Easy Apricot Bliss Balls
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These Easy Apricot Bliss Balls Recipe are the perfect quick and nutritious snack, blending sweet dried apricots, crunchy pistachios, and aromatic cardamom.
Apricot Bliss Balls Recipe
These apricot bliss balls are packed with the goodness of dried apricots and pistachios, and infused with the exotic warmth of ground cardamom, these bliss balls are your perfect companion for a mid-morning boost or an afternoon delight.
With just 7 ingredients, easily found in your pantry, these pistachio bliss balls come together in a jiffy in your food processor.
Coconut oil, almond butter and brown rice malt syrup or honey help bind together the dried apricots, desiccated coconut and pistachios. All lightly spiced with ground cardamon.
These apricot bliss balls are also a fun kitchen activity for kids. They’ll love helping out, and these make a fantastic addition to their school lunch boxes.
They’re so scrumptious that they might just disappear from your kitchen faster than you can make them!
Are these apricot bliss balls gluten-free?
Yes, as long as you ensure that all your ingredients, especially the almond butter and syrup, are gluten-free.
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.
- Brown Rice Syrup or 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.
How To Make Apricot Bliss Balls
Prepare Storage: Set aside a Tupperware container for storing the bliss balls.
Chop Apricots: Using scissors or a sharp knife, roughly chop the apricots into smaller pieces. Set aside.
Blend Dry Ingredients: In a high-speed food processor, add desiccated coconut, cardamom, syrup, almond butter, and coconut oil. Pulse until well combined.
Add Fruits and Nuts: Incorporate chopped apricots and pistachios. Blend until the mixture sticks together and is well combined.
Form Bliss Balls: Take 1 tablespoon of the mixture, roll it into a smooth ball, and place it in your container. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
Chill: Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Consistency Check: If the mixture is too dry, add a bit more almond butter or coconut oil until the balls stick together.
- Uniform Size: Use a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop to ensure each ball is uniformly sized.
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.
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
- 2/3 cup dried apricots, roughly chopped
- 2 cups desiccated coconut
- 2 tsp ground cardamom
- 4 Tbsp brown rice syrup, or honey
- 4 Tbsp almond butter, use sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil, soft at room temperature
- 1/2 cup whole pistachios, hulls removed
Instructions
- Prepare Storage: Set aside a Tupperware container for storing the bliss balls.
- Chop Apricots: Using scissors or a sharp knife, roughly chop the apricots into smaller pieces. Set aside.
- Blend Dry Ingredients: In a high-speed food processor, add desiccated coconut, cardamom, syrup, almond butter, and coconut oil. Pulse until well combined.
- Add Fruits and Nuts: Incorporate chopped apricots and pistachios. Blend until the mixture sticks together and is well combined.
- Form Bliss Balls: Take 1 tablespoon of the mixture, roll it into a smooth ball, and place it in your container. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Chill: Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Enjoy!
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.