Soft, salted, and covered in a dairy-free caramel sauce these chocolate bliss balls are an indulgent but nourishing snack! Made with a base of dates and walnuts but with a hint of collagen powder for protein, they're an energy ball perfect for busy days.
Do you ever have those days as a mom where all you've eaten are scraps off your kids' plates and by mid-morning you're ravenous but exhausted?
These chocolate bliss balls with dates and chocolate protein granola were made for those days.
As a mom of three I love having them on hand for days I want a chocolate fix but NEED some nutrients too.
The bonus is that they're date-based and dates don't freeze solid which means you can literally grab them from the freezer and pop them into your mouth- kinda like this chocolate turtles recipe!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Energizing: These chocolate bliss balls are loaded with instant energy from dates.
Blood sugar stable: Thanks to the collagen powder these energy balls won't spike and crash your blood sugars.
Quick to make: You can whip up the bliss balls in about 10 minutes.
Allergy-friendly: Though they're not vegan, they are dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo-approved.
Ingredients You Need
Dates: Soak the dates before you need them in water to make them easier to blend. Then, use a food processor to make a paste and it'll help everything stick together.
Walnuts: You can adjust the texture of the date balls based on how much you grind up the walnuts.
Cacao Powder: Though unsweetened cocoa powder can be used, cacao powder is more nutritionally beneficial (learn more about the difference between cacao and cocoa powder).
Maple Syrup: Make sure to use real maple syrup and not a corn-syrup based one.
Collagen powder: The secret ingredient that gives these bliss balls a hint of protein. Collagen powder is one of the cleanest sources of protein. Learn more about collagen versus protein powder.
Salt and vanilla: used to flavor the chocolate bliss balls, learn more about the different types of vanilla to choose the best one for you.
Caramel sauce: If you choose to drizzle dairy-free caramel sauce on top (and you should because- yum), you'll need runny almond butter as well as more maple syrup and vanilla extract.
How To Make Them
- Grind the walnuts in a food processor and add them to the remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Blend the dates, maple syrup, and vanilla until mostly smooth.
- Mix the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well.
- Grease your hands with coconut oil, portion, and roll the mixture into balls. Freeze.
- While the balls are freezing, mix together the caramel sauce and portion it into a plastic baggie before cutting off the tip.
- Drizzle the caramel sauce over the balls and pop them back into the freezer to set.
Choosing Collagen Powder
It’s no surprise that these date balls are made with collagen powder!
All the protein without the bloat.
I use collagen powder for amping up protein and boosting gut health.
Learn about the difference between collagen and bone broth as how to increase protein intake.
Honestly, as a busy mom collagen powder just makes it easy to eat more protein and not feel like I’m living off chicken and eggs.
And more protein means more energy, more natural beauty, and feeling your BEST.
Plus, in recipes like this, you can sneak protein into your kids as it’s one of the purest sources.
I grab my collagen from Perfect Supplements because they source their collagen from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows. So, I trust it.
Grab some collagen powder and use code mamabear10 to save some money.
Expert Tips To Make Them
Make the balls nut-free - use sunflower seed butter in the caramel sauce and sunflower seeds in place of walnuts. Though they won't be as indulgent they're still delicious and school-safe.
The bliss balls won't freeze solid so you can eat them out of the freezer.
Use runny almond butter for the caramel sauce or it will be too thick to pipe.
Storing The Balls
These balls are best stored in the freezer.
The balls themselves are very sticky when left out at room temperature or even eaten out of the fridge.
If you need to do this, either roll the balls in cacao powder or shredded coconut before topping them with the homemade caramel sauce, or pop a cake stick in them to make for less sticky hands.
Otherwise, store the balls in the freezer and eat within a few minutes of taking them out.
Flavor Variations
The best part about no-bake energy balls like these is that you can tweak the flavor of them to create new tastes whenever you make them. Below are a few fun, small swaps to try out.
Chocolate chips: Add a bit of crunch into the bliss balls with dates by mixing in a few dairy-free chocolate chips or even white chocolate chips for a new look.
Dried fruit: Skip the full-on chocolate flavor and add in some dried blueberries or cherries.
Zests: Orange or lemon zest makes for a refreshing pick-me-up. I'd replace the cacao powder with collagen if I were doing this.
Nuts: Walnuts are delicious but so are toasted pecans or pistachios. Even hazelnuts can be added.
Fast, crave-worthy snacks that hit your protein goals (without tracking or extra cooking time).
Frequently Asked Questions About Bliss Balls
Bliss balls are another name for energy balls or energy bites. They get their name because they're sheer bliss to eat. They are normally made from a combination of dates and healthy fats though figs work as well (learn how to make energy balls step by step). Typically they are plant-based but that's not always the case (especially when I make them).
Basically, they're an easy, bite-sized snack that's delicious and healthy!
Made with nuts and seeds, energy balls are a healthy snack. So long as the energy balls contain a healthy protein (plant-based protein or an add in like powder) energy balls are a great way to stay full and even lose weight.
In a sealed container, most protein balls will last upwards of two weeks, or fourteen days, in the fridge. However, many recipes call for protein or energy balls to be frozen.
Other No-Bake Snacks You'll Love
- Cookie dough protein balls
- Chocolate coconut energy balls
- Cookie dough protein bars
- Espresso overnight oats
Chocolate Bliss Balls With Dates
Equipment
- Parchment paper
- Plastic bag for piping
Ingredients
- For the balls:
- 1 cup dates pitted & soaked
- 1 cup walnut halves
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- 2.5 tbs collagen powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tbs pure maple syrup
- 2 tbs water if needed
- For the Caramel Drizzle:
- ⅛ cup almond butter
- 1 tbs maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the balls:
- Grind the walnuts in a food processor and set aside in a large bowl
- Add in the remaining dry ingredients to the bowl.
- Create the date paste by blending the dates, syrup, and vanilla in a food processor. You may need to stop and scrape the sides.
- Mix the date mixture into the dry mixture.
- Once firm, grease your hands with coconut oil and roll the mixture into 12 balls with your hands. Place the balls on parchment paper.
- Make the sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork until smooth. If you prefer your sauce thinner, add water one teaspoon at a time.
- Put the sauce into a piping bag, cut the tip and pipe the caramel onto the date balls.
- Store the balls in one line (not stacked) in the freezer until ready to eat.
Notes
- Make the balls nut free - use sunflower seed butter in the caramel sauce and sunflower seeds in place of walnuts. Though they won't be as indulgent they're still delicious and school-safe.
- The bliss balls won't freeze solid so you can eat them out of the freezer. Freeze them if possible while you make the caramel so that they hold shape.
- Use runny almond butter for the caramel sauce or it will be too thick to pipe.
- Make sure to freeze the balls flat and not stacked, otherwise the caramel sauce will be all over the other balls
- Know that you can use a food processor to blend everything or you can use it to grind the walnuts, move them into a bowl, and then make the date paste. This is a personal preference but sometimes easier.
- It is a delicate balance between too sticky and too dry. Try to add only as much date water as necessary. When in doubt opt for dry balls.
- Soak the dates in warm water for fifteen minutes prior to blending. This will make it easier to make the date paste.
- Grab all your ingredients from my gluten-free pantry staples.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Shelby S says
I lvoe that these taste like dessert but are totally healthy!