Coconut Bliss Balls – SHK

No-bake vitality bites that style like dessert however pack healthful elements even your choosy eaters will take pleasure in.

We’ve all been there – trying to find that magical snack that makes us be ok with what we’re serving whereas truly getting youngsters excited to eat it. After years of looking for treats that bridge the hole between “wholesome” and “my youngsters will truly eat this,” these coconut bliss balls have turn out to be our household’s secret weapon. My youngsters name them “coconut cookies,” and truthfully, I’m not correcting them as a result of they style simply as indulgent as any cookie they’ve ever had.

The most effective half is watching my youngsters’ faces mild up after they understand they can assist make these. There’s one thing so satisfying about rolling that sticky, candy combination into good little balls, and the truth that there’s zero probability of anybody getting damage with sizzling ovens or sharp knives means even my youngest might be my sous chef. These have turn out to be our go-to for all the things from after-school snacks to lunchbox treats that don’t make me cringe after I see the empty container come dwelling.

Why Households Love No-Bake Power Bites

If you want a snack resolution that works for busy households, vitality bites ship on each promise that issues to oldsters and children alike.

Ten Minutes to Candy Victory

All the course of from pulling elements out of the pantry to having completed treats prepared for the fridge takes much less time than most of us spend scrolling via our telephones. My youngsters have discovered they will ask for these after faculty and truly have them able to eat by the point they end their homework. There’s no preheating ovens, no ready for timers, and no threat of burning something as a result of somebody obtained distracted by a sibling meltdown.

Naturally Candy With out the Sugar Crash

These style like dessert however get all their sweetness from dates, which suggests no bizarre synthetic flavors or sugar highs adopted by cranky crashes. The pure sugars in dates give youngsters that vitality increase they want for afternoon actions, whereas the nuts and coconut present endurance that retains them glad till dinner. I’ve watched my youngsters eat three of those and nonetheless come to the dinner desk hungry and nice, which appears like a parenting miracle.

Child-Authorised Texture That Works for Everybody

The gentle, barely chewy texture with that satisfying coconut coating hits the candy spot for most children, together with my texture-sensitive eater who often avoids something with “chunks.” The coconut flour helps bind all the things collectively with out making them too dense, and the rolling course of creates completely spherical, uniform treats that look simply interesting sufficient to make youngsters really feel particular. Even my teenager grabs these as an alternative of reaching for chips, which I’m counting as a significant win.

Pantry Elements You Most likely Already Have

Most of those elements stay in my pantry year-round, which suggests I could make these on a whim and not using a particular grocery retailer journey. Dates maintain effectively, nuts retailer superbly within the freezer, and coconut merchandise have an extended shelf life that makes them good for spontaneous treat-making. The ingredient record is brief sufficient that youngsters can assist collect all the things, and acquainted sufficient that there are not any thriller gadgets making anybody suspicious.

The way to Make Good Coconut Bliss Balls

Getting these proper is usually about understanding your meals processor and trusting the method, even when the combination seems to be too moist or too dry at first.

Working with Dates Like a Professional

Recent, gentle Medjool dates are completely well worth the slight further price as a result of they mix a lot extra simply and create that good sticky base that holds all the things collectively. In case your dates really feel agency or look a bit dried out, that five-minute heat water soak transforms them fully and saves your meals processor from working extra time. I discovered this the onerous approach after burning out a motor attempting to course of rock-hard dates. All the time squeeze your dates first to check for freshness.

Discovering the Good Dough Consistency

The combination ought to really feel sticky sufficient to carry collectively once you squeeze it in your palm, however not so moist that it gained’t maintain its form when rolled. If it’s crumbling aside, add a tiny bit extra almond butter or a teaspoon of water, however go slowly as a result of it’s simpler so as to add moisture than to take it away. When it’s good, the dough will really feel like barely sticky cookie dough that wishes to stay to your palms however releases simply once you roll it.

The Secret to Clean Rolling

Barely damp palms are all the things in terms of rolling these into good spheres with out the combination sticking to your fingers and creating lumpy, uneven balls. I maintain a small bowl of water close by and dip my fingertips between each few balls, which creates simply sufficient moisture barrier. Rolling them between your palms in a round movement reasonably than attempting to form them together with your fingers provides you these completely spherical treats that look bakery-professional.

Child Helper Jobs for Coconut Bliss Balls

This recipe is virtually designed for little helpers, with duties which are protected, satisfying, and truly useful reasonably than simply protecting youngsters busy.

Ages 3-5: The Coconut Coating Station

Younger youngsters completely shine at rolling the completed balls in that further coconut to create the ultimate coating. Arrange a shallow bowl with the shredded coconut and allow them to gently roll every ball round till it’s fully lined. Their small palms are literally good for this job, they usually love seeing the sleek balls rework into these fluffy, coconut-covered treats. The mess is minimal and simply contained to at least one bowl, which makes cleanup manageable even with enthusiastic helpers.

Ages 6-9: Measuring and Rolling Champions

This age group can deal with measuring out the coconut flour and vanilla extract, plus they’re sufficiently old to know the significance of correct measuring for the feel to work appropriately. They’re additionally on the good stage for rolling the combination into balls as a result of their hand-eye coordination is developed sufficient to create moderately uniform sizes. I allow them to take possession of constructing positive all of the balls are roughly the identical dimension, which provides them a way of delight within the completed product.

Ages 10+: Meals Processor Assistants and High quality Management

Older youngsters can assist function the meals processor beneath supervision, studying to acknowledge when the dates are chopped finely sufficient and when the combination has reached that good sticky consistency. They can be trusted with the timing of including elements and making judgment calls about whether or not the combination wants extra moisture or binding brokers. Plus, they make wonderful taste-testers for adjusting sweetness ranges, and their suggestions about texture and taste truly helps enhance the ultimate consequence.

Coconut Bliss Balls

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes (no baking)

Whole Time: 10 minutes (+half-hour chilling)

Servings: 16 balls

Elements

• 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (~12 dates)
• ¾ cup uncooked cashews or almonds
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (plus ⅓ cup further for rolling)
• 2 tbsp almond butter
• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• Elective: 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (for further sweetness)
• Elective: ½ cup darkish chocolate, melted (for coating)

Directions

1. In case your dates are dry, soak them in heat water for five minutes, then drain effectively.
2. In a meals processor, pulse the dates and nuts till finely chopped and sticky.
3. Add the shredded coconut, almond butter, coconut flour, vanilla extract, sea salt, and non-obligatory sweetener. Pulse till the combination varieties a sticky dough. If too dry, add 1–2 tsp water or a bit extra almond butter; if too moist, add a bit of extra coconut flour or shredded coconut.
4. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll right into a ball with damp palms to forestall sticking. Repeat with remaining dough.
5. Roll every ball within the further shredded coconut to coat evenly.
6. (Elective) For a chocolate deal with, dip every ball in melted darkish chocolate, place on parchment paper, and refrigerate till the chocolate units, about quarter-hour.

Get pleasure from these coconut bliss balls as a candy, healthful snack that your entire household will love — no baking required!