Super easy and incredibly healthy, these Apricot Bliss Balls with oats make the perfect kid-friendly lunch box snack! Just 10 minutes prep time and completely no-bake... simply mix, roll and enjoy!
When you're feeling like you need a post-workout boost, a little pick-me-up, or you're looking for a healthy treat for your toddlers and kids, then 'bliss balls' are top of the list for so many reasons....
Most bliss ball or protein ball recipes contain dates for their natural sweetness (and great 'binding' power!), such as my Peanut Butter Bliss Balls, Nutty Date & Oat Energy Balls or Salted Caramel Protein Balls. However these healthy apricot balls without dates are sweetened with luscious dried apricots and coconut instead!
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
For a fabulous little energy boost, breakfast 'on the run', and lunch box or toddler snack, these apricot and coconut bliss balls are definitely an excellent choice!
- Quick and easy - just 'blitz' all the ingredients together, then roll and enjoy!
- Raw and natural ingredients - made with healthy ingredients for a totally guilt-free, energy boosting snack.
- Toddler approved - I can certainly vouch for this, these apricot chia bliss balls are absolutely adored in my house!
- Freezer friendly - keep a batch in the freezer for when your toddler decides that they will eat a miniscule mouthful and nothing more....
- Lunch-box treat - perfect for a 'grab and go' lunchbox snack, even frozen, they'll be thawed and ready to enjoy by lunchtime. Just pop a couple in with a piece of fruit and yoghurt, or sandwich, and you have a healthy and satisfying lunch!
- Conventional and Thermomix - you'll find both methods in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. And if you do have a Thermomix, seriously, these little apricot bliss balls can be ready in less than 5 minutes.
What You Need
I like to know exactly what I'm eating, and so these nut free apricot bliss balls are a HUGE favourite of mine. I know they're full of healthy ingredients, and with none of the unnecessary additives that store-bought bliss balls contain - and that's important!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method!
- Dried apricots - I find Australian dried apricots such as Angus Park have the most intense flavour, but the softer and more plump, imported dried apricots are equally fine to use (and cheaper).
- Rolled oats - you could substitute with quick oats if that's what you have on hand, although I recommend plain rolled oats (and they're healthier, being less processed).
- Desiccated coconut - this is finely grated, un-sweetened dried flesh from the white part of the coconut.
- Chia seeds - are an unprocessed whole-grain food that absorbs liquid and forms a gel, which adds a little extra healthy bulk to the mixture.
- Coconut oil - helps to bind the balls together.
- Rice malt syrup - or substitute with either honey or maple syrup if you prefer.
Equipment Required
You could make these bliss balls by hand, although a food processor or Thermomix make this recipe a total breeze!
- Food processor, blender or Thermomix - literally gets the job done by blending ingredients well in just a few minutes!
Step By Step Instructions
How simple are these? Make these Apricot Bliss Balls in a food processor or Thermomix in just 10 minutes, and little hands are always helpful for rolling into balls too!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method!
Step 1 - Chop The Apricots
Using a food processor, blender or Thermomix, chop the dried apricots finely.
Step 2 - Add Other Ingredients
Add the rolled oats, desiccated coconut, chia seeds, coconut oil and rice malt syrup (or substitute) and mix all together well.
Check the texture - you may need to add a little more coconut oil and rice malt syrup (or substitute with honey or maple syrup) if the mixture seems too crumbly to hold together.
Use your hands to roll the mixture into balls. And that's it!!
Expert Tips & FAQ's
They certainly are! Made with raw and natural ingredients, homemade bliss balls (or protein balls) are naturally sweetened and you know exactly what's in them - no unnecessary additives, colourings or flavourings!
Check the texture when ready to roll into balls. The trick to getting these healthy Coconut, Chia & Apricot Bliss Balls just right is to add just enough coconut oil and rice malt syrup (or maple syrup or honey), so add a little more of either if necessary, so that they roll easily into nice, firm balls.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled - that way you can pop a batch straight into the freezer before they're all gone!
You can store these healthy coconut, chia and apricot bliss balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
They can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Once removed from the freezer, bliss balls will defrost quite quickly, so they can be placed into lunchboxes directly from the freezer and they'll be ready just in time for a morning tea or lunchtime snack.
Whilst chia seeds don't have a strong flavour, they add a really nice crunch to these bliss balls! Chia seeds are an unprocessed wholegrain food and were once a staple in the Mayan and Aztec diets. They can be absorbed by the body (unlike flaxseeds), and contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, antioxidants and calcium - so they're really good for you!!
Related Recipes
There's just so many fabulous ideas for bliss balls (or protein balls), and often you can vary the ingredients by substituting with what you have on hand, or adding some extra of your favourite nuts and seeds - you simply can't go wrong!
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Healthy Apricot Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- 190 g (1 cup) dried apricots
- 70 g (¾ cup) rolled oats
- 20 g (¼ cup) desiccated coconut
- 1 tbs chia seeds
- 2 tbs coconut oil melted
- 2 tbs rice malt syrup or maple syrup or honey (see notes)
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Place apricots into a food processor and chop finely.
- Add the rolled oats, coconut, chia seeds, coconut oil and rice malt syrup and mix together.
- Check the mixture and if it's too crumbly to roll into balls, add a little more rice malt syrup and mix again.
- Roll into balls and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (or in the freezer for up to 3 months).
Thermomix Method
- Place apricots into the Thermomix bowl and mix for 5 seconds, Speed 8. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the rolled oats, coconut, chia seeds, coconut oil and rice malt syrup and mix together for 10 seconds, Speed 6.
- Check the mixture and if it's too crumbly to roll into balls, add a little more rice malt syrup and mix again for 2-3 seconds.
- Roll into balls and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (or in the freezer for up to 3 months).
Notes
- Rice malt syrup substitute - you can substitute this with honey or maple syrup.
- Texture - check the texture when ready to roll into balls. The trick to getting these healthy Coconut, Chia & Apricot Bliss Balls just right is to add just enough coconut oil and rice malt syrup (or maple syrup or honey) so add a little more of either if necessary, so that they easily roll into nice, firm balls.
- Quantity - this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
- Storing - you can store these healthy coconut, chia and apricot bliss balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezing - they can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Jodie
After you process the apricots in the food processor do you food process the rest of the ingredients with them or mix together with a wooden spoon type situation?
Lucy
Hi Jodie, I mix everything in the food processor after the apricots are chopped.
Yolanda Petrusma
I make these allll the time and my kids love them, as do I!
Lucy
Fantastic!!
Connie
Fantastic recipe, thank you.
Frances nicholas
Can you make these gluten free
Lucy
Hi there, yes these are gluten-free!
Nicola
Hello, is this 127 calories per ball?
Lucy
Hi Nicola, yes this is for a single serving (of a relatively large ball). You can make them smaller if you prefer. xx