These Peanut Butter Bliss Balls are perfect for those moments when you need to satisfy your sweet cravings. They are a delicious combination of fresh dates, natural peanut butter, desiccated coconut and lightly sweetened by pure maple syrup. They are quick to prepare, great to keep on hand and freezer friendly.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- The bliss balls are quickly and easily made.
- They do not require any cooking.
- We add a small amount of pure maple syrup; most of the sweetness comes from the natural, caramel sweetness of the dates.
- They are ideal for people with specific dietary requirements as they are gluten-free, vegan and free from refined sugar.
- When you need an energy boost, they are a perfect snack.
Recipe Inspiration: I am a huge fan of peanut butter and it often features in the snacks I enjoy, such as my Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites. We have been making these bliss balls for years, and I hope they’ll become a favourite of yours also.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
- Medjool dates: these fresh dates have a rich, caramel-like sweetness and a soft, chewy texture. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Almond flour: we use a small amount of blanched almond flour to bind the bliss balls. It has a finer texture than almond meal which is made from the whole almond.
- Desiccated coconut: we use unsweetened coconut to help bind the mixture and to coat the rolled bliss balls. Store it in the fridge to extend its life, or in the freezer to extend it even further.
- Smooth peanut butter: we use all natural, 100 % smooth peanut butter without add oil.
- Vanilla extract: use good quality vanilla that is naturally extracted from the bean and not artificially flavoured.
- Sea salt: a small amount of salt boosts the flavours in the Peanut Butter Bliss Balls.
- Pure maple syrup: we add a small amount of a natural sweetener.
Variations:
Almond flour: you could use almond meal made from the whole almond if you prefer.
Maple syrup: if you don’t need the bliss balls to be vegan, honey is a good substitute, but as it is sweeter than maple syrup you will need to use a little less.
How To Make Peanut Butter Bliss Balls:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
1 – Prepare the dates:
To begin, wash the dates, thoroughly dry them and remove their pits.
2 – Add ingredients to a food processor:
Add the chopped dates to the bowl of a food processor along with the almond flour/meal, coconut, peanut butter, vanilla extract, sea salt and maple syrup.
3 – Blend the mixture:
Process the ingredients together until they are well combined.
4 – Roll into balls:
Roll the mixture into balls, coat them in a little coconut and they are ready to enjoy.
Hint: to achieve a consistent size, we use a 2-teaspoon ice cream scoop to remove the mixture to roll into balls.
Tips for Success, Storage and FAQs:
Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
Yes, they freeze well. Store them in a freezer safer container for up to three months.
Top Tip:
After blending the mixture, take a small amount and press it firmly between your fingers to check that it can be rolled into balls. If it is too crumbly, add another date and process again.
Serving Suggestions:
You will find many occasions to enjoy these bliss balls. Some suggestions are:
- They are ideal as an after-school snack.
- As they travel well, they are ideal to take on picnics or to a potluck.
- They are a lovely homemade gift. Put them in a cellophane bag or a jar and tie with a pretty ribbon.
- Enjoy them with morning or afternoon tea.
This simple, delicious recipe will take just a few minutes of your time, but I feel certain you will regard it as time well spent. Please let me know in the comments below if you make these delicious Peanut Butter Bliss Balls.
Alex xx
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Peanut Butter 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 Peanut Butter Bliss Balls:
- 220 g (7.7 oz) Medjool dates – pitted and roughly chopped See Notes 1 and 2
- 25 g (¼ cup) blanched almond flour
- 25 g (¼ cup) unsweetened desiccated coconut
- 60 g (⅓ cup) smooth/creamy peanut butter See Note 3
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoon pure maple syrup
For Coating the Bliss Balls:
- 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut See Note 4
Instructions
- Prepare the Medjool dates by washing and thoroughly drying them.Remove the pits by take a sharp knife and carefully run it down the side of the date; the pit is easily removed. Measure the dates once they have been pitted.
- Roughly chop the dates and add them to the bowl of a food processor together with the almond flour, desiccated coconut, peanut butter, vanilla extract, sea salt and maple syrup.
- Blend until the ingredients are smooth. Check that the mixture is sufficiently moist to be able to roll into balls. If not, add another date or two.
- Add the extra 2 tablespoons of coconut to a shallow, wide bowl. Roll the mixture into balls. To achieve a consistent size, we use a 2-teaspoon cookie scoop to remove the mixture and then roll the balls in the coconut. Store the Peanut Butter Bliss Balls in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Notes
- Dates: Fresh Medjool dates are my preference for the bliss balls. They are fresh dates, available from greengrocers or the fruit and veg section of the supermarket. They have a lovely natural caramel sweetness and stickiness that makes them ideal for binding the bliss ball mixture. The measurement of the dates includes when they still have their stones in them. You can use dried dates, but I recommend that you soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes and then drain them well.
- Pitting the dates: take a sharp knife and carefully run it down the side of the date; the pit is easily removed.
- Peanut butter: I use an all-natural, unsweetened, smooth/creamy variety. Stir well before using if any oil has settled on the top.
- Tablespoon: we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons). For readers located elsewhere in the world, please use 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon for each listed tablespoon.
- Storage: store the bliss balls in the refrigerator in an airtight container, for about one week.
- Freezing: store them in a freezer safe air tight container for three months.
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.
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