Winter Bliss Balls.
Hey, hi! Happy Friday!! Let’s talk chocolate things!
I am so excited today is finally here. The weekend is very very much needed. But first, we have these crazy healthy winter bliss balls to chat about for one. These are basically superfood in dessert form, and I could not love them more. Plus, they’re incredibly easy…and fast 10 mins to chocolate paradise. Win. Win.
But…before I dive into these winter bliss balls and other weekend things, I just wanted to quickly address yesterday’s missing post. Some of you may or may not have noticed, but there wasn’t a new post yesterday, as there typically has been on Thursday for the past 4 1/2 years. I am so sorry! We made some major site adjustments on the back-end on Wednesday…hopefully to improve the site and the reader experience (meaning make it faster and easier for you guys to use!). however, late Wednesday night some malfunctions began to occur and we were unable to have the new post go live. Not going to lie, I am pretty bummed about it. This is the very first time in my four and a half years of writing this little blog that a new post has not gone live on a weekday. I know, things happen and it’s just one post, but I feel bad that I didn’t have something for you all to read! Plus, the recipe is pretty delicious!
Don’t worry, I will be sharing it next week, and I have a special Saturday post planned for this weekend, so you’re still going to get plenty of ME…whether you want to or not. 🙂
Thanks for being the bestest and kindest readers out there, and for sticking with me even when the site has being SO annoying, you guys are seriously the best! Hoping all the kinks have been worked out (fingers crossed) and we can now only chat about super fun chocolate things and weekend things too!
OK! Let’s talk chocolate loaded bliss balls and Friday things. These chocolate balls have quickly become a new family favorite as both of my parents are now on a massive cacao kick after learning of its superfood characteristics and age reversing benefits. My mom has actually been drinking a 3/1 mix of cacao to cocoa for maybe two years now, but she recently read something to my dad that’s got him going now too. He is not one to “drink warm milk”, but I think he’s been sprinkling the cacao powder on things. I mean, I’ve only been telling them cacao’s benefits for the last year, but I guess they needed an online article to really convince them. Whatever, at least they are both on the superfood train now…cool, cool. I’m already dreaming up all the desserts I can make healthier!
Wondering what the heck cacao powder is? Like dark chocolate, cacao powder contains flavonoids, which are said to help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the brain and heart. Cacao also contains an abundance of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Long story short, cacao is chocolate in its purist and rawest form. It’s bitter, but when paired with sweet dates, like in these bliss balls, it’s a guilt free superfood that we all need so much more of in our lives. <–truth.
SO to solve all of our problems, I made use these delicious chocolate bliss balls!
Now we can eat all the chocolate we like and actually feel good about it, not an ounce of guilt here. Thank God because today needs lots and lots of chocolate. Busy week and and even busier weekend ahead. Meaning these winter bliss balls need to be made!
Here’s how these work. Take some dates, cashews, cacao powder, coconut, hemp seeds, chai seeds, maca powder (great for helping to balance hormones!), and orange zest. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse away until you have a dough that looks like well…chocolate dough!!
Roll the dough into balls, and then roll the balls in the toppings…simple as that. These are best straight out of the fridge, but still delicious at room temperature making them perfect for easy on the go snacking…which is just what is needed for this weekend!
The family is headed to Aspen to watch Red compete at the Winter X-Games. Everyone’s pretty excited, and all of us could not be more proud. Qualifiers are today and if he makes it through those, then it’s off to finals on Sunday. If you feel the need, please say a little prayer for kid. He’s flying way too high over massive jumps made of snow and ice, and even though he’s got serious skills he needs all the good vibes he can get! OKOK and I worry about him way too much, so I’d greatly appreciate the extra positivity. I’m one of those people that covers their eyes while they watch. Like tell me when it’s over and he’s landed everything and is completely safe and sound, you know?
Sister vibes I guess.
Anyway, that’s what I am doing this weekend, and since I promised Red that I would bring lots of treats with me, these balls are definitely coming on the road to fancy Aspen…along with pans of cookies, bars and brownies.
Follow along on Instagram! And then go make some winter bliss balls! 🙂
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Winter Bliss Balls.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bliss balls
These are basically superfood in dessert form, and I could not love them more!
Ingredients
- 25-30 medjool dates, pitted (about 2 cups packed)
- 1 1/2 cups roasted cashews
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 teaspoon maca powder
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- pinch of flaky sea salt
- melted chocolate, nuts,seeds, dried roses, cocoa or cacao powder, for topping
Instructions
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Add all the ingredients to a food a processor and pulse until fully combined and the dough easily holds together when squeezed in your hand.
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Roll the dough into tablespoon size balls. If desired, roll on your desired toppings OR dip in melted chocolate and sprinkle your toppings onto the chocolate. Allow the chocolate to set in the fridge.
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Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Have a great weekend!
ooooh they do look good!!
https://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
Thank you!
These look and sound amazing Tieghan! I started following Red on Insta a few months ago because the kid has mad skills, so I will be rooting for him, but I get the whole “covers eyes… tell me when he’s landed” thing. He’ll do awesome, just make sure you’ve filled him lots of these bliss balls for energy!
Awe, wow thank you!! He did great and landed safely! 🙂
Hope you are having a great weekend!
I’ve already pinned. These are a must do and a must taste. 🙂
Thanks Marisa! 🙂
These look amazing ?
Thanks so much Karlie!
It it weird that I was kinda worried about you? Like, “oh man, she never misses a post, i hope she’s okay.” Anyways, I’m glad it was just a glitchy site thing.
Now…these chocolate treats look awesome, perfect for weekend snackin’. Good luck to your li’l brother, I’m sure he’ll rock it.
Same thought here — worried! Glad it was just the site. Also, can’t wait to make these and bring them climbing!
THANK YOU! You are so kind and it is nice to know I was missed. haha! 🙂
I thought the same thing! One of the positives of the internet! We’ve never met but somehow it feels like we know each other and it’s become this kind of family affair 🙂
THANK YOU! It is so nice to know that I was missed, you guys are the BEST 🙂
These look fabulous! One of them looks like you covered it in chocolate – is that sugar free or regular chocolate? Will be making these this weekend. I LOVE the healthy recipes you’ve been posting and I hope they continue.
Hey Rose! That is 92 percent dark chocolate. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love these!
I have almonds at home.. do you think they would work in place of cashews?
Hey Amy! Yes, I think almonds will be great! Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love these!
These are stunning! I am in love with the dried roses <3 <3 <3
Thanks Maya! Me too! 🙂
Ooooh these are so beautiful! Yum
Thank you, Sara!
Love these energy balls! Medjool dates taste amazing and combined with the rest of delicious ingredients they must taste unreal! 🙂
Thanks Julia!
These winter bliss balls look sooo good. I love chocolate so this is just perfect for me!
Thanks Andrea!
just so you know, i did notice and checked back a few time throughout the day. i though you might like to know you were missed 🙂
Awe! Thank you! Hoping to not miss a post anytime soon. Glad to know I was missed!
hopefully it was just a one off and your site is fully functional again! sending all the good vibes (safety and performance wise) to red; hoping it’s televised somewhere and that i can catch a glimpse (:
Thanks so much, Heather! ps. red did great! 🙂
These look amazing! LOVE dates and could eat a whole container of them at once. Do I have to use maca powder; I don’t have any and probably won’t use again? Also, do you mean chia seeds? You have posted chai seeds–assuming that’s what you meant.
Good Luck Red!
Hey Penny! Yes, you can omit the maca powder and yes, I mean chia seeds, sorry about that! Thank you! Red did great! 🙂
I want to make these because I do have dates that I need to use. But, I don’t have hemp seeds, chia seeds, or maca powder — how critical are they? I do have ground flaxseed. Could I put some of that in?
Hi! Yes, use flax seeds in place of the chia seeds and just omit the hemp seeds and maca powder. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!
You are just the best sister EVER!!! Such a talented gal 🙂
haha1 Thank you! 🙂
I never feel bad about chocolate, just saying;) Ha, but these look awesome! I love love the flavor of dates and they are such an effective binding agent in recipes like this. I am wondering why you opted for roasted cashews? I love how almost cashew buttery the raw ones easily get when blended. Just curious:) (Also, I think yo mean chia seeds not “chai.”)
Thanks Maria!! I use roasted cashews becasue I love the flavor, they just add so much! And yes, I mean chia, not chai, thanks for catching that! 🙂
Bring on the chocolate, I love these bites! 🙂
Win win for the chocolate!! Hope you are having a great weekend, Laura!
These bites look totally delicious Tieghan! That last photo….I want to grab that bliss ball right off the screen!
Thank you so much Mary Ann! Hope you are having a great weekend!
Glad that the blog is back and running! I am stoked to try making these bliss balls one day! Chocolate. ALL THE TIME.
Yes! Chocolate all the time! Well I wish! Thanks Cassie (:
Thanks for sharing this recipe,was looking for it from long time.
Your welcome, hope you enjoy!
I would like to thank you for this recipe.
Your welcome!
Just finished making these bliss balls. Yum!! But they were to dry to roll into balls, so I just added a dash of almond coconut milk to moisten them. Worked like a charm!
So happy you enjoyed these. so weird they where a little dry. Mine where so stick. Where your dates moist and plump?
So hapyy you were able to make them work and they were good! Thanks Emily
Hi there! I love your recipes and posts. The chocolate bombs look yummy ? However, the amount of dates in the recipe seems excessive. I’m used to working in the metric system, but 25-30 cups seems A LOT…. Is it correct?
Hi Cathy! Thank you SO much for pointing this out. That would be WAY too many dates. You only need about 25-30 dates. The recipe has been fixed. So incredibly sorry about that. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love these!
Made this today and rolled them in melted chocolate&almond butter. They are so delicious, I literally had to stop myself from eating all of them.
That is so great! So so happy you loved these! Thank you Mia!
These sound amazing! Sometime will you take a picture with your ingredients so we can see them? I am new to doing healthy! So a little unsure what I buy is correct! I saw the Amazon list but like to see what you put out to make these! Thanks I am loving all of your ideas and gave a couple of friends you cookbook for Christmas!
I will totally try to do that in the future! Thank you Nancy!
Hey!
What is the 3-1 cacao to cocoa mis your mother is drinking?
These really do look delicious!
Abby
Haha! Honestly I am not sure, I will find out. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! ?
These taste great!! I am liking the addition of the orange peel! I plan on keeping mine in the freezer so it will be more difficult to to eat 2-3 at once. ?
Haha that is great! I am really glad you like these!
These look amazing! Do you have any suggestions for a cashew substitute for someone allergic to tree nuts?
HI! Can you use a seed? I think an equal amount of hemp or sesame seeds would be awesome. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Hello!
I am making a lot of bliss balls- I love them! And I saw your recipe- I love it too! But with all the bliss balls that I do I can feel an after taste , hard to explain but maybe acidic. I was thinking that it may be because sometimes I leave the balls in the fridge for a few days (but none of the ingredients should problem a problem,?). I thought it was the coconut (maybe poor quality) mixed with the water (I replaced the milk with water, but maybe it is the water or milk together as I also add porridge oats.. If you have a recommendation or a tip it would be great !!! Thanks!!, Lucy
Hi Lucy, I am so sorry, I am a little confused about what exactly you are asking or maybe just how to answer. The aftertaste? could it be from the dates possibly? Do you like dates on their own? IS this aftertaste in my recipe or in others recipes? Hope I can help figure out this issue for you!
Would you please send me your mother’s cocoa directions. Thank you
Love your site and the ease of using it
Hi Nancy! She doesn’t really have a recipe for it, but for one mug she used about a tablespoon of cacao and a teaspoon of hot cocoa mix with goat milk! It is about a 3:1 ratio of cacao to cocoa mix! I hope you love it!
Hi! Please let me know what I could use instead of hemp seeds? Thank you!
Hey Anastasia,
You can just omit the hemp seeds. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan