This recipe for Apricot Bliss Balls is vegan, gluten-free, made with no added sugar, and is a perfect portable snack to have on hand! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
So many recipes for energy balls (mine included) involve chocolate and peanut butter. Of course you can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, but I was ready to change things up and get fruity.
Coconut reminds me of all things tropical, and spring weather that acts like winter weather gives me a major case of cabin fever, so I thought coconut would be a perfect base. I had a huge bag of dried apricots from Costco, so Apricot Bliss Balls were born. 
Energy balls are a popular snack over here. The kids just love them and I love that I can control the ingredients and make them in less than 15 minutes.
Get your daily dose of fiber and vitamins with these healthy apricot bliss balls.
I believe healthy snacking is just as important as a hearty dinner. We might not realize it, but we pack the most carbs and sugars when snacking. That means I’m always looking for great snack recipes that use wholesome ingredients and still taste delicious. This healthy apricot balls recipe is my forever favorite when I’m looking for a non-chocolate snack!
These apricot energy balls are a perfect healthy snack to curb sweet cravings. What I love the most about this recipe is that it uses simple ingredients.
There’s no cooking or baking involved: Just pop your bliss ball ingredients in the food processor and whizz.
The best part? These tasty apricot-date energy bites are free of refined sugar. Their natural sweetness is from dried apricots and dates. And when rolled in extra desiccated coconut, they are just too good.
Plus, they pack and travel so well. Give them in your kids’ lunch boxes or pack them in an airtight container for a picnic in the park. They’ll do right by you.
I always prefer having a jar of them on my table for a quick morning snack. Pair them with your favorite rise-and-shine drink, or just pop them in your mouth like candy. Perfect!
Recipe Ingredients for Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls
I told you, the recipe is a breeze to make. The meal prep time is so less you might feel bad for taking the credit. Here are six healthy ingredients that you will need to make these delicious sweet treats:
Dried Apricots
I use a cup of pitted, dry apricots for this recipe. Dry apricots are a power pack of fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. They are fat-free and super low in calories. You’re getting vitamin A, vitamin C, copper, fiber, potassium, and catechins (the same anti-inflammatory nutrient found in green tea) from the apricots.
Dried apricots taste just like fresh apricots. They are tangy with a hint of sweetness. But they are chewier, and that’s precisely what we need for this recipe.
Dates
To balance the tartness of apricots and enhance the sweet content, I use half a cup of pitted dates.
Dates, as we all know, are highly nutritious. They contain selenium, copper, zinc, fiber, vitamin B6 and they promote brain health. Since I have growing kids, it’s really important to me!
Now, there are some differences depending on what kind of dates you use. Medjool dates have a caramel-y taste and are chewy. Regular dates, however, have a firm texture and are delicately sweet. No problem, whichever you choose, these will turn out well.
Dates add adequate sweetness without needing maple syrup or honey!
Cashew
Nuts make everything better, especially snacks. They are crunchy, nutty, and high in healthy fats. Cashews also provide copper, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, and zinc. I use half a cup of cashew for this recipe.
If you like almonds more, feel free to swap them out. You can also try adding pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds to the mix.
Shredded Coconut
Who doesn’t love coconut? The flaky texture is just the coating you need. Plus, it makes my bliss balls look pretty! There’s a nutritional benefit to using coconut as well. It provides vitamin C, iron, calcium, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
Shredded coconut or desiccated coconut, as some may call it, is a great way to increase the nutrition content in this recipe. Half a cup is all you need.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is a must-have ingredient in any snack. A small teaspoon of this magic ingredient will bring out the flavor of all other ingredients. Use one that’s extracted from the bean, not the artificial stuff.
Salt
Salt is like that one friend without whom your party wouldn’t be complete. A small pinch makes a difference in the taste of these delicious healthy sweet treats.
As you can see, every ingredient is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. These snack balls are a good source of zinc, which is an important nutrient for immune function. Such an important nutrient to get enough of, especially when the kids are in school and sickness is always going around!
How to Make Apricot Bliss Balls
Honestly, it’s the simplest thing to do.
- Put all your ingredients in the bowl of a food processor
- Process it at high speed till everything crumbles. It should be sticky if you pinch between your fingers. You can add a little coconut oil or coconut milk if they don’t hold.
- Now, roll the mixture into 1-inch balls
- Toss each ball in some extra coconut, and enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to store Apricot Bliss Balls?
These bliss balls are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature. You can keep them in the fridge for a week, too.
Can I freeze them?
Yes, absolutely! Use a freezer-safe box and let them rest in it. They’ll pass three months without any issues.
My mixture is too dry and doesn’t stick together. What should I do?
It’s okay. Every batch might come out differently. If yours is too dry, your dates may have not had enough moisture. Add a little coconut oil or coconut milk (1 teaspoon at a time) until they stick together.
What if my mixture is too wet?
You want a sticky dough, but if yours is too wet, add some rolled oats or almond meal and process again. That should take care of a too-wet texture.
I hope you love this Apricot Bliss Balls recipe as much as my family and I do. If you try them, please let me know! Leave a comment and star rating below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag me so I see it and I’ll feature you!
If you want more trusty healthy snack recipes, check out my banana oatmeal bars and no-bake chocolate oat bars. You’ll love them! Scroll beyond the recipe card for more favorite energy ball recipes.
Coconut Apricot Energy Balls
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 24 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Apricot Bliss Balls recipe is vegan, gluten-free, made with no added sugar, and is a perfect portable snack to have on hand!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apricots (pitted)
- 1/2 cup dates (pitted)
- 1 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup (unsweetened) shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor.
- Process until the ingredients are broken down and look like a coarse crumb. If you pinch it between your fingers, it should stick together.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll in extra shredded coconut, if desired.
- Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Category: snack recipe
- Method: food processor
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 69
- Sugar: 6.5g
- Sodium: 2.1mg
- Fat: 3.7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1.2g
- Protein: 1.4g
Here are some of my family’s other favorite energy ball recipes:
Chocolate Bliss Balls (Can’t go wrong with chocolate!)
High Protein Energy Balls (made with chickpeas and peanut butter)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls (made with black beans)
Strawberry Shortcake Energy Balls (all time favorite, most requested!)
Search all energy balls right here!
Where are the actual ingredients; amounts and actual ingredient? Cannot find them anywhere on your website which advertises as having, ‘recipes’? Annoying as I have been looking for over 10 minutes! The foods look good – but you might want to make it easier to find the ingredients AND the quantities!
I’m sorry you’ve had problems finding the recipes. At the top of the page there is a “jump to recipe” button that will bring you directly to the recipe card if you’re struggling to find it. The recipe cards are usually at the bottom of each post. Since you are struggling to find this one, here it is:
1 cup dried apricots (pitted)
1/2 cup dates (pitted)
1 cup cashews
1/2 cup (unsweetened) shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt
Place all ingredients in a food processor.
Process until the ingredients are broken down and look like a coarse crumb. If you pinch it between your fingers, it should stick together.
Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll in extra shredded coconut, if desired.
Enjoy!
Must these be refrigerated?
No, they don’t have to be refrigerated.
Should I soak my apricots and dates they are a bit dry? And do I soak the raw cashews?
Thanks
Yes, it’s a good idea to soak your apricots and dates if they’re dry. I don’t soak the cashews for this recipe, but you certainly can.
Made these tonight and they are so yummy! I put some grated lemon rind and a squirt of lemon juice in and it gave them the perfect tang.
So good!
Yay! Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Yum!
Made these today for School snacks for a very fussy 10rs…. she loved them , I also used raw unsoaked cashews and still turned out lovely
Great to hear that, Tracey! 🙂
Thanks Maryes,
Coconut Apricot Energy Balls, Easy to make and enjoyable.A quick snack from the fridge mid afternoon.
Terry.
Hi, I will make some tomorrow, I was wondering if you can freeze them? has anybody tried?
Tia!
Yes, you can freeze these!
I made a batch of these tonight and I LOVE THEM! Thank you for a wonderful recipe!!! Oh and I used raw cashews and it worked perfectly and I didn’t soak them.
Great! Thanks for letting me know Cassie. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe. I was looking out for a apricot energy bite.
It has come out well
Great! 🙂 You’re welcome.
What would you recommend using instead of cashews to make this a school safe treat? We aren’t allowed nut in our school because of allergies. Thank you!
Hi, thanks for the recipe. My daughter attends a nut free daycare. Any thoughtsfor a possible alternative to the cashews?
I have had good luck using sunflower seeds for nut-free energy balls. They may work here, too!
Hi Maryea – can I used desiccated coconut instead? I can’t seem to find shredded coconut anywhere… Thanks.
I’m not 100% sure what the difference is. It is more fine? I’m pretty sure it should work just fine, but I hate to say that without trying it or knowing for sure.
I’ll give a go and let you know, 🙂 thanks!
Hi Maryea,
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve included a link to your Coconut Apricot Energy Balls in a BuzzFeed roundup. Here’s the link if you’d like to share it with your followers:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/theendlessmeal/15-ways-to-get-more-energy-from-your-balls-fs33
Hope you have a great weekend!
(And a quick heads up … your email link isn’t working)
Sweetened or unsweetened coconut ?
I use unsweetened. Thanks for asking I should clarify that in the recipe!
I want to make this right now and eat it thats how awesome this looks
Aw, thank, Heghineh! I hope you do. 🙂
Hi. These look delish.
do you use raw cashews or roasted? and if you use raw, do you soak them first?
Thank you for all you do!
I used roasted. If you use raw, soaking them is the best way to go!
Hi . Do you use raw cashews or roasted? And if you use raw, do you soak them first?
Thanks! these look yummy.
I always tend to use raisins and forget how amazing dried apricots are. That needs to change!
Yes! Apricots are full of nutrients and a great way to switch it up!