored or vanilla whey protein powder to turn them into lemon protein balls!
Chocolate Coconut Balls:Â swap half the coconut cream powder for unsweetened cocoa powder.
Fruit Mix: swap half the dates for dried apricots so you have a date and apricot paste to sweeten instead of pure dates. Alternatively you could try half dates/half sultanas, half dates/half cranberries
Nut Mix: mix up the nut combinations to what you have on hand. You don't have to use just one type of nut. Use ¾ cup of whatever nuts you have on hand.
Extra Zesty: Instead of lemon zest, use orange zest or lime zest, or a combination.
Spicy:Â add a little ground ginger, or ground cinnamon.
Seeds: Add a tablespoon of chia seeds to the mixture after blitzing, stirring through.
Bliss balls are the ultimate snack-full of good stuff like nuts and fruits, giving a steady energy boost. They're easy to make, easy to carry, and you can mix them up with flavors you love. Perfect for busy days!
If you love coconut treats, you might also like these quick and easy Coconut Jam Drops or this One Bowl Super Moist Coconut Yoghurt Cake.
Lemon Coconut and Cashew Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Cashew Nuts
- 200 grams Medjool dates - room temp - approx. 12 large
- ¼ cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons Cashew Nut Butter
- ¼ cup Coconut Milk Powder
- 1 ½ cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
For Rolling
- 1 cup Desicated coconut
Instructions
- Ensure seeds are removed from dates and place into food processor with ¼ cup warm water. Blitz until a date paste is formed
- Add the cashews, nut butter, coconut milk powder, lemon zest and blitz until all combined. (about 1 - 2 mins). If mixture is still too wet, add more coconut a couple of tablespoons at a time until mixture holds its shape
- Put bliss ball mixture into the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up before rolling.
- Roll mixture into 11 large or 22 small balls one at a time, rolling in the desiccated coconut as you go which will help them come together. If your hands are getting sticky, use a little desiccated coconut in your hands to stop the sticking.
- Let them firm up in the fridge for at least 2 hours before eating.
- Store in the fridge in an air tight container. They will stay fresh for 7 days.
Notes
- Can you use regular dates? you could but you'll need to use more because medjool dates are sweeter than regular dates.  You'll also need to soak them for longer as they are firmer and have a tougher skin. Extra soaking will ensure a smooth date paste.
- Cashew Butter: I would avoid using any other nut butter as they might be a bit overpowering to the coconut. Cashew butter has a milder taste than peanut butter for example.
- Coconut Milk/Coconut Cream Powder: This is available in the Asian food section of the supermarket when you normally find the coconut milk in a can. Avoid the canned stuff as it will make the bliss ball mixture to runny.
- Can you freeze these? Yes these are freezer friendly. Pop them into a freezer friendly container and let them defrost naturally before eating. They will freeze well for 6 weeks - if they last that long!
- Servings: This recipe will make 11 large bliss balls or you can make 22 small bliss balls. (I normally take 3 bites to eat a large one, whereas I eat the small ones all at once)
Nutrition
Note: Sugars contained in this recipe are from naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables or other natural sweeteners. Calories have been calculated for your convenience using My Fitness Pal and are based on the ingredients listed in the recipe card.
Tracy says
I've recently 'gone off' sugar and have missed the act of baking more than the actual sugar. Looking for something to make I tried these. They were delicious! I didn't have everything to follow the recipe so made a few substitutions. I used walnuts (I didn't have cashews), orange zest (no lemons in the house) and 1/2 cocoa powder. in addition to the cashew butter, and dates. So delicious! Even my picky husband enjoyed one of these on this way to work this morning. Thank you for sharing this recipe!