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Home » Recipes » Healthy Vegan Dessert Recipes

Published: Oct 11, 2020 · Modified: Oct 11, 2020 by Jim Mee Sha · This post may contain affiliate links

Vanilla Coconut Bliss Balls with Dates and Cashews

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Jump to Recipe

This vanilla coconut bliss ball is a perfect healthy sweet treat to have on hand ! Naturally sweetened with dates, they are perfect as a snack or dessert .

Date ball arranged on a baking paper with cashews and desiccated coconut in the background

I am currently obsessed with these mini no bake treats ! They are now a must have in my pantry and works really well as a midday pick-me-up or a healthy after dinner treat.

The best part is, they are so easy to make and you can literally make them in under 10 minutes. Plus, all you need is 5 simple ingredients and a high speed blender / food processor.

Jump to:
  • 🍅 What you will need
  • Other add-ins ideas
  • 🔪 How to make
  • ✅ Top tips
  • ❄ How to store
  • ❔ Commonly asked questions
  • 🍽 More healthy desserts
  • 📖 Recipe

🍅 What you will need

Ingredients needed like raw cashews, oats, desiccated coconut, vanilla extract and dates
  • Rolled oats can be substituted with quick oats. Use gluten-free, if needed.
  • I am using unsweetened desiccated coconut in this recipe, but you can choose to use the sweetened ones if you prefer them to be extra sweet !

Other add-ins ideas

This is a really versatile recipe, and I really encourage you to get creative with the add-ins ! Some of my favorite things to add in are :

  • Chopped nuts - Especially chopped peanuts or cashews, they add a nice crunch factor to these date balls.
  • Chia seeds - You can definitely add them in to bump up the healthy fats and fiber content in them.
  • Cocoa / Cacao powder - They goes surprising well with coconut !
  • Chocolate chips - Pretty self-explanatory. You can also use cacao nibs instead if you prefer it to be sugar-free.
Date balls arranged in a blue side plate with some cashews and cooling tray in the background

🔪 How to make

Start by blending the cashews and oats in a high speed blender / food processor until a fine flour forms, around 60 seconds.

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Then, add in the rest of the ingredients, together with 2 tablespoons of plant based milk into the food processor. Blend until everything is well mixed and a cookie dough like texture forms. Add more plant based milk if needed, a tablespoon at a time.

Scoop out a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it into balls. Optionally, you can coat them by rolling them desiccated coconut. Repeat until the dough is all used up.

Let them set in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before enjoying them !

The making process of bliss balls - blending oats and cashew, combining all ingredients, and rolling them in desiccated coconut

✅ Top tips

  • If your mixture turns out to be too dry, add in more plant based milk, a tablespoon at a time.
  • Similarly, if your mixture turns out to be too wet and sticky, add in some oat flour.
  • Allow about 30 minutes for the balls to set and firm up in the fridge before enjoying it. ( You can of course skip this step, but I promise you it is worth the wait. 😉 )
  • I recommend using a food processor or high speed blender to make them. They will definitely make your life easier !

❄ How to store

They can be stored pretty well in both the fridge and freezer. It all comes down to personal preference. If you prefer a softer, gooey-ier texture then I recommend you to keep them in the fridge. Personally, I like my date balls to be a bit firmer, thus I usually keep them in the freezer. They can be store in the fridge for 1 week, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

A close up shot of 1 bliss ball being held

❔ Commonly asked questions

What can I substitute desiccated coconut with ?

Unsweetened coconut flakes are the best substitute for desiccated coconut. You can also choose to use the sweetened version, just bear in mind that they will turn out to be sweeter.

Is this recipe gluten-free ?

Yes. But you will need to use certified gluten-free oats as normal oats may be crossed-contaminated.

🍽 More healthy desserts

  • Vegan Flourless Salted Caramel Chickpea Blondies
  • Sugar-free Vegan Black Bean Brownies
  • Quick and Eggless Low Sugar Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Vegan Sweet Potato Brownie Cookies

📖 Recipe

Bliss balls arranged on a blue plate with cashews in the background

Vegan Coconut Date Balls

Meesha
This vanilla coconut bliss ball is a perfect healthy sweet treat to have on hand ! Naturally sweetened with dates, they are perfect as a snack or dessert .
4.86 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 16 balls
Calories 112 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup rolled/quick oats ( use gluten-free if necessary )
  • 1 cup dates
  • ¼ cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-4 tablespoon water / plant based milk
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Instructions
 

  • Start by soaking your dates in hot water for at least 20 minutes to soften them. Pit them and set aside.
  • In a food processor / high speed blender, blend together rolled oats and cashews until fine powder forms.
  • Place in the rest of the ingredients, including the dates together with 2 tablespoons of water and blend until smooth. You might need to add more water to achieve a sticky dough consistency, a tablespoon at a time.
  • Portion out a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Repeat until the dough is all used up.
  • Let them chill in the freezer for 30 minutes and serve them up !

Notes

  • Bliss balls can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Sweetened desiccated coconut can be used in place of unsweetened. 

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Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal

Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.

Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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Comments

    4.86 from 14 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Frieda says

    August 14, 2023 at 3:31 am

    5 stars
    I hate it when people alter a recipe and then rate a recipe, but I have to say to anyone reading this that you can totally change this recipe a little bit to fit what you have on hand and it will still be awesome. You do want to have the oats, vanilla, dates and coconut, but I halved this recipe, used pecans (because Georgia produces the most pecans in the US and usually have a bag in the fridge), used a tablespoon each of chia seeds, hemp seeds, ground almonds and ground flax seeds, I just used fewer pecans so I could add in the extra seeds not called for in the recipe. I didn't think it was sweet enough and I did use unsweetened coconut flakes, so I added maybe half a teaspoon of honey and used water not plant milk. I ground my flaked coconut in the nutrabullet with some sea salt into a powder, because I felt like this really needed some salt to bring out the flavor. Even halving the recipe, I wound up with 16 balls, I guess I like my balls on the small side, nuts have a lot of calories and these are just a snack for me between meals. They are great. I love the vanilla and the coconut flavor is mild without being all about the coconut. As much as I like protein balls, I get tired of them quickly, so making a half recipe is a good amount and finally a ball that doesn't include peanut butter or chocolate chips which really don't sound healthy. I would make these again in the future. So if you don't have everything called for, don't let this stop you from making these.

    Reply
    • Jim Mee Sha says

      August 14, 2023 at 9:10 am

      Thanks for the comment! I am sure others will find it helpful.😁

      Reply
  2. Debra says

    October 23, 2020 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    Quick, easy and plant based...awesome snack!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 23, 2020 at 2:06 pm

      Yes ! A great snack to have on hand 🙂

      Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 26, 2021 at 3:57 am

      5 stars
      Had something very similar this week in Monterey CA, taste and texture was awesome, however a little pricey, $6 per ball. Just tried this recipe, Wow, I’m impressed, so simple and the ingredients, what can I say, the simplicity, taste and texture…. I’m hooked 🙂

      Reply
      • Meesha says

        September 27, 2021 at 7:57 am

        I am really happy that you like it! Yes, homemade bliss balls are way cheaper😆

  3. Swathi says

    October 21, 2020 at 9:11 pm

    5 stars
    This vanilla coconut bliss balls looks delicious perfect .

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 23, 2020 at 2:05 pm

      Thanks a bunch !

      Reply
  4. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

    October 21, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    5 stars
    This dish looks so deliciously good. I wish I could eat that right this minute!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 21, 2020 at 8:35 pm

      Aww, that is really sweet of you ! Thanks !

      Reply
  5. Leslie says

    October 21, 2020 at 12:11 am

    5 stars
    What a great recipe for a healthy snack!

    Reply
  6. Sue says

    October 20, 2020 at 9:50 am

    5 stars
    What a wonderful no bake snack!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 20, 2020 at 8:53 pm

      Yes, it is my go to snack atm 😊

      Reply
  7. Alexandra says

    October 20, 2020 at 7:18 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, healthy sweet treat.

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 20, 2020 at 8:53 pm

      Thanks !

      Reply
  8. kerri says

    October 20, 2020 at 6:58 am

    5 stars
    i love these healthy little energy bites. they are a great pick me up in the middle of the afternoon!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 20, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      Me too ! They are just a really great snack to have on hand.

      Reply
  9. Emily Flint says

    October 20, 2020 at 3:07 am

    5 stars
    I love this easy and healthy treat!!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 20, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      Glad to hear that ! Enjoy .😁

      Reply
  10. Kay says

    October 19, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect snack packed full of protein!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      October 20, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      Yes it is !

      Reply
A headshot of Mee Sha leaning on a handrail.

Hi, nice to meet you! I am Mee Sha, a final-year dietetic student passionate about nutrition, cooking, and food. This blog was created to share my favorite plant-powered recipe!

More about me →

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