Coconut Bliss Balls – SHK

No-bake power bites that style like dessert however pack healthful components even your choosy eaters will get pleasure from.

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 grow to be our household’s secret weapon. My youngsters name them “coconut cookies,” and actually, I’m not correcting them as a result of they style simply as indulgent as any cookie they’ve ever had.

The perfect half is watching my youngsters’ faces gentle up after they understand they can assist make these. There’s one thing so satisfying about rolling that sticky, candy combination into excellent little balls, and the truth that there’s zero likelihood of anybody getting damage with sizzling ovens or sharp knives means even my youngest may be my sous chef. These have grow to be our go-to for every thing 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 answer that works for busy households, power bites ship on each promise that issues to folks and youngsters alike.

Ten Minutes to Candy Victory

The complete course of from pulling components out of the pantry to having completed treats prepared for the fridge takes much less time than most of us spend scrolling by our telephones. My youngsters have discovered they’ll ask for these after college 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 received 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 power enhance they want for afternoon actions, whereas the nuts and coconut present endurance that retains them happy till dinner. I’ve watched my youngsters eat three of those and nonetheless come to the dinner desk hungry and nice, which seems like a parenting miracle.

Child-Authorized Texture That Works for Everybody

The mushy, 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 every thing 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 a substitute of reaching for chips, which I’m counting as a serious win.

Pantry Components You In all probability Already Have

Most of those components stay in my pantry year-round, which suggests I could make these on a whim and not using a particular grocery retailer journey. Dates hold properly, nuts retailer superbly within the freezer, and coconut merchandise have a protracted shelf life that makes them excellent for spontaneous treat-making. The ingredient listing is brief sufficient that children can assist collect every thing, and acquainted sufficient that there aren’t any thriller objects making anybody suspicious.

The right way to Make Good Coconut Bliss Balls

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

Working with Dates Like a Professional

Recent, mushy Medjool dates are completely definitely worth the slight additional price as a result of they mix a lot extra simply and create that excellent sticky base that holds every thing collectively. In case your dates really feel agency or look a bit dried out, that five-minute heat water soak transforms them utterly and saves your meals processor from working extra time. I discovered this the laborious approach after burning out a motor making an attempt 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 while you squeeze it in your palm, however not so moist that it received’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 excellent, the dough will really feel like barely sticky cookie dough that wishes to stay to your fingers however releases simply while you roll it.

The Secret to Clean Rolling

Barely damp fingers are every thing on the subject of rolling these into excellent spheres with out the combination sticking to your fingers and creating lumpy, uneven balls. I hold 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 fairly than making an attempt 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 secure, satisfying, and truly useful fairly than simply preserving youngsters busy.

Ages 3-5: The Coconut Coating Station

Younger youngsters completely shine at rolling the completed balls in that additional 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 utterly coated. Their small fingers are literally excellent for this job, and so they love seeing the graceful balls remodel 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 grasp the significance of correct measuring for the feel to work appropriately. They’re additionally on the excellent stage for rolling the combination into balls as a result of their hand-eye coordination is developed sufficient to create fairly uniform sizes. I allow them to take possession of creating certain all of the balls are roughly the identical measurement, which supplies them a way of satisfaction within the completed product.

Ages 10+: Meals Processor Assistants and High quality Management

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

Coconut Bliss Balls

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes (no baking)

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

Servings: 16 balls

Components

• 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (~12 dates)
• ¾ cup uncooked cashews or almonds
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (plus ⅓ cup additional for rolling)
• 2 tbsp almond butter
• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• Optionally available: 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (for additional sweetness)
• Optionally available: 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 properly.
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 little bit extra coconut flour or shredded coconut.
4. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll right into a ball with damp fingers to forestall sticking. Repeat with remaining dough.
5. Roll every ball within the additional shredded coconut to coat evenly.
6. (Optionally available) 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.

Take pleasure in these coconut bliss balls as a candy, healthful snack that your complete household will love — no baking required!