Lemon Coconut Bliss Balls

These easy lemon bliss balls are full of zesty, sweet and coconut flavor, plus they come together in minutes! Perfect as a healthy snack, afterschool treat or even light dessert. 100% vegan and gluten-free.

Bliss balls are perfect for busy people who like to eat healthy delicious snacks! I love making these strawberry bliss balls made with real berries or these chickpea truffles packed with dark chocolate flavor. Or these gluten-free apricot bliss balls when looking for a sweet snack. But these lemon bliss balls are a true gem and perfect if you love lemony desserts.

They are nutrient-dense and rich in healthy fats from coconut and cashews and the balance of coconut-lemon flavor is right on point. It is so simple to whip up a batch plus, they only require 4 common ingredients to make!

Let me know if you give them a try! ❤️

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

• Easy and quick dessert recipe everyone can make
• No bake
• Healthy snack or dessert
• Loaded with sweet and zesty flavors
• Great for meal-prep
• 100% vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free

🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)

• Raw cashews: you will need raw (unroasted) and unsalted cashews for this recipe.
• Shredded coconut: use desiccated coconut that is unsweetened for the best result. Finely shredded coconut (as opposed to large flakes) also helps with the blending process.
• Lemon: you will need about one large lemon for this recipe (or 2 small ones). I highly recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice and not using bottled juice for a true fresh and zesty lemon taste.
• Maple syrup: you can also use agave nectar. I do not recommend using granulated sugar since the maple syrup helps with stickiness.

⭐️ Full list of ingredients with quantities down below in the recipe card!

📝 Variations

• More topping ideas: you can roll the balls in chia seeds, granulated sugar, hemp seeds, poppy seeds or finely chopped nuts.
• Lime coconut balls: simply swap the lemon juice and zest for lime juice and lime zest!
• Protein-packed: simply add a scoop of your favorite protein powder (vanilla-flavored pea protein would work well) to boost their protein content and make them more filling. Or try adding a spoonful of hemp seeds, then adjust the amount of maple syrup or lemon juice accordingly so the dough remains sticky enough.
• No cashews: although I haven't tried it, I think you could try swapping the raw cashews for raw almonds.

🍽 How to make lemon coconut bliss balls

Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a food processor (cashews, coconut, lemon juice, lemon zest and maple syrup).

Step 2: Process until sticky, uniform and mostly smooth with some small pieces still intact.

Step 3: Shape into small balls using your fingers (about 1 tablespoon each, a total of 15 balls).

Step 4: Transfer a small amount of shredded coconut to a small plate and roll the balls over the plate to completely cover them with the coconut. Enjoy!

⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!

💡 Helpful tips

• The dough is very sticky! You can wet your hands first to prevent the mix from sticking to your hands while rolling into balls.
• When grating the lemon zest, make sure to grate only at the very surface of the lemon (or the yellow layer) and avoid grating deeply in the skin (or the white part) which is more bitter.
• Chill the dough for 10-15 minutes before rolling into balls if you can, this will help with shaping and reduce the stickiness.

❗️Storage

These lemon bliss balls are perfect for meal prep as they store very well!

Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. They thaw very quickly, simply take a few out of the freezer for about 10 minutes before enjoying them!

❓ FAQs