Fuss free, healthy and delicious – Nut free energy balls! These bliss balls are made with dates, coconut and cacao powder.

Today I want to share our family’s favorite snack – nut free energy ball recipe. This isn’t Korean food in any way, nonetheless I make it a lot in my kitchen!

I first discovered energy balls / bliss balls / energy bites whatever you might call it back in 2014. One of my friends offered one to me during our kids play date. I had never had anything like it until then.

Energy balls were sweet even though there was no added sugar. And, it was filing and tasted very healthy. I thought it was a really good healthy snack.

Fast forward to 2017, I started to make this snack for my family – more specifically for my little daughter.

My daughter changed her daycare at the beginning of this year and now I have to provide snacks and lunch for her to take each day. (These were provided at her previous daycare.) Obviously, as a mother, I want to pack healthy snacks and lunches, so the energy balls came to my mind instantly.

Though, I don’t know about other countries, in Australia, many daycares and schools have a “nut free snack” policy. So, it had to be nut free energy balls.

Personally, I love nut-in energy balls, because it sounds more delicious and beneficial.

Anyway, amongst the various energy balls, I started with date and coconut balls. It seems a no brainer!

I have tried many combinations of it over the past 7 months to get the taste and the consistency right, and I’m happy to say that the recipe I’m about to share is the winner!

Ingredients are so simple (only 6!) and it’s no bake. You will make this in no time and it can last in the fridge safely for 2 weeks!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my nut free date coconut balls!

P.S. If you like this recipe, you might also like this Korean snack recipe. Korean Sweet Rice with Dried Fruit and Nuts (Yaksik).

Ingredients for Nut Free Energy Balls (28 balls)

2 cups pitted dates
1 cup fine desiccated coconut
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1 Tbsp chia seeds
2 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp water

*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 1 Cup = 250 ml

How to Make Nut Free Energy Balls

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and grind them until it’s smooth and well blended (10 to 20 seconds). Transfer the blended ingredients into a mixing bowl.

2. Scoop out 1 Tbsp worth of the ground ingredients. Roll it on your palm to shape it into a ball. Once done, set it aside. Repeat this with the remaining ingredients.

3. Serve. (You can transfer the energy balls into an air tight container and refrigerate it. It’s OK in the fridge for about 2 weeks. FYI, refrigerated balls have a firmer texture.)

Note

For variations, you can also add some sultanas or dried cranberries. I sometimes add these when I’m short of dates. (If you add these, yes, the taste will be slightly different.) I also occasionally add 1 Tbsp of macadamia nuts too. But, obviously, that one won’t be the nut free!
In Australia, coconut is recognised as the seed of a fruit and is not considered in the same class as most other nuts (for people with peanut & tree nut allergies) (reference 1). In the USA, while the FDA recognises it as a tree nut, ACAAI classes it as a fruit. (reference 2). As with any food, if you’re unsure, check with your doctor and dietician.