These gorgeous Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls are simple to prepare and utterly delicious. They are made with simple ingredients and come together quickly for a healthy snack!
Why we love this recipe:
These Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls are made with ingredients which are easily found in the supermarket. There is no cooking involved; all the ingredients are raw and are easily whizzed together in the bowl of a food processor.
They are free of refined sugar; their natural sweetness comes from the dried apricots, and yet they satisfy my sweet cravings.
They are less sweet than the bliss balls made with dates but equally delicious. The combination of apricots and coconut is light, fresh and slightly tangy.
They travel well so are ideal in lunch boxes, take on picnics or to a potluck. They make a lovely gift; put them in a cellophane bag and tie with a pretty ribbon.
The children will love them, and they are far healthier than a supermarket snack which is over-salted or over-sweetened and contains who-knows-what additives.
As well, if your children are of the right age, get them to help you roll the balls. Things may get a little messy and fingers get sticky but they will enjoy them all the more for being involved.
They are great to have on hand. Keep a container of these in the fridge to enjoy with a tea or coffee, pack them in the children’s lunch boxes or keep some in the drawer of your desk to provide a quick pick-me-up.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Apricots – use soft dried apricots if possible. If your apricots are dry you may need to add some water to the mixture to get it to properly combine.
Almond meal – both almond meal and almond flour are made from ground almonds. However, one may be made from blanched almonds and the other from the whole almond. You could use either in this recipe; the one made from the whole almond will contain more fibre.
Desiccated coconut – this is finely grated, un-sweetened and dried flesh from the white part of the coconut. Store your coconut in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark place. Alternatively, to extend the shelf life, store it in the fridge or freezer.
Chia seeds – currently enjoying enormously popularity, chia seeds were once a staple in the Mayan and Aztec diets. Chia seeds absorb liquid and form a gel; they help bind the bliss balls.
Water – I add some filtered water to help the ingredients bind together. If your mixture seems too dry to roll into a ball, add a little more water.
Maple Syrup – adds a little sweetness to the bliss balls, and balances the flavour.
Vanilla – use a good quality vanilla that has been extracted from the vanilla bean, and not synthetically flavoured.
Step by Step Instructions:
- Add the dried apricots to the bowl of a food processor.
- Process the apricots until they are finely chopped.
- Add the coconut, almond meal, vanilla, maple syrup, chia and water to the food processor, and blend until well combined.
- Check that the mixture is sufficiently moist to be able to roll into balls. If not, add a little water and blend again. Take about a teaspoon of the mixture, and roll into small bowls and toss in the coconut.
Tips for Success and FAQs:
Ideally, use apricots that are very soft; if not, you may need to add some water to the mixture when blending.
After blending the mixture, take a small amount, press it together between your fingers to check if it can be pressed into bars. If the mixture is too crumbly, add a small amount of water to bind it together. Add more if necessary.
They will last in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container, for about one week.
Yes, they can. They can be frozen in an airtight container for about 3 months.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
After some more healthy snack ideas? Try some of these recipes:
- Tamari Roasted Pepitas
- Soy Roasted Almonds
- Spicy Roasted Almonds
- Salt and Pepper Walnuts
- Roasted Mediterranean Olives
- Mixed Seed Crackers
- Salted Caramel Bliss Balls
- Chocolate Mint Bliss Balls
- Nut-Free Chocolate Bliss Balls
These Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls make for a great snack. This easy to make recipe will become a new favourite – be sure to let me know when you have given it a try!
Alex xx
Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls
Please note:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.
Ingredients
For the Bliss Balls:
- 1 cup (190 g) soft dried apricots See Note 1
- ⅔ cup (70 g) unsweetened desiccated coconut
- ½ cup (50 g) almond meal See Note 2
- 2 tablespoon (40 ml) maple syrup See Note 3
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract See Note 5
- 1 tablespoon white chia seeds See Note 3
- 2 tablespoon (40 ml) water – if necessary See Notes 3 and 4
To Coat the Bliss Balls:
- 3 tablespoon unsweetened desiccated coconut See Note 3 and 6
Instructions
- Add the dried apricots to the bowl of a food processor. Process the apricots until they are finely chopped.
- Add the coconut, almond meal, vanilla, maple syrup, chia and water to the food processor, and blend until well combined.
- Check that the mixture is sufficiently moist to be able to roll into balls. If not, add a little water and blend again.
- Take about a teaspoon of mixture, and roll into small bowls and toss in the coconut.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- If measuring by volume, the apricots are firmly packed in the cup. We have used soft apricots. If yours are not soft you may need to add a small amount of additional water to the mixture when blending.
- Both almond meal and almond flour are made from ground almonds. However, one may be made from blanched almonds and the other from the whole almond. You could use either in this recipe; the one made from the whole almond will contain more fibre.
- In Australia, the tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries, the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. You may need to adjust your quantities accordingly.
- Add water only if necessary to help the mixture combine to be rolled into balls.
- For the best flavour, use vanilla which is extracted from the vanilla bean, not one which is synthetically produced.
- Use unsweetened desiccated coconut.
You may find you need a little extra to roll the bliss balls in. - Please note, the nutritional information is calculated on one bliss ball. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Joanne
DE-LISH-OUS!!! My 3 year old helped me make them so they’re not that hard to make, and he made short work of eating them too. I accidentally used quinoa instead of chia (very sleep deprived) and it actually worked ok, adds a nice bit of crunch, next time Ill be sure to use chia though. I also subbed the maple syrup for honey, but will try maple syrup next time. Thanks for a great recipe!
Alexandra Cook
Hi Joanne!
Thanks for the lovely comment – so pleased to know that you both enjoyed them, and that’s lovely you got to make them together too 🙂
Phoebe
These are delicious…and so easy to make. Even my fussy eater gave them a thumbs up. I didn’t have any almond flour so I substituted 1/2 cup (50g) of rolled oats. Added the two tablespoons of water and it blended all together really well. Better than store bought apricot delight. Next time, however I will leave the chia seeds out.
Alexandra
Hi Phoebe, thank you so much for your fantastic feedback on the Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls. I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed them and found the rolled oats a good substitute for almond flour. 🙂
Steph
What could I use instead of almond meal? I’m allergic to tree nuts. Thank you!
Alexandra
Hey Steph!
We are working on a nut-free version of the apricot bliss balls at the moment.
In the meantime, these Nut Free Chocolate Bliss Balls are delicious!
Hope that helps 🙂
Catherine
I made these with blitzed oats to replace the almond meal so they are lunchbox friendly and it worked well 🙂
Alexandra Cook
Thanks so much for sharing, Catherine! 🙂
Lucy
These are really yummy and a great texture. Do you know if I can freeze them? Thanks so much
Alexandra
Hi Lucy, you sure can – see the Tips for Success section of the blog post for storing 🙂 They will last for up to 3 months.
Let me know if you give them a try! Kind regards, Alex
Shannon
Can I use a blender for this recipe?
Alexandra
Hi Shannon, I prefer to use a food processor as it blends the ingredients more evenly and I haven’t tried using a blender. To use a blender, you would need a high-speed blender, but it may be difficult to remove the apricot mixture from the jug. Just try gradually blending and stop as the ingredients combine but not so far that it becomes solid and difficult to remove. I hope this helps. Cheers, Alex 🙂
Anaiah
I love making these apricot coconut bliss balls! They’re so easy to make and packed with flavor and nutrients. Perfect snacks to bring to work.
Alexandra
Hi Anaiah, I am so pleased to hear that you enjoy the Apricot Coconut Balls. They certainly are a delicious snack. 🙂
Tracey
My mix didn’t make anywhere near 30 balls (they would have been minuscule) and I followed the recipe to a T. They did taste great.
Alexandra
Hi Tracey!
So pleased you enjoyed the taste 🙂 We shape ours using only about a teaspoon of the mixture for a small bite, but you can certainly make them larger if you prefer 🙂
Michelle
Deeeeeeeeelicious YUM 😋
Alexandra
Thank you, Michelle!
Zack
I didn’t have apricots on hand- but I used dried figs and they came out like fig newton balls! Definitely appreciate the tip to get the fruit soft and rehydrated. thank you!
Alexandra
What a great idea, Zack – thank you for sharing! I am looking forward to trying this!
Amelia
These taste SO GOOD!! I’ve only ever made bliss balls with dates so this was my first time making them with apricots and I have been missing out! I added a bit of almond extract since I didn’t have vanilla extract but otherwise followed the recipe exactly as written. They are amazing!
Alexandra
Hi Amelia!
Oh, almond extract was probably a delicious addition – yum! I am really happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Many thanks, Alex
Ruth
Thanks
These turned out great
I added some date paste instead of the maple syrup, some extra shredded coconut I had in the freezer, some fine oats and tahini.
They are nice and light, sweet but not sickly like some recipes.
I appreciate the inspiration 😁
Alexandra
Thanks for sharing, Ruth!
Cyndy
These are perfect!
Alexandra
Thank you so much!
Olivia
Really easy and delicious!
Alexandra
Thank you, Olivia!
Sue
I will be visiting my daughter soon and I always try to make something with my 4-year-old granddaughter. This will be one of our projects! I love the fact that they are apricot-based. Can’t wait! Thank you!
Alexandra
Thank you so much, Sue! I am happy to hear you’ll be making this together. Family cooking time is so special 🙂 Enjoy – Alex
Meredith B
These are great.
I didn’t have any maple syrup, so I used a bit of honey.
They’re a really delicious snack.
Alexandra
Hi Meredith!
Thank you so much for trying the Bliss Balls. So pleased you enjoyed them!
Kind regards, Alex
Vanessa
So delicious and easy to make, thank you. How long do you think these would keep in the fridge??
Alexandra
Hi Vanessa!
They will last in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container, for about one week.
They can be frozen and stored in an airtight container for about 3 months, also!
Kind regards, Alex