Here’s a delicious treat that contains only real food like dried fruit, nuts, and coconut. It’s no-bake, absurdly simple, fun to make (especially for children), and can be infinitely varied to suit your taste and the ingredients you have on hand. Bliss balls keep in the freezer for as long as you can resist them. They make for a nice presentation and are always scarfed up by everyone I’ve ever served them to.
Notice I didn’t label this recipe as low carb, because of course dried fruit contains sugar. I also didn’t label it as sugar free, even though it doesn’t actually contain any added sugar. That just seems too misleading. So, if you’re watching your carbs, you can’t pretend that these don’t count just because they contain only good for you things. Even though they’re packed with nutrients, you still need to exercise some amount of self-control. Luckily they’re so enjoyably rich that one or two satisfy the dessert craving
Thank you Jill for sharing this great recipe with me!
- 1/2 cup macadamia nuts or cashews (salted or unsalted)
- 1/2 cup pecans, salted or unsalted (click on the link for the world's best pecans - they're wild, soaked, and dehydrated; I use the salted ones)
- 3/4 cup pitted dates (about 10 large)
- 3/4 cup currants
- 1/2 cup Turkish dried apricots (the whole kind)
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, plus extra for coating finished balls if desired
- 1/2 cup hemp seed
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs (optional but delicious)
- 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil
- salt to taste (omit if using salted macadamia nuts)
- Put macadamia nuts (or cashews) and pecans in bowl of food processor and process until chopped fine.
- Add all the other ingredients and process until finely chopped and blended.
- Add coconut oil and pulse 4-5 times until coconut oil is mixed in. Test to see if mixture is wet enough by forming a tablespoon of mixture into a ball. If it's too crumbly and doesn't hold together, add a little more coconut oil (a teaspoon at a time).
- Using about a tablespoon at a time, form into balls. Roll in additional shredded coconut to coat if desired. Freeze for 30 minutes before serving. Or store in the freezer or refrigerator until ready to serve. May be made 4-5 days ahead of time and kept covered and chilled
- Note:
- There are many variations you can try:
- Add goji berries to the mix or roll the finished balls in goji berries (the red makes them look very festive and Christmas-y).
- Substitute hazelnuts and/or walnuts
- Add a little cocoa powder instead of cacao nibs or roll the finished balls in cocoa powder
