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These Chocolate Orange Bliss Balls are little bites of deliciousness. They are packed full of nuts, bound with dates and flavoured with orange, cocoa and cinnamon.
At Healthy Little Foodies Headquarters, we adore bliss balls (energy bites/balls). They are quick to make, freeze well and are a fantastic after-school or on-the-go snack option.
Energy balls also make great lunchbox fillers, this recipe contains nuts but includes instructions for a nut-free option. Check out these nut free bliss balls for more lunchbox-friendly options
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Ingredient Information (and Alternative Suggestions)
- Mixed Nuts: feel free to use any combination. I used a blend of pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, almonds and walnuts. For a nut-free alternative, substitute with rolled oats and a touch of coconut oil.
- Medjool Dates: Essential for binding the balls together and adding natural sweetness.
- Cocoa Powder: Provides a rich chocolate flavour. Can be substituded with cacao.
- Cinnamon: Added for flavour, skip it or replace with a touch of vanilla if desired.
- Orange: Both the orange juice and the zest are used to enhance the orange flavour.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step by Step Instructions (with Images)
- Add nuts to food processor and blend until they have broken down to a crumb
- Add the remaining ingredients and continue to blend until the mixture is combined.
- Roll into small balls.
- Top with zest or roll in cocoa. Chill
See recipe card for full instructions.
Top Tips
Use fresh dates so they blend easily in the food processor. If your dates are a bit dry, soak them in boiling water for a couple of minutes before blending.
You can easily adapt the ingredients to suit your taste. If you prefer a sweeter profile you can up the dates or add a small amount of sweetener, such as honey or maple syrup.
Topping the chocolate bliss balls with a little orange zest adds a touch of decoration and makes them easily recognisable as orange. However, you could also roll them in cacao powder, desiccated coconut or drizzle them with chocolate.
Storage Instructions.
Chocolate orange bliss balls are perfect for storing in the freezer. Freeze on a single layer before transferring them to an airtight container. They taste amazing straight from the freezer.
Alternatively, store in an airtight container and refrigerator for up to a week.
Recipe FAQs
I do not recommend these for babies due to the texture, they are sticky which can increase the risk of choking. Also, the sugar content is on the high side for babies.
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Chocolate Orange Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (200g) Mixed Nuts (I used a mix of pistachio, cashew, hazelnuts, macadamia, almonds and walnuts)
- 6 Medjool Dates
- 1 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ Orange juice and zest
Instructions
- Add the mixed nuts to a food processor and blend until they have broken down into a coarse crumb.
- Add the dates, cacao powder, cinnamon, orange juice and zest. Blend until fully combined.
- Using your hands, roll approx two teaspoons of the mixture into balls. I made 22 balls from the mixture.
- Roll in cocoa or sprinkle orange zest on top of the balls.
Aine Campbell
Hi Amy. Question re ingredients.. I am in Ireland. When you say dry roasted nuts.. the only ones I can think of are the savoury peanuts that have like a powdery outside on them... is that right? 🙂
Amy
Hi Aine, I know exactly what you mean but that isn't what I used in this recipe. There wasn't any powder on these. Any mixed nuts will work but the dry roasted peanuts you are talking about are on the salty side for these balls.
Sarah
I’ve just made these for the second time today. One word - addictive! Thanks for the recipe.