Chocolate Bliss Balls are a healthy sweet snack that will satisfy all your chocolate cravings. Made with dates, cashew nuts and cocoa powder, they are soft, rich, chocolatey and nutritious.
If you are a chocolate lover, like me, you will really like these bliss balls. I like to think of them as healthy chocolate truffles and my 3-year-old daughter refers to these balls as “brownies” which I think should be a sign that although there is no refined sugar or bad-for-you ingredients in them, they may as well be categorized as candy.
When creating this chocolate bliss balls recipe, I wanted them to be sweet and smooth, like truffles. I experimented with different textures of nuts, coconut and seeds and came up with a base formula that works: dates that are soaked in water (for extra softness) + cashews (for their neutral taste and creamy texture) + coconut flour (for making the “dough” less sticky while adding a nice flavor).
The chocolate truffle flavor comes from good quality cocoa powder, vanilla, sea salt and a last minute addition of dark mini chocolate chips. The last ingredient is optional but I love the slight chocolatey crunch they provide.
For another great bliss balls recipe make sure to check out my Peanut Butter Bliss Balls made with only 5 ingredients. Or try these no-bake Healthy Rice Krispie Treats.
Jump to:
Are bliss balls the same as energy balls?
Essentially, yes. Bliss balls, energy balls or protein balls and protein bites are usually healthy snacks made with dried fruit, nuts, seeds and other whole ingredients that are blended in a food processor and rolled into balls. You can also describe them as raw chocolate balls, date and cacao balls or healthy chocolate truffles. I love the idea of all three which is why this is one of my favorite bliss ball recipes! If you like the idea of bliss balls, be sure to also check out my Apricot Bliss Balls made with toasted coconut. So good!
This recipe is featured in a post compiling 15 Healthy Birthday Cake Alternatives. Find some more sweet ideas there!
Ingredient notes
- Medjool Dates: this kind of dates is large, soft and exceptionally sweet. You can find Medjool dates in most grocery stores or on Amazon.
- Cashews: use raw unsalted cashews for this recipe.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: my favorite kind of cocoa to use is Baking Dutch processed cocoa.
- Vanilla: use real vanilla extract for best results
- Sea Salt: to round up the flavors and enhance the chocolate flavor
- Maple Syrup: to add some sweetness to the chocolate bliss balls. You can also add honey or agave if you prefer.
- Mini Dark Chocolate Chips (optional): to add a bit of crunchy texture to the smooth balls. You can skip them if you prefer a completely smooth texture.
How to make chocolate bliss balls
Step 1: Start by soaking the dates. This will help the dates soften for a smooth a silky texture of the bliss balls.
Step 2: Process softened dates and raw cashews until mostly blended. The mixture will be sticky and a little bit wet.
Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients except for chocolate chips. Process until the mixture resembles smooth dough. The dough will form a ball, at which point you can stop processing the mixture.
Step 4: If you are using mini chocolate chips, add them now and pulse just a couple times, to get the chocolate chips incorporated but not blended. You want the chips whole for a nice, chocolatey crunch.
Step 5: Using a spoon or a small cookie scoop make 20-22 balls and roll them with your fingers. Place the balls on a baking sheet or directly into an airtight container.
Step 6: Chill in the fridge or freezer for at least 1 hour to firm up and enjoy.
Recipe FAQs
These chocolate bliss balls will stay fresh for two weeks if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Yes! I actually like these balls frozen the best so I store them in an airtight container in my freezer for up to 4 months.
No. A standup blender needs liquid to process sticky and tough ingredients and this recipe does not call for any liquids. Use a good food processor instead.
Yes, they are since there is no dairy or grains on the ingredients’ list.
Medjool dates are larger, darker, softer than "regular" dates called Deglet Noor. Their flavor is also a bit different, almost caramel-like. What's more, Medjool dates are actually considered fresh fruit as they are harvested in the same form as they come at the grocery store. Unlike the Deglet Noor, they are never dried or processed. This makes them an excellent healthy and delicious snack and an exceptional base for any bliss balls. You can read more about Medjool dates in this article from Eating Bird Food.
Compared to raw cocoa powder, Dutch processed cocoa is smoother and milder in flavor. The "dutching" process involves treating cocoa solids with alkalizing agent which makes the cocoa powder less bitter and darker in color than regular cocoa.
If you don't have coconut flour, use almond flour instead. You may have to add a bit more than the recipe calls for because coconut flour absorbs moisture easily so you only need a little bit to form bliss ball "dough". Another fine substitute is oat flour but again, you may need to add more of it to achieve the right texture.
I like using cashews in this recipe because they have a neutral flavor and soft, creamy texture. However, you can swap cashews for almonds or walnuts as long as you keep in mind that the flavor of the chocolate balls will be somewhat different.
Other healthy snacks
- Apricot Bliss Balls
- Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
- Almond Butter Brown Rice Cups with Chocolate
- Peanut Butter Chocolate TikTok Baked Oats
- Healthy Rice Cake Snacks
- Protein Blondies with Chocolate Chips
- Flourless Banana Peanut Butter Cookies
- Purple Blueberry Lemon Cookies
If you try these Chocolate Bliss Balls and love them, or if you have any questions about this recipe please leave me a comment below!
This post includes affiliate links.
Recipe
Chocolate Bliss Balls (Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 10 Medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup raw cashews
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Soak the dates in boiling hot water for at least 15 minutes, then drain on a sieve. See note 1
- Place the soaked dates and raw cashews in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until mostly blended. You will still see tiny pieces of nuts which is fine.
- Add coconut flour, maple syrup, vanilla and salt and process until a ball of smooth, sticky dough forms.
- Add mini chocolate chips (if using) and pulse a few times. The chocolate chips are supposed to stay mostly whole so don’t overprocess. See note 2
- Form 20-22 balls using a small spoon or a small cookie scoop, then roll into balls using your fingers.
- Chill the balls in the fridge or freezer and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Debra
My kind of snack. Delicious and I love the ingredient list. I had to hide them in the freezer to not eat the whole batch.
Jere Cassidy
I can't wait to make these bliss balls, they just sound like a perfect snack and a way to enjoy chocolate at the same time.
Jean
these are perfect for my post running activities, super easy and gives me extra energy
Rob
These bliss balls are easy to make and make for the perfect, healthy snack.
Linda
Anything with chocolate has my name on it, especially when they're so good like these chocolate bliss balls!
Michele
These are truly the best balls I’ve made - delicious 😋
Agnieszka
So happy you think so, Michele!
Oscar
These chocolate bliss balls were so delicious. I loved the dates and the maple syrup combination. Great recipe.
Anaiah
Yumm! These chocolate bliss balls are the perfect grab and go snack. I love that they are super easy to make, delicious, and naturally sweetened! Even my son loves them!
Megan Ellam
These look incredible. Thanks so much for sharing so many great recipes.
Kayla DiMaggio
Yes! I am loving these chocolate bliss balls! These are so delicious and I loved every bite! Perfect snack for my lunch!
Alexandra
These make such a perfect snack!
Addie
The perfect little bite!
Natalie
I always have some quick energy snacks prepared in my fridge. I'm adding your recipe to my list. I will make them next week. Looks delicious!
Jeri
These chocolate bliss balls were delicious! They are the perfect snack for an afternoon pick-me-up! Thanks for sharing the recipe!