These Salted Caramel Bliss Balls contain just five ingredients and can be made in minutes. They are a healthy, nutritious snack to have throughout the day. The bliss balls are both gluten and dairy-free, free from refined sugars and vegan. Their natural sweetness comes from Medjool dates which provide a luscious, caramel flavour that is just so delicious.
I pretty much made these as soon as I saw the post pop up on my Insta feed, so quick and easy to make. The star ingredient in these is the sea salt flakes, it really took these bliss balls to another level. My girls love them too, great for breakfast on the run, after school snack, guilt free dessert or for a "I was just walking past the fridge" snack!!!
- Jessica
Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Keep a container of these in the fridge to enjoy with a tea or coffee, pack them in the lunch boxes or keep a container in the drawer of your desk to provide a quick pick-me-up.
- They are made from raw ingredients and do not require any cooking.
- The Salted Caramel Bliss Balls are gluten-free, vegan and free from refined sugars. The sweetness comes naturally from the dates.
- They make a nutritious, energy-boosting snack. They are not complicated to make; it will take just a few minutes of your time.
Recipe Inspiration: salted caramel is, without doubt, one of my favourite flavour combinations. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I can enjoy these healthy little balls of energy any time. My Mum has been making bliss/energy/protein balls for some 20 years, and came up with this delicious recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
- Medjool dates: a fresh fruit, grown on a date palm. This date variety has a rich, caramel-like flavour and a soft, chewy texture. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Almond flour: ground blanched almonds. We store our almond flour in the freezer to keep it fresh.
- Desiccated coconut: this is finely grated, unsweetened and dried flesh from the white part of the coconut. Likewise, to extend the shelf life, store it in the fridge or freezer.
- Vanilla extract: we use pure vanilla extract that is not synthetically produced.
- Sea salt flakes: the flavour of salt is important in these Salted Caramel Bliss Balls. For the best flavour, use good quality sea salt; I prefer to use Maldon salt flakes. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to use another salt, add a little at the time to check that the flavour is to your liking.
How To Make Salted Caramel 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, I wash the dates, thoroughly dry them and remove their stones.
2 - Add your ingredients to a food processor:
Add the dates to the bowl of a food processor along with the almond meal/flour, coconut, vanilla extract and sea salt.
3 - Blend the mixture:
Process the ingredients together until they are well combined.
4 - Roll into balls:
Once processed, roll the mixture into balls, coat them in a little more coconut and they are ready to enjoy.
Hint: if you do not feel as though the mixture is coming together and will roll into balls, add another 1-2 dates and process again.
Tips for Success, Storage and FAQs:
Store in the fridge in an air tight container for up to five days.
They freeze well - I like to keep them for up to one month. Store in an airtight container. Defrost in the fridge.
You sure can! If you prefer not to roll them into bliss balls, try my Raw Salted Caramel Slice - it's so easy and just as delicious!
Top Tip:
After you blend 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 another date and process again.
Serving Suggestions:
My Nut-Free Chocolate Bliss Balls make for a great snack. Enjoy them the next time you need a nutritious, energy-boosting treat that will satisfy your sweet cravings. They are also delicious with a cup of tea or coffee.
I hope you will love this simple, delicious recipe - it will take just a few minutes of your time and they are certain to become a new favourite. Please let me know in the comments below if you make these delicious Salted Caramel Bliss Balls.
Alex xx
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Salted Caramel 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 Salted Caramel Bliss Balls:
- 210 g (7.5 oz) Medjool dates - once pitted See Notes 1 and 2
- 100 g (1 cup) almond flour
- 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut See Note 3
- ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes See Note 4
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling the Bliss Balls:
- 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Prepare the Medjool dates by washing and thoroughly drying them.Remove the pits (See Note 2). 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, sea salt and vanilla extract.
- 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 additional 2 tablespoons of coconut to a shallow, wide bowl. Roll the mixture into balls and then roll in the coconut.
- Store the Salted Caramel Bliss Balls in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
- Medjool dates: are fresh dates. They are softer than dried dates, which are not suitable for this recipe. The number of dates required will vary depending on the size of your dates.
- Pitting the dates: take a sharp knife and carefully run it down the side of the date; the pit is easily removed.
- Coconut: this coconut is unsweetened.
- Sea salt: I use Maldon sea salt flakes in this recipe. The strength of salt can vary between brands so add a small amount first, check the flavour and add more if necessary to suit your taste. Table salt is not suitable for this recipe as it is too strong.
- Bringing the mixture together: if your mixture does not adhere, you can add a couple of extra dates and blend until the mixture feels as if it will come together to form a ball.
- Storage: keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
- Freezing: the bliss balls can be frozen for up to one month.
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.
Judy says
These salted caramel bliss balls turned out great! I made them to take t work for a treat and preparedsome rolled in coconut and some without. I am sure they will love them as much as I do. Thanks for the recipe!
Alexandra Cook says
Hi Judy,
Thank you so much! 🙂 They're the perfect work snack.
I really appreciate your comment. Alex xo
Jaya says
Hi, I made these and can say they are absolutely delicious! Taking some away on a holiday with my girlfriends as a healthy treat. They are also delicious dipped in melted 70% chocolate. Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Alexandra says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Jaya - I am so pleased to hear this. And I can't wait to try some dipped in chocolate - what a great idea! 🙂
Tina says
Love them
Alexandra says
Thank you so much, Tina!
Tina says
Love them thanku
Alexandra says
Thank you, Tina!
Tans says
Thank you for this recipe. We made them as soon as you posted about them!! They are delicious and so simple to make!! Thanks for all the GF DF vegan recipes you post. We have an allergy child in the family and these are perfect xx
Alexandra says
Hi Tans!
Thank you so much for the kind comment, I am really pleased that this recipe was a success for you 🙂
We have lots more recipes that will be suitable for your family coming soon too xx
Sara says
They turned out good in the end and taste amazing but way too crumbly. I had to add honey and a hint of coconut oil to get them to a point where the mixture would hold together
Alexandra says
Hi Sara!
Just confirming you used fresh Medjool dates and not regular dried dates?
For next time, if the mixture is too dry, try adding another Medjool date instead - the moisture from the dates helps brings the mixture together 🙂
Just test whilst still in the food processor, and you can adjust accordingly. I haven't had an issue using this technique, so I hope the above helps! Kind regards, Alex
Jessica says
I pretty much made these as soon as I saw the post pop up on my Insta feed, so quick and easy to make. The star ingredient in these is the sea salt flakes, it really took these bliss balls to another level. My girls love them too, great for breakfast on the run, after school snack, guilt free dessert or for a "I was just walking past the fridge" snack!!!
Alexandra says
Hi Jessica!! That is fantastic to hear - thank you so much 🙂
We are working on some more bliss ball recipes at the moment, and look forward to sharing them with you soon!
Kind regards, Alex
Lucy Hood says
I made these with my almost 4-year-old Audrey and they were so easily to make and super delicious. Thanks Alexandra. Another winning recipe xx
Alexandra says
Thank you so much Lucy, I am delighted that you enjoyed them. Happy 4th birthday to Audrey; where did that time go?
Kj says
Yummy! I only used 8 dates (roughly half a cup) and added 1 tablespoon of honey to make the mixture more sticky.
Alexandra says
That sounds like a great variation Kj.
Siobhan says
I made these and added 1/2 oats! I din't have a strong enough blender so finely chopped the dates (after soaking them in hot water for 5 minutes). Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Alexandra says
Siobahn, I am delighted that you enjoyed the bliss balls. Thank you so much for letting me know. 🙂
Erika says
These were SO good.
Alexandra says
So happy to hear that, Erika!
Ash says
Edit to my above comment I just saw the nutrional table thanks again 😍
Alexandra says
Thank you Ash. 🙂
Ash says
Yum,yum YUM
I'm not a fan of dried fruit but I need a healthy snack, my husband wanted different protein balls so I made half a batch from another site for him and made half a batch of these,wanted to trial out half a batch incase I didn't like them and well I love them! My husband even liked them better than the other ones he wanted lol! I wanted to add more salt coz I love salt and this was the first time I've ever actually tried this type of salt and I'm in love! However my husband told me not to because they are great as is,safe to say these will be demolished rather fast and I'll be adding this recipe to my keep pile! After trying these I'll be checking out your other recipes too do you have any more delicious bliss balls/protein balls? I'll be mixing it up weekly to keep it interesting for him but for me these are a keeper for me! Now just need to work out the nutrionals (while I don't log what I eat I do like to know the nutrionals so I can feel less guilty and not over indulge lol) thank you for sharing what is the best bliss ball I've ever tried!
Alexandra says
Thank you so much Ash for the fantastic feedback, I really do appreciate it. We are currently working on some more bliss balls - with such high praise you have indeed set the bar very high. 🙂 And thank you again for your lovely comments. I'm so pleased that your husband likes these. 😉
Ashley Phillips says
Hey there thank you for such a fast reply! I'm looking to make these on sunday as a healthy snack for my husband and I during the week just one last question I probably should've asked in my comment above to avoid clogging the feed so sorry! What is the shelf life of the balls I'm guessing airtight container in the fridge? How long will they last and are they freezable? Can't wait to hear from you I bought all my ingredients today along with the exact brand of salt that was tucked away on a low shelf! I've never had this salt before but I love salt! Also curious why is this salt chosen?
Alexandra says
Hi again Ashley 🙂 Hope you will both love them when you make them!
Yes, you can definitely freeze them! I keep mine for about 1 month. (They tend not to last that long!) In the fridge, I would keep for 5 days.
(And yes, fridge is best place to store them if you're planning on eating them during the week!)
As for the salt, this is my brand of choice, and I have been using it for many years. Not affiliated to the brand in anyway - but it is my favourite! It is pure salt - some table salt actually has additives added to it. It has a great taste and I find I tend to use less as a result. I also love the flakes - they have a great texture on top of a salad or finishing a dish etc.
Enjoy! x
Swathi says
I love that you made a simple dessert with natural ingredients. That too not with loaded sugar. Yum, this one is total bliss.
Alexandra says
Thank you Swathi for the lovely comments, I am so pleased that you like the bliss balls. 🙂
Kristine says
I loved these bliss balls! I am constantly looking for new healthy post-workout snacks and I'm so glad I tried these! They're a keeper, thanks!
Alexandra says
Thank you for letting me know that you made and enjoyed the bliss balls Kristine. I do appreciate it. 🙂