These healthy apricot bliss balls make for the perfect nutritious snack to prepare ahead of a busy week! They are super sweet, thanks to the dried apricots, and their chewy texture is so satisfying. They include rolled oats, chia seeds and coconut, and they are naturally vegan, nut-free and gluten-free.
Healthy bliss balls are my favorite no-bake snack to make during busy weeks! These 4-ingredient peanut butter bliss balls are high protein and great for kids, and these lemon coconut bliss balls are such a treat if you love lemon desserts. Plus, these fresh strawberry bliss balls are perfect for the summer!
And now these healthy apricot bliss balls are such a delicious, nutritious and easy bliss ball recipe to add to our repertoire. They are completely nut-free and gluten-free, plus they come easily together within a few minutes using a food processor.
You can make a batch during the weekend, and keep them in the fridge for easy healthy snacking on weekdays. The natural sugar from the dried apricots makes these apricot oat energy balls pretty sweet, which is perfect for kids, or anyone with a sweet tooth who wants something satisfying yet still healthy.
Let me know if you give them a try! ❤️
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Easy and quick recipe done using a food processor
- Nutritious and packed with fiber, iron, plant-based protein and antioxidants
- Sweet snack or dessert that's low in added sugar (thanks to the naturally sweet dried apricot)
- Amazing meal-prep snack recipe
- Great for kids and lunch boxes (nut-free!)
- Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free
🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)
- Rolled oats: I like using thicker old-fashioned rolled oats to make bliss balls for added texture and bonus nutrition, but I bet quick-cooking oats would still work!
- Dried apricot: Soft-dried apricots work best for making energy balls. I tested with 2 different types of dried apricots: 1- Organic Turkish-style dried apricots from the brand 365 (I had to add 2 tablespoons of water) and 2- Soft and juicy dried apricots from the brand Fruit Bliss (these are slightly re-hydrated so I did not need to add any water). Try to use dried apricots that are soft, without added sugar and unsulfured.
- Shredded coconut: use unsweetened if possible. If you only have sweetened, then skip the maple syrup! Since the ingredients are going in the food processor, then you can use finely shredded coconut or even coconut flakes. If you do use the flakes, then add them with the oats so they can be broken down nicely.
- Chia seeds: help the bliss balls hold well and they add more protein and fiber. I haven't tried not using them, but I don't think that skipping the chia seeds would cause much of an issue with this recipe.
- Flavoring ingredients: I added a little cinnamon and vanilla extract, but feel free to use other spices, such as nutmeg or ground ginger.
⭐️ Full list of ingredients (+ quantities) down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Orange: add 1-2 teaspoons of orange zest and about 1 tablespoon of orange juice for a nice zesty flavor, which would pair well with the apricots.
- Protein-rich: you can double the amount of chia seeds or add about 1 tablespoon of protein powder to the mix, although you might have to adjust with a little extra water.
- Covered bliss balls: you can also roll the bliss balls into more desiccated coconut or chia seeds.
🍽 How to make healthy apricot bliss balls with oats
Step 1: Add the dried apricots and pulse until broken down.
Step 2: Add the rolled oats and keep processing until a coarse mixture forms.
Step 3: Then, add the rest of the ingredients (chia, coconut, cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla and salt) and process until uniform. If the mixture is too dry, then add 1-2 tablespoons of water and process again.
Step 4: Use a tablespoon to scoop some of the mix and roll it in between your hands/fingers to shape it into balls. You should end up with about 17 balls.
⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- Depending on the brand of dried apricots you use, you might OR might not need to add water. So, process all the ingredients and then check on consistency to see if it needs some water. Some dried apricots are partially re-hydrated and they feel very moist and soft, which in that case, the mixture won't require any added moisture.
- You can skip the maple syrup if you want a no added sugar recipe. Maple syrup helps with flavor and stickiness, but is not essential for these bliss balls.
- When rolling the balls, it get very sticky in your hands, so you might have to wet them to help the rolling process.
❗️Storage tips
Keep the apricot bliss balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months, they thaw within a few minutes!
❓ FAQs
Yes! All the ingredients used in this recipe are naturally GF.
Yes, simply omit the coconut if you prefer, the texture should remain about the same.
🌱 More healthy bliss balls you might like
I hope you enjoyed this healthy apricot bliss ball recipe! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Apricot Bliss Balls with Oats and Coconut
Equipment
- Food processor
- Measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apricots soft and plump dried apricot
- 1 cup rolled oats I used old fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup shredded coconut unsweetened, plus more for rolling
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅙ teaspoon salt
- 1-2 tablespoon water optional, only if needed for consistency
Instructions
- Add the dried apricots to your food processor and process until broken down. Then add the rolled oats and pulse a few times.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except for the water (chia seeds, coconut, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt) and keep processing until uniform.
- Check on consistency and add 1-2 tablespoons if the mixture is too dry and process again (depends on your apricots).
- Use a tablespoon to scoop the mix and roll in between your hands/fingers.
Video
Notes
- Depending on the brand of dried apricots you use, you might OR might not need to add water. So, process all the ingredients and then check on consistency to see if it needs some water. Some dried apricots are partially re-hydrated and they feel very moist and soft, which in that case, the mixture won't require any added moisture.
- You can skip the maple syrup if you want a no added sugar recipe. Maple syrup helps with flavor and stickiness, but is not essential for these bliss balls.
- When rolling the balls, it get very sticky in your hands, so you might have to wet them to help the rolling process.
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
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