Did you say Coffee and Chocolate? These Espresso Bliss Balls are the perfect pick me up snack! Anytime of the day, rushing to and from, after lunch, or when the 3pm slump hits you.. and you need something.. QUICK! Just make a batch of these for and they are ready to eat anytime you want a healthy, energy packed treat!
Ingredients for the Espresso Bliss Balls
- Dates: I just use standard dates that you can find in any supermarket. They add sweetness to the bliss balls as well as a subtle caramel flavour. Dates are good for you too! High in antioxidants and in fibre.
- Almonds: For nut free – you can also replace the almonds with standard rolled oats
- Desiccated coconut: For filling and for coating afterwards too
- Cacao Powder: I love cacao powder and use so much of it in baking, snacks & smoothies. It adds the strong chocolate flavour to the Espresso bliss balls.
- Dark Chocolate: I like to use a dark chocolate with a least 70% cocoa like a Lindt Excellence 70%, if you prefer a more bitter chocolate option you can also swap this for a 80% or 95% cacao chocolate or a few tablespoons of cacao nibs – or if you like more sweet, just regular milk chocolate or chocolate chips.
- Espresso Powder: The star ingredient and what gives these bliss balls a real kick. I use ground coffee powder. I always have Lavazza Crema e Gusto on hand at home and I find it’s perfect to give the bliss balls a strong coffee flavour (you can find it on Amazon too). You can also swap this for a decaf ground coffee if you prefer less caffeine.
- Maple Syrup & Honey: I like to use both to get the caramel & sweet flavour profiles of the two
- Vanilla Essence
- Coconut Oil: this is what will help form and set the Espresso Bliss balls once they are in the fridge.
Making the Espresso Bliss Balls
These Espresso Bliss Balls can be made in 4 easy steps:
Combine dry ingredients
In a food processor, add the dates, almonds, coconut, cacao powder and espresso powder and process until it becomes a fine crumb – around 30 seconds on high speed.
Add wet ingredients and chocolate
Add the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, honey, vanilla essence and dark chocolate pieces to the food processed and process again on high speed for 5-10 seconds until well combined.
Roll
Roll the mixture with your hands into small balls (you should be able to make around 20-22 coin sized balls) and roll them in some desiccated coconut mixed with cacao powder, if desired.
Rest in the fridge
Rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour to firm up in a sealed container before serving.
Espresso Bliss Balls
Equipment
- 1 Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pitted Dates
- 1 cup Almonds
- 1/2 cup Desiccated coconut (+ 2 tbsp for coating at the end)
- 5 tbsp Cacao Powder (+ 1 tsp for coating at the end)
- 4 tsp Espresso powder / Ground coffee
- 40 gr Dark Chocolate
- 2 tbsp Coconut oil (Melted)
- 1 tsp Vanilla essence
- 3 tbsp Maple syrup
- 1 tbsp Honey
Instructions
- In a food processor, add the dates, almonds, coconut, cacao powder and espresso powder and process until it becomes a fine crumb – around 30 seconds on high speed.
- Add the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, honey, vanilla essence and dark chocolate pieces to the food processed and process again on high speed for 5-10 seconds until well combined.
- Roll the mixture with your hands into small balls (you should be able to make around 20-22 coin sized balls) and roll them in some desiccated coconut mixed with cacao powder, if desired.
- Rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour to firm up in a sealed container before serving.