Chocolate Bliss balls make the perfect snack or sweet ending to a meal. This recipe is quick and easy to make and is full of good-for-you ingredients that are readily available.
I’m never sure what I should be calling these delicious morsels, are they bliss balls, energy balls or just plain bites. Any ideas? I’ve hardly ever met anyone who didn’t adore chocolate and if you’re a chocolate lover who’s looking for an almost guilt-free chocolate fix then you have to try these chocolate Bliss Balls. These delicious bite-sized snacks are not only easy to make but are also packed with flavour and nutrients.
They’re quite irresistible and make a nice sweet ending to a meal or a nice sweet surprise in a lunch box.
What Are Chocolate Bliss Balls?
Chocolate bliss balls, also known as energy bites or protein balls, are delightful and nutritious snacks made from a combination of wholesome ingredients. These balls typically consist of dates, nuts, and cocoa or melted chocolate. They are a perfect balance of natural sweetness and chocolatey goodness, making them an excellent way to satisfy your sweet cravings without all of the guilt.
You want these bliss balls because;
- they taste delicious
- give a great energy boost
- look really special as a ‘nibble’ to put out for friends
- work well as a sweet treat in a lunchbox
- they’re dairy-free, refined sugar-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans
Ingredients you’ll need for Chocolate Bliss balls
First of all, you need to gather your ingredients together.
- dates – Medjool are best as they are quite moist and make a lovely sticky paste but dried dates will work too.
- hazelnuts – these are roasted to release flavour and oils. They add flavour and texture.
- cocoa – use good quality cocoa powder so that you get the deepest flavour. Drinking chocolate that may have added sweeteners and milk powder will not give you as good a result.
- maple syrup – adds sweetness to the energy balls.
- hazelnut butter – adds to the lovely nutty flavour and helps to combine everything together.
If you’re using normal dried dates it helps to soak them in hot water for around ten minutes. Drain the water off before using them.
Making Chocolate Hazelnut Bliss Balls
Roast the hazelnuts.
Preheat the oven to 180oC/160oC Fan/350F and spread the hazelnuts out on a baking tray. Roast them for around ten minutes. Give the pan a quick shake about half way through so that the nuts do not scorch. At the end of the time, take the nuts out of the oven and place them in a tea towel. Gather up the corners and gently rub the skins off the hazelnuts. This doesn’t have to be a perfect job. Just remove what skins you can.
Process the mixture
Add the nuts to the food processor and process for a few seconds to chop the nuts up fairly finely. Once that has happened, add the rest of the ingredients and process again. Let it run for a minute or two until you have a sticky paste.
Scoop a small amount of the mixture and press it together in your hand. If it sticks nicely together then your mixture is ready to form into balls, otherwise process a little more. If it’s really resisting coming together then add a teaspoon of water and that should make it sticky enough to form into balls.
Turn the mixture into Bliss balls
Use a tablespoon to scoop out the mixture and roll it into a ball. How large your scoops are will determine how many you actually make. I measured mine on a scale and made each one from approximately 28g of the mixture so that they ended up fairly evenly sized. It’s sad but I like that.
Tips for Making Perfect Chocolate Bliss Balls
Adjusting the Consistency
If the mixture appears too dry and crumbly, add a bit more maple syrup or a splash of water. On the other hand, if the mixture is too sticky, add extra nuts to achieve the desired consistency.
Serving Chocolate Bliss Balls – Ideas for presentation
There are of course, different ways of presenting Bliss Balls to the world.
- You can roll them in ground hazelnuts, which makes then taste a little like that well know confection wrapped in gold foil.
- Roll them in desiccated coconut which is what I quite like to do.
- Dip them in either melted white or dark chocolate. These are amazing!
Variations to the recipe
Use a different nut butter
If you do not have hazelnut butter, you may substitute any other nut butter in its place. Or use Nutella instead for an even richer chocolate hit. (We have a recipe for a Nutella-like spread here. )
Enhancing the Flavour
Experiment with different variations to suit your taste preferences. You can add a pinch of cinnamon, a dash of espresso powder, or a sprinkle of sea salt to elevate the flavours.
A note on dates, cocoa and Sweeteners
Can’t find Medjool dates then it’s good to know that ‘Soft dried dates’, which are slightly moister than normal dried dates work really well if you can’t find Medjool dates.
Agave nectar will also work instead of maple syrup.
You may substitute the cocoa powder for raw cacao but don’t be tempted to substitute drinking chocolate as this won’t give you the deliciously rich chocolate flavour that the cocoa (or cacao) will give.
The Health Benefits of Chocolate Bliss Balls
This may be surprising given how delicious they are but here a few things that need to be shard about the nutritional benefits of bliss balls.
A Nutritious Snack Option
Chocolate bliss balls are a powerhouse of nutrients. Dates provide natural sugars, while nuts offer healthy fats, fibre, and protein, making these treats a wholesome and nourishing snack.
Boost your Energy Levels
Thanks to their nutrient-dense ingredients, chocolate bliss balls can give you a quick energy boost, making them an ideal after school or work snack.
Support your Digestive Health
The combination of dates and nuts in chocolate bliss balls can aid in digestion, providing your body with essential dietary fibres.
Vegan and Gluten-Free Variations
It is easy to adapt this bliss balls recipe so that it caters for different dietary needs and food sensitivities. Particularly, making it suitable for those following vegan or plant-based diets and suitable for those who need to avoid gluten.
By using vegan chocolate and ensuring all the ingredients are gluten-free, (check on the cocoa and cocoa) you can create a delectable treat that everyone can enjoy. This recipe is not suitable for those with nut allergies.
Chocolate Bliss Balls for Special Occasions
This is a thought but how about bliss balls to make your special occasion even more special? Decorate them for Christmas with colourful sprinkles, edible glitter, or holiday-themed toppings. How about more glitter-themed decorating to mark the end of a celebratory barbecue or party?
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s) about Bliss Balls
If the bliss balls are too soft, add extra nuts to achieve a firmer consistency.
Absolutely! Chocolate bliss balls are a healthier alternative to conventional sweets and are perfect for kids and adults alike. (Obviously, you always need to be aware of food allergies.)
You can experiment with various ingredients such as peanut butter or almond butter. You could substitute the hazelnuts with peanuts or almonds. Perhaps add a little almond extract with almonds nuts) (1/2 teaspoon). You could also use dried apricots instead of dried dates to create unique flavour combinations.
Storing your Chocolate Bliss Balls
These energy-boosting snacks are wonderful to eat right now, however, if that’s not possible they will last for 5-7 days in an air-tight container. They may not last that long though, once your family find them.
Hope you like them!
What’s your favourite chocolatey energy-boosting snack?
If you like these…. then you may also like our other chocolate recipes
- Chocolate and Orange Brownies
- Healthy Chocolate Truffles
- Chocolate and Avocado Mousse
- Easy Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread
- Double Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats
- Chia Balls with peanut butter
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Chocolate Bliss Balls Recipe
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 food processor makes short work of the mixing
- 1 tablespoon
- 1 cups measuring scales
Ingredients
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- 1 1/3 cups dates medjool, pitted
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut butter
- 3 tablespoon dessicated coconut optional for rolling the bliss balls in
- 2 ounces dark chocolate optional – melted for dipping the bliss balls in for decoration
- 2 ounces white chocolate optional – melted for dipping the bliss balls in for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/350F.
- Place the nuts on a baking tray and put in the oven for ten minutes. After five minutes have passed, remove the nuts from the oven and move them around a little to prevent scorching. Put them back in the oven.1 cup hazelnuts
- Take the nuts out of the oven and wrap them in a tea towel. Rub the nuts in the towel to remove the skins. This doesn't need to be perfect – just remove what you can.
- Add the nuts to the food processor and process for a minute or two until they're finely ground.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor bowl and process until you have a sticky paste that will hold together if you squeeze it in your hands. (If the mixture is too dry and does not stick together either add a teaspoon of water or another teaspoon of nut butter.)1 1/3 cups dates, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 2 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon hazelnut butter
- Use a tablespoon to scoop up the mixture and roll it into balls with your hands. (Measuring the mixture into 28g portions will give you approximately 11 balls)
- Finish off the bliss balls by rolling them in chopped hazelnuts or desiccated coconut. For really special occasions dip in melted white or dark chocolate.3 tablespoon dessicated coconut, 2 ounces dark chocolate, 2 ounces white chocolate
Notes
Nutrition
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