With just 5 ingredients, these Salted Caramel Bliss Balls can be made in minutes.
They are a healthy, nutritious snack to have throughout the day.
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 a container in the drawer of your desk to provide a quick pick-me-up.
They are dairy-free, refined-sugar-free and vegan. Their natural sweetness comes from Medjool dates which provide a luscious, caramel flavour to the Bliss Balls.
Salted caramel is, without doubt, one of my favourite flavour combinations. However, it usually includes a lot of unhealthy, sugar-laden ingredients.
So, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I can enjoy these healthy little balls of energy without guilt.
Inspiration for this recipe:
To be completely honest, if there is any recipe or something on a menu somewhere with the words “salted caramel” in the description, there is a high chance I am going to be drawn to it.
I have been a fan of salted caramel for a long time now – I have always loved a sweet and slightly salty flavour combination.
As delicious as it is, however, it is not necessarily always the healthiest of options. So, the Bliss Balls were a recipe I had been keen to work on for some time.
I truly feel delighted when I make this recipe – it satisfies sweet cravings, gives me my salted caramel fix, and can be quite filling.
I use these ingredients in my Salted Caramel Bliss Balls:
Medjool Dates:
Whilst many of us think of dried fruit when we think of dates, Medjool dates are a fresh fruit, grown on a date palm. This date variety has a rich, caramel-like flavour and a soft, chewy texture.
They are a healthy way to enjoy a sweet treat. Medjool dates contain a good quantity of fibre, a large amount of potassium, along with magnesium, vitamin B6, niacin and calcium.
It’s best to store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Almond meal/almond flour:
These can be used interchangeably. They are both made from ground almonds, however, the terms sometimes indicate that one is made from blanched almonds and the other is made from the whole almond.
Almond meal/flour is a popular ingredient in gluten-free baking and is important for those on a low carbohydrate diet.
Almond meal/flour is a good source of protein, dietary fibre, Vitamin E, magnesium and phosphorous along with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.
To extend the shelf life, almond meal/flour is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Desiccated Coconut:
This is finely grated, unsweetened and dried flesh from the white part of the coconut. It has many uses in baking and is an important part of many savoury dishes.
Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark place. Alternatively, to extend the shelf life, store it in the fridge or freezer.
Coconut meat has a high-fat content and contains a variety of minerals, including manganese, copper, selenium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron.
Vanilla Extract:
The terms vanilla extract and vanilla essence can vary between countries. I read the label and ensure that the vanilla I use is from vanilla beans and not synthetically produced.
Sea Salt:
The flavour of salt is important in these Bliss Balls. For the best flavour, use good quality sea salt; I prefer to use Maldon salt flakes.
This is how I make the Salted Caramel Bliss Balls:
There can be few things in the culinary world simpler to make than these Bliss Balls.
To begin, I wash the dates and remove their stones. I add the dates to the bowl of a food processor along with the almond meal/flour, coconut, vanilla extract and sea salt.
Then I blend the ingredients together until they are well combined.
Finally, I roll the mixture into balls, coat them in a little more coconut and they are ready.
More Suggestions for Using These Ingredients:
Almond meal is a versatile ingredient and is ideal for gluten-free baking. I have used it in my:
- Almond Cookies
- Gluten-Free Pear and Raspberry Cake
- Jam Shortbreads
- Raw Salted Caramel Bars
- Vegan Almond Cookies
These Salted Caramel Bliss Balls Tick a lot of boxes!
They are:
- Made from raw ingredients and do not require cooking;
- Gluten and dairy-free making them ideal for people with dietary restrictions;
- Free of refined sugar, being naturally sweetened by the dates;
- A good source of protein which enables the body to build and repair tissues. Our bodies also use protein as an energy source.;
- Rich in dietary fibre;
- Full of important nutrients; among them magnesium, potassium, Vitamins B5, B6, E and calcium;
- Enjoy these healthy Bliss Balls the next time you need a nutritious, energy-boosting snack. They are not complicated to make; it will take just a few minutes of your time.
Please let me know in the comments below if you make these delicious Salted Caramel Bliss Balls. And if you’re feeling like a more decadent treat, I highly recommend trying my Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Slice.
Alex xx
Salted Caramel Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates firmly packed *
- 1 cup almond meal almond flour *
- ¼ cup desiccated coconut *
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt *
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract *
- 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut for rolling the bliss balls
Recipe Measurements:
For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.
Instructions
- Wash the Medjool dates, dry them thoroughly and remove the pits. Measure out 1 cup, firmly packed.
- Roughly chop the dates and add them to the bowl of a food processor together with the almond meal, ¼ cup 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 Bliss Balls in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
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.
Siobhan
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
Siobahn, I am delighted that you enjoyed the bliss balls. Thank you so much for letting me know. 🙂
Jen
These are the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Love the more natural ingredients.
Alexandra
Jen, with these Bliss Balls I am able to enjoy an occasional sweet treat without guilt. Win-win!! 🙂
Heidy L. McCallum
Hi there, I found your recipe on Pinterest and it is amazing. Totally perfect for the mornings I go to the gym.
They are so easy, and taste delicious!
Alexandra
Heidy, thank you for letting me know how you found this recipe! I am so glad you enjoyed the bliss balls.
tisha
I could eat ANYTHING salted caramel! These bliss balls are so amazing and perfect for a bit sized sweet treat!
Alexandra
Salted caramel is seriously delicious Tisha, and good to know that the bliss balls are a healthy sweet treat. Enjoy! 🙂
Erika
These were SO good.
Alexandra
So happy to hear that, Erika!
Ash
Edit to my above comment I just saw the nutrional table thanks again 😍
Alexandra
Thank you Ash. 🙂
Ash
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
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
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
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
David Elliott
Two of my favorite flavors put together. They look pretty darn delicious. And the fact it’s so simple to do I will have to try this at home soon.
Alexandra
Simple and tasty works for me David and I love that I can eat one or two without guilt. 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I’d be popping these left and right Alex! What a delicious little treat!
Alexandra
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. I do hope that you enjoy the bliss balls. 🙂