What Makes This Recipe Great

Also called protein balls, energy bites, date balls, or energy balls, this vegan bliss balls recipe is an easy, delicious, and healthy snack full of all the good stuff! It’s vegan, gluten-free, and has no refined sugar. 

Super simple ingredients like shredded carrots rolled oats, dried dates, raw pecans, walnuts, and nut butter meets cinnamon, vanilla extract, and orange zest for a tasty “carrot cake” flavor. 

Rolled into balls and refrigerated for a grab-and-go snack that satisfies sweet cravings while filling you up! Even better, they take just 10 minutes to make! 

Ingredient Notes

Here’s what you need for this bliss balls recipe:

• Nuts: The base of these fudgy vegan protein balls are pecans and walnuts. Use raw, unsalted nuts for this recipe.
• Oats: I recommend using rolled oats (as opposed to quick or instant oats).
• Cinnamon: For a touch of warming spiced flavor.
• Dates: I love fudgy, sweet Medjool dates to sweeten these “date balls”. This dried fruit is an all-natural sweetener that also helps them keep their shape.
• Carrot: For the true carrot cake flavor.
• Almond butter: I like using unsweetened almond butter.
• Vanilla: I like vanilla bean paste, but you could use vanilla extract (pure).
• Orange Zest: When you’re using orange zest, it’s best to use organic oranges, since you’re eating the skin.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a food processor or blender, pulse pecans, walnuts, cinnamon, rolled oats, and salt.
2. Next add dates, carrot, almond butter, vanilla bean paste, and orange zest, and pulse again until everything pulls away from the edges of the blender and sticks together.
3. Adjust texture and sweetness as needed. Add additional oats and nuts to firm up the mixture or add almond butter and dates to add moisture.
4. Use a cookie scoop to roll 1-2 tbsp of the mixture into balls. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for 2-3 days in an airtight container. Freeze to save for 1-2 weeks.

Decorating

Feel free to add some extra crunch by rolling the fully shaped date balls in fun toppings like:

• Shredded coconut
• Crushed pecans or walnuts
• Chia seeds
• Cinnamon
• Cocoa powder

Variations

I’ve made so many versions of these delicious treats. Switch things up with one of these gluten-free and vegan protein balls! 

• Chocolate Chip (nut-free and seed free)
• Ferrero Rocher
• Hot Cross Buns
• Chocolate Gingerbread
• Matcha
• Strawberry Cashew

Storage Tips

• Refrigerator: Store these date balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. 
• Freezing: You can also freeze them for up to six months. They’re great frozen, but if you let them soften a bit, they’re easier to eat.

Try These Vegan Snack Recipes

• Healthy Vegan Chex Mix (gluten free)
• Homemade Japanese Rice Crackers (Senbei)
• Kinako Rice Krispies with Peanuts and Mochi (vegan, gluten free)