Easy Apricot Bliss Balls
These Easy Apricot Bliss Balls are soft, chewy and packed with sweet dried apricots, crunchy pistachios, desiccated coconut, and warm cardamom. Made with just seven simple ingredients, these no-bake bliss balls are an easy homemade snack for lunchboxes, afternoon cravings, or whenever you want something naturally sweet.
Love easy healthy snacks? Try my Granola Bliss Balls or Peanut Chia Cookies for even more simple recipes.
Recipe at a glance
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 20 bliss balls
Difficulty: Very Easy
Main Ingredients: Dried apricots, desiccated coconut, pistachios, almond butter, honey, coconut oil, and cardamom.
Texture: Soft and chewy bliss balls with small pieces of dried apricot and crunchy pistachios.
Technique: Chopping the dried apricots in a food processor, blending the remaining ingredients, then adding the apricots and pistachios before rolling and chilling.
Why this recipe works
I love how easy these apricot bliss balls are to make. Everything comes together in a food processor, with no baking required, making them a simple homemade snack to keep in the fridge.
- No Baking Required: There’s no need to turn on the oven. Simply blend, roll, and chill.
- Simple Ingredients: Dried apricots, coconut, pistachios, almond butter, syrup, coconut oil, and cardamom come together to make these easy bliss balls.
- Quick and Easy: The mixture comes together in minutes in a food processor before being rolled into balls and chilled.
- Great for Lunchboxes: These bliss balls make a convenient homemade snack for lunchboxes, afternoon snacks, or busy days.
- Soft and Chewy: The combination of dried apricots, coconut, and almond butter creates a soft, chewy texture with crunchy pistachios throughout.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
A full and detailed recipe card with all the ingredients to make this lemon slice is at the bottom of this post.
- Dried Apricots: The key ingredient for flavor and sweetness. If unavailable, you can substitute with other dried fruits like dates or raisins.
- Honey: These provide natural sweetness and help bind the ingredients. You can use agave nectar for a similar consistency.
- Almond Butter: This ingredient helps to bind the balls together. For a nut-free version, use seed butter like sunflower or tahini. If nuts aren’t an issue, peanut or cashew butter are delicious alternatives.
- Coconut Oil: Helps in binding and setting the bliss balls. If you need a substitute, melted butter can be used, as the fat/oil needs to solidify at room temperature, though the final texture might slightly differ.
- Pistachios: They add a unique flavor and crunch. Substitute with other nuts like almonds or walnuts, or seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for a nut-free version.
Ingredient substitutions
- Dried apricots: You can substitute dried apricots with another soft dried fruit, such as dates or dried peaches, although this will change the flavour and texture.
- Pistachios: Almonds, cashews, or other nuts can be used instead of pistachios.
- Honey: Brown rice syrup can be used instead of honey.
- Almond butter: Sunflower seed butter can be used instead of almond butter for a nut-free version. Peanut butter or cashew butter can also be used.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil helps bind the mixture and adds richness. Use a neutral-flavoured coconut oil if you prefer a more subtle coconut flavour.
Storage Instructions
Store: In an air-tight container, refrigerated, for 1 week to 10 days.
Freeze & Thaw: Freeze bliss balls on a tray, then store them in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the fridge overnight.
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Easy Apricot Bliss Balls
Ingredients
Method
- Chop Apricots: In a high-speed food processor, add the dried apricots and pulse several times until finely chopped into small pieces. Avoid blending them into a paste. Remove the chopped apricots from the food processor and set aside.
- Blend Ingredients: To the food processor, add the desiccated coconut, ground cardamom, honey, almond butter and soft coconut oil to the food processor. Pulse until well combined.
- Add Apricots and Pistachios: Add the chopped apricots and pistachios to the food processor. Pulse several times until evenly distributed and the mixture sticks together when pressed.
- Shape Bliss Balls: Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll between your palms to form a smooth ball. Place into a storage container or onto a lined tray. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Chill: Refrigerate the bliss balls for 30 minutes, or until firm. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- Store: In an air-tight container, refrigerated, for 1 week to 10 days.
- Freeze & Thaw: Freeze bliss balls on a tray, then store them in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the fridge overnight.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!How can I make these apricot bliss balls nut-free for school-safe snacks?
For a nut-free version, replace almond butter with seed butter like sunflower or tahini and omit the pistachios or replace them with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
My bliss balls aren’t holding together well. What can I do?
If the apricot bliss ball mixture is too crumbly, try adding a bit more almond butter or coconut oil to help bind the ingredients. The mixture should be sticky enough to hold its shape when rolled into a ball.
Is there a substitute for coconut oil?
If you don’t have coconut oil, you can use melted butter, but coconut oil is preferred for its solidifying properties at room temperature, which helps hold the balls together, making butter a nice alternative.