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 and chocolate protein granola were made for those days.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach and 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 out the door.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- These chocolate bliss balls are loaded with instant energy from dates. Not saying you should skip your coffee but....
- The collagen powder in them means that you get a bit of protein to hold you over.
- The balls whip up in about 10 minutes and are easy to store.
- Rich chocolate flavor with a pinch of salt for perfection.
What Are 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!
Ingredients You Need
Dates: the base of the bliss balls and what provides the most energy. Use a food processor to make a paste and it'll help everything stick together.
Walnuts: a great dose of fats and Omega-three fatty acids that helps fight inflammation. Depending on how much you grind them they also add some texture to the bliss balls.
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: you only need a hint of maple syrup as these gluten-free energy balls are already pretty sweet.
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 and make them into bite-sized perfection. 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.
The Best Way To Use These Bliss Balls
No matter how you swing it, dates are sugar and these no-bake bliss balls are date-based.
Though that sugar is controlled slightly by collagen powder which means they're great on the go, the bliss balls make an ideal pre-workout snack.
They're a great energy boost and perfect before a run or weight-lifting. program (especially something like the SMASH program for moms).
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 The Balls
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.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth & Fuel Your Body
The ultimate collection of high-protein, no-bake snacks for busy moms.
As a mom of three, I know the struggle of feeling exhausted and constantly reaching for sugary snacks. It wasn’t until I started increasing my protein intake with delicious, dessert-like snacks that I finally felt energized and satisfied—without having to choke down another chicken breast.
With the Strong and Sweet Protein Guide, you’ll get over 25 high-protein, snack recipes that taste like dessert and pack in 17+ grams of protein per serving. These snacks are perfect for fueling your energy and keeping those sweet cravings in check—without adding more stress to your already busy day.
No more mid-day crashes, no more boring meals—just simple, delicious snacks that help you feel full and energized.
Grab your copy today and start enjoying snacks that power your day and satisfy your cravings!
Inside the Strong and Sweet Guide, you’ll discover exactly how much protein you need each day, how to choose the right protein powder, and enjoy over twenty-five easy ultra-simple snack recipes, each packed with 17 grams of protein or more.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth & Fuel Your Body
The ultimate collection of high-protein, no-bake snacks for busy moms.
As a mom of three, I know the struggle of feeling exhausted and constantly reaching for sugary snacks. It wasn’t until I started increasing my protein intake with delicious, dessert-like snacks that I finally felt energized and satisfied—without having to choke down another chicken breast.
With the Strong and Sweet Protein Guide, you’ll get over 25 high-protein, snack recipes that taste like dessert and pack in 17+ grams of protein per serving. These snacks are perfect for fueling your energy and keeping those sweet cravings in check—without adding more stress to your already busy day.
No more mid-day crashes, no more boring meals—just simple, delicious snacks that help you feel full and energized.
Grab your copy today and start enjoying snacks that power your day and satisfy your cravings!
Inside the Strong and Sweet Guide, you’ll discover exactly how much protein you need each day, how to choose the right protein powder, and enjoy over twenty-five easy ultra-simple snack recipes, each packed with 17 grams of protein or more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bliss Balls
Bliss balls are another name for energy or even protein balls. Normally date based, these balls are loaded with healthy ingredients like nuts and seeds and rolled into a versatile, healthy snack.
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 Recipe
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.
Video
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"
Leave a Reply