Salted Caramel Bliss Balls, Vegan + GF

With just 5 ingredients, these salted caramel bliss balls are so incredibly east to make! They're protein packed and high in fiber, making them the perfect breakfast or snack for those extra busy days.

For the first time in a while, I wrote down some new year resolutions. Believe it or not, I included nothing about diet. David and I have "Pizza Saturday's" where we make homemade pizza and there is NO WAY I am cutting that out. But, I do try to eat healthier during the weekdays, which is why I'm sharing these salted caramel bliss balls. They're the perfect healthy snack when you just need something quick. I don't know about you, but even though I'm not physically going anywhere (ugh, COVID), I still find myself in a crunch these days. These bliss balls make hectic days a lot easier!

What are bliss balls?

You may have heard of them by one of their many other names - energy balls, energy bites, date balls - but they're all the same thing! I call them bliss balls because, well, it sounds blissful.

So what exactly are bliss balls made of? They usually consist of two main ingredients: nuts (or nut butter) and dates. From there, you can add all sorts of mix-in's to give it a fun flavor profile. In this recipe, I added coconut and sea salt but I've also made matcha bliss balls, zesty tumeric bliss balls, brownie bliss balls, etc.

They are SO EASY to make. You just add all of your ingredients to a food processor and blend. Then you use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to roll them into balls and store in the fridge. When you need a little energy boost, just grab and go! They're kind of like protein bars, but way better - in my humble opinion!

Are bliss balls healthy?

YES! Of course, all recipes vary, but these salted caramel bliss balls are healthy. Here's why:

• They're raw (meaning they have more nutrients)
• All of the ingredients are whole and unprocessed
• They're high in protein from the cashews
• The bliss balls are also a good source of fiber (you can thank the dates)
• It's a relatively low glycemic-index (GI) snack

To recap, these salted caramel bliss balls are:

Healthy

Full of nutrients, fiber, and protein

Convenient for on-the-go

Easy to make

Just 5 ingredients

The perfect snack!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store these salted caramel bliss balls?

You can store them for up to 1 week in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer in an airtight container.

How can I make them shelf-stable?

I get it - sometimes you just want to throw them in your purse or bring homemade snacks while hiking. Fortunately, there's a pretty easy tweak to this recipe to make these bad boys shelf-stable: skip soaking the dates in water. Just keep in mind that since the dates will be firmer, your bliss balls may not be as smooth. You can add a little extra cashew butter to help with this though!

I can't find medjool dates. Can I use another variety?

You sure can! My preference is medjool because they are sweeter, but you can sub in for another type.

What's the difference between desiccated coconut and shredded coconut?

Nothing! They're the same thing.

Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?

I have not personally tried this, but I don't see why not!

Can I use a different type of nut butter?

Absolutely. I love cashew butter because it has the most mild flavor and really lets the medjool dates "shine," but you can use almond or peanut butter instead.

Where does the caramel come in?

Ok, I'll admit that the name is a little misleading. This isn't referring to caramel in the traditional sense. The medjool dates take on a really beautiful caramel flavor. Nature's caramel 😉

Want more healthy snacks? Try one of these easy recipes:

Healthy Dessert Hummus

Easy + Healthy Nutella

Lemon Chai Cookies

Healthy Coconut Carrot Muffins, GF + DF

Dairy Free Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips