These delicious Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls are incredibly easy to make and are a healthy, satisfying sweet treat. These sweet bites are also refined sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan.
Why we love this recipe:
Some combinations of flavours work so well together, and chocolate and orange are two of the best. These Chocolate and Orange Bliss Balls taste decadent and rich, whilst being made from all natural ingredients and refined sugar free.
In other bliss ball recipes, we have used coconut to roll the bliss balls in, but for this recipe, we use cacao powder. It is slightly bitter, but works so well with the sweet contrast of the dates and fresh citrus flavour of the orange.
If you are making this recipe for children, you may wish to roll some of the balls in desiccated coconut instead. But for adults, the cacao is truly perfect, and provides an almost chocolate truffle like sensation.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Medjool dates – these are not the dried dates commonly found in the baking section of the supermarket. They are a fresh fruit, grown on a date palm. They have a natural sweetness and stickiness that works perfectly for these Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls. It’s best to store the dates in an airtight container in the fridge.
Cashews – I use raw cashews. They have a rich, creamy flavour and as they are softer than many other nuts they easily blend to a smooth paste. You can, however, leave them with a little texture if you prefer.
Cacao powder – pronounced “ka-cow”, is made from minimally processed cocoa beans and maintains the nutritional benefits of the bean. It is, in essence, chocolate in its purest form. We use it in the mixture for the bliss balls, and also to roll them in.
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.
Orange juice and zest – I add a little orange juice to help bind the mixture together, and some zest to get that extra boost of orange flavour.
Step by Step Instructions:
- Wash the dates and remove their seeds. I roughly chop them and add to the bowl of a food processor.
- Add the cashews, cacao powder, chia seeds, orange juice and zest to the bowl of a food processor.
- Blend until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into small balls and toss them in cacao powder or desiccated coconut.
Tips for Success and FAQs:
The dates that we use in these Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls are Medjool dates. These are fresh dates, available from the greengrocer or fruit and veg section of the supermarket. They are not the dried variety that is found in the baking aisle of the supermarket.
After blending the mixture, take a small amount, press it together between your fingers to check if it can be rolled into balls. If the mixture is too crumbly, add a little more orange juice to bind it together.
Roll the balls in unsweetened desiccated coconut.
They will last in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container, for about one week.
To keep them longer, they can also be frozen in an airtight container for about 3 months.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
Here are some more of our favourite easy and healthy snack recipes for you to try:
- Soy Roasted Almonds
- Chocolate Mint Bliss Balls
- Spicy Roasted Almonds
- Salt and Pepper Walnuts
- Apricot and Coconut Bliss Balls
- Mixed Seed Crackers
- Salted Caramel Bliss Balls
- Nut-Free Chocolate Bliss Balls
Enjoy the rich taste of these delicious Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls. I would love to hear from you when you have given them a try!
Alex xx
Chocolate Orange 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 (220 g) medjool dates See Note 1
- 1 cup (150 g) raw cashews
- ¼ cup (30 g) cacao powder
- 2 teaspoon white chia seeds
- 2 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoon orange juice See Note 2
For Coating the Bliss Balls:
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder OR desiccated coconut See Note 2 and 3
Instructions
- Wash the dates, dry them, and remove the pits.
- Roughly chop the dates and add to the bowl of a food processor along with the cashews, cacao powder, chia seeds, orange juice and zest and whiz until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Check that the mixture is sufficiently moist to be able to roll into balls. If not, add a little more orange juice and blend again.
- Take about a teaspoon of mixture, and roll into small bowls and toss in the extra cacao powder.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- I have used Medjool dates; these are fresh dates available from greengrocers or fruit and veg section of the supermarket. If measuring by volume, the dates are firmly packed in the cup. For me, it was 15 dates.
The measurement of the dates includes when they still have their stones in them. - 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.
- Use unsweetened cacao powder or desiccated coconut.
You may require a little extra to roll the bliss balls. - 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.
Loraine
Hi Alexandra! These sound gorgeous! Could I cover them in melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder? How would you advise I do this? Should I freeze) cool the mixture before dipping in chocolate?
Alexandra
Hi Loraine, yes, you can certainly coat them in chocolate. What a good idea! There is no need to freeze the bliss balls, just chill them for a short time. Melt some chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Make sure the bowl does not touch the water and ensure that no water/steam gets in the chocolate or it will seize. Use two forks to dip the bliss balls in the chocolate and then place them on baking paper to set. To speed up the process, you may wish to put them in the fridge. I hope this helps. Kind regards, Alex 🙂
Priya Shiva
These bliss balls are delicious.
Alexandra
Hello Priya, I am delighted to hear that you enjoy the Bliss Balls; thank you for letting me know. 🙂