These No Bake Peanut Butter Bliss Balls are going to be your new favorite healthy dessert or afternoon snack! All you need is 5 simple ingredients and 30 minutes to make these naturally vegan and gluten free treats.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Double the peanuts. These peanut butter bliss balls are made with both peanut butter and chopped peanuts. Every bite is packed with peanut butter flavor.
- Made with pantry staples. If you've made my other vegan desserts, chances are you have all of the necessary ingredients in your kitchen right now! Try my Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Doughnuts or my No Bake Gingerbread Protein Balls next.
- No oven needed. If you're craving a sweet treat but don't want to have to turn on the oven, this recipe is for you. Have this easy to make, no bake vegan dessert ready in a few simple steps.
Ingredient Notes
- Medjool dates - Dates can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores. They are one of the best ingredients to use when making bliss balls because dates are a healthy, sweet fruit that is sticky and holds all of the ingredients together.
- Peanut butter - Make sure to use a drippy natural peanut butter that is easily pourable. If your peanut butter is dry, your bliss ball mixture will be hard to pulse together and may need additional moisture.
- Chia seeds - Gives your bliss balls a boost of healthy omega 3s. Substitute hemp seeds, if needed.
- Dark Chocolate - Use your favorite dark chocolate or vegan chocolate here! It's the perfect touch to make this healthy vegan snack taste like dessert.
Step by Step Instructions
- Soften the dates. In a medium sized bowl, soak the Medjool dates for at least 10 minutes in warm water to soften them and make them easier to process in the food processor. If your dates are very fresh and gooey, you may be able to skip this step.
- Roughly process the peanuts. Pulse the peanuts in a food processor into roughly chopped into small, uniform sized pieces. Once chopped, transfer the peanuts to a small bowl and set aside.
- Drain and pit the dates. After the dates have soaked for at least 10 minutes, remove them from the water. They should be very soft and easily malleable. Remove the pits (if necessary) before placing the dates in the food processor. Date pits are very hard and can damage the blade of your appliance if not removed beforehand.
- Process the dates, chia seeds, and peanut butter together. Add the Medjool dates, chia seeds, and peanut butter to the food processor and process until a soft ball forms, about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Form the peanut butter bliss balls. Once the date, chia and peanut butter mixture has formed a soft ball in the food processor, scoop the mixture into 1 tablespoon balls and roll each tablespoon into a smooth, round bliss ball.
- Roll bliss balls in chopped peanuts. Transfer each peanut coated bliss ball to a cookie sheet or plate and continue until you've made about 10-12 bliss balls.
- Melt the dark chocolate. Microwave the dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second bursts. Mix the chocolate in between to help melt it faster. If your chocolate is not melting easily, add a half teaspoon of coconut oil to help make it smooth.
- Drizzle with chocolate. Once all of the balls are formed and coated with peanuts, drizzle them with chocolate. Place baking tray in the fridge and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Refrigerate. Place baking tray in the fridge and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
FAQs
Do bliss balls need to be refrigerated?
Bliss balls do not need to be refrigerated, but it is highly recommended. If they are stored in a warm environment, the chocolate will melt and the bliss balls will begin to soften and lose their shape. If you do not want to refrigerate them, make sure to store them in a cool, dry environment.
How long will bliss balls keep?
Bliss balls will keep for 5 days when stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze bliss balls?
Yes, bliss balls do very well in the freezer and can be a great way to extend their life. This is also a great thing to do if you are doubling or tripling the batch and want to store additional bliss balls in the freezer for later. To freeze, simply allow the chocolate drizzled overtop to harden, then transfer the peanut butter bliss balls to a freezer safe storage bag and freeze for up to 30 days. Thaw any frozen bliss balls in the refrigerator before eating.
Can you make bliss balls without a food processor?
It is certainly easiest to use a food processor when making bliss balls, but you can make bliss balls by pulsing the dates, chia seeds, and peanut butter together in a Vitamix or similar high speed blender. You can also very finely dice the soaked dates and mix with chia seeds and peanut butter in a bowl with a wooden spatula. This method won't be as smooth as using a food processor, but it will stick together as long as you dice the dates small enough.
Expert Tips
- Do not skip soaking the dates. If the dates are not soft enough before you put them in the food processor, the appliance will have difficulty blending them together into a soft ball. Trying to process hard dates can prematurely wear out the motor in your food processor and cause it to overheat.
- If vegan, double check your chocolate is dairy free. Not all dark chocolate bars are dairy free and can contain milk, milk solids, or whey.
More Vegan Desserts You Will Love
No Bake Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
These No Bake Peanut Butter Bliss Balls are going to be your new favorite healthy dessert or afternoon snack! All you need is 5 simple ingredients and 30 minutes to make these naturally vegan and gluten free treats.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups medjool dates approx. 12 dates
- ¼ cup smooth natural peanut butter drippy is best
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons peanuts
- 3-4 tablespoons dark chocolate
Instructions
- Add warm water (think bathtub water) into a medium size bowl. Add in the dates and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes. Remove the dates from the water and the pits from the dates.
- While the dates soak, add peanuts into a high speed food processor and process until they are roughly chopped, approx 30 seconds. Place in a small bowl.
- Place the soaked de-pitted dates, peanut butter and chia seeds in the high speed food processor and process until the dates are broken down and the ingredients are combined. (2-4 minutes). A soft ball will form.
- While the mixture is processing, add the chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds then mix. Continue until chips are melted. If the chips are not melting, you may need to add ½ teaspoon of coconut oil or vegan butter to aid in the process.
- One the mixture has formed a soft ball, scoop approx. 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball.
- Then place the ball into the bowl with the crushed peanuts and roll it in the peanuts until it 50-70% coated. Place the ball on a cooking sheet or plate (make sure it is something sturdy). Repeat with the rest of the mixture.
- Once all of the balls are formed and coated with peanuts, drizzle chocolate on top. Place baking tray in the fridge and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
Notes
Important Tips:
Mejdool dates can be found in the produce section of a grocery store. You may use pitted or non pitted dates.
You may also use almond butter or another nut butter.
A high speed food processor is best for this recipe, but a blender will also work! You may need to scrap the sides often though.
Soaking the dates is essential if your dates are not super soft and subtle. The longer you soak, the better. However, do not soak for more than two hours, as the mixture will be too soft.
Rolling in peanuts and drizzling with chocolate are both optional. Omit if you are short on time.
Storage:
Due to the nature of the ingredients, these MUST be stored in a cold area, as the chocolate will melt and the dates + peanut butter will become soft and sticky.
You can also freeze the balls for up to 30 days, but do allow time to defrost.
Nutrition
Sodium: 25mgCalcium: 26mgVitamin C: 1mgVitamin A: 29IUSugar: 14gFiber: 2gPotassium: 208mgCholesterol: 1mgCalories: 125kcalTrans Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 2gFat: 6gProtein: 3gCarbohydrates: 18gIron: 1mg
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These were so delicious!!! I made them just before chirstmas and they didn't last long! They were easy to make and so tasty. I will make these again for sure!
That’s great, thanks!