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Cocoa-Coconut Bliss Balls (Nut-Free)

January 18, 2017 by Maria Adams 7 Comments

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These cocoa-coconut bliss balls make a perfect lunchbox treat—both for your kids and you. They are dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and aside from the coconut, nut-free, making them very allergy-friendly.

These nut-free cocoa-coconut bliss balls make a perfect lunch box treat! Sweetened with only medjool dates they are sure to be one of your families new favorite treats! They are also gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, and dairy-free.Pin

Nourishing Treats

So while I have an array of nourishing dinner ideas lined up to feature on this blog, they need to be balanced out with nourishing treats. Right?

Good, I thought you would agree.

No-Bake Energy Bites or Balls

One of my favorite snacks/treats to keep on hand are no-bake energy balls sweetened with Medjool dates. These cocoa-coconut bliss balls are my family’s favorite.

Personally, I love them all, which is funny since I actually don’t like plain dates! Here are the other no-bake energy bite and bliss ball recipes on my site:

  • Cashew Coconut Bliss Balls
  • Pumpkin Spice Balls
  • Chocolate Energy Bites
  • Cranberry Cocoa Bliss Balls (also nut-free)
  • Raspberry Almond Power Bites

With so many families and schools being totally nut-free these days I’ve been getting more requests for nut-free recipes. While the coconut is technically a nut, it’s a less common allergy than other nuts.

These nut-free cocoa-coconut bliss balls make a perfect lunchbox treat! Click To Tweet

picture of cocoa-coconut bliss ballsPin

Ingredient Spotlight: Hemp Hearts

So where does that creamy goodness come from here? It’s primarily from the coconut, but also from the hemp hearts. In case you haven’t tried hemp hearts yet, you should! They are loaded with heart-healthy fat, protein, and other nutrients. They make a tasty addition to everything from oatmeal to avocado toast to smoothies to salads.

In case you are curious, hemp comes from the cannabis plant, however, it doesn’t contain the active ingredient found in marijuana (THC).

I keep my hemp hearts in a glass jar in the fridge. This is also how I store my chia seeds, flax seeds, and shredded coconut. Having them clearly visible and labeled in the refrigerator also reminds me to use them!

Boost Protein to Enjoy as Snack

The protein, carbohydrate, and fat ratio of these cocoa-coconut bliss balls make them more dessert-like than snack-like, perfect as a lunchbox treat. But you can keep them nut-free and increase the protein content by subbing sunflower seed butter for the coconut oil.

You can also enjoy them as part of a balanced snack with some additional protein or veggies on the side: a glass of soy milk, sliced raw veggies, pumpkin seeds, or edamame would all be great!

These nut-free cocoa-coconut bliss balls make a perfect lunch box treat! Sweetened with only medjool dates they are sure to be one of your families new favorite treats! They are also gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, and dairy-free.Pin

Cocoa-Coconut Bliss Balls

These cocoa-coconut bliss balls are sweetened with only Medjool dates. They are also dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and egg-free--making them allergy friendly and perfect as a lunchbox treat.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 12 Medjool dates soak in water for 10 minutes if hard
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats certified gf if needed
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup hulled hemp hearts increase up to 1/3 cup if desired
  • 4 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened, shredded coconut for sprinkling on top
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt for sprinkling on top

Instructions
 

  • Add the dates to a large food processor and pulse a few times until well chopped. Add the oats, coconut, hemp hearts, coconut oil, and cocoa. Pulse until well combined and a ball starts to form. If the mixture seems dry, add 1 tablespoon of water and then pulse more.
  • Tip onto a rimmed baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Form into about 20 balls. Sprinkle with the shredded coconut and sea salt and then roll around to cover. 
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips:
Mix it up by sprinkling crumbled, freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries on top instead of coconut.
Try adding 2 tablespoons of flax meal to the rest of the ingredients for additional fiber and omega-3 fatty acid boosts!
Don't hesitate to play around with the recipe to make it your own! It's hard to go wrong with a no-bake recipe.
 
Keyword bliss balls, cocoa, energy balls, gluten-free, nut-free

My one final piece of advice: Like most of these date ball recipes, it can be hard to have just one! That’s why I make them small: so that you can have two! I also recommend storing them out of sight in the refrigerator or freezer. Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Desserts, Lunch box, Uncategorized Tagged With: bliss balls, cocoa, coconut, gluten free, hemp hearts, kid-favorite, naturally sweetened, nut free, vegan

Previous Post: « Slow-Cooker Black Bean, Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili
Next Post: Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs and Root Vegetables »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deanna Segrave-Daly

    January 18, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    Ooh these look so delish!

    Reply
    • halsanutrition

      January 18, 2017 at 9:24 pm

      Thanks Deanna! Yes, they may just be a bit too good!

      Reply
  2. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

    January 23, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    These bliss balls look delicious! I have yet to try using hemp hearts. I’m looking forward to buying some and trying your recipe! Yum.

    Reply
    • halsanutrition

      January 24, 2017 at 10:06 am

      Thanks Elaine! Yes, they are delicious. I just started using hemp hearts about a year ago. They are really versatile! I tried doubling the hemp heart amount, they were still good but didn’t pass the test by my kids!

      Reply
  3. Kitty

    January 27, 2017 at 12:48 am

    I love dates! And dates with chocolate…..YES!

    Reply
    • halsanutrition

      January 27, 2017 at 7:41 am

      Yes, it really is such a fantastic combination!

      Reply

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  1. 40+ Healthy Energy Bite Recipes - Your Choice Nutrition says:
    April 17, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    […] Cocoa-Coconut Bliss Balls (GF, NF, DF, V) via Halsa Nutrition […]

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Hey there!

I'm Maria, a mom and Registered Dietitian with a love for good food. Let me help you navigate your way to happier, more confident eating and cooking. I take a non-diet, intuitive eating approach and truly believe that all foods can fit! Read More…

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Maria | Non-Diet Dietitian
Teens and tweens benefit from snacks to help bridg Teens and tweens benefit from snacks to help bridge the gap between meals. Add sports and the need for a snack becomes even more important. 🤸‍♀️🤾🏽‍♂️⛹🏿‍♂️🏄🏼‍♀️🏑

So what should your teen eat after a practice or event? 

Ideally, they should eat food that provides both carbohydrates and protein. Water is also important to help with rehydration.

Carbohydrates are our main source of fuel. We store carbohydrates in our muscles as glycogen. After exercise, it’s important to replenish the lost glycogen. Carbohydrate-rich foods include:

✔️grains such as cereal, bread, rice, crackers, granola, and oats
✔️dairy products such as milk and yogurt
✔️starchy veggies such as potatoes and corn
✔️fruit 

Protein helps us repair damaged muscles and teens need to have a ready supply of protein for growth too. But think beyond the protein bar, you can actually get ample protein from a variety of foods, including:

✔️Soy, dairy, or pea protein milk 
✔️Greek or Skyr yogurt
✔️Kefir
✔️Cheese
✔️Nuts and seeds
✔️Nut and seed butter
✔️Beans and legumes
✔️Eggs
✔️Seafood such as salmon and tuna
✔️Meat such as turkey, ham, chicken, and beef

I have put together some suggestions for snack ideas in these infographics. In general, it’s great to include a fruit or veggie as part of the snack when possible. 🍓🥝🍅🥑🥒🥕🫐🍎It can help to think of the post-workout snack as a “mini-meal” versus just a snack. 

Of course, it’s important to remember that the snacks don’t have to fit into these neat categories or include produce all the time. Eating should never have rules around it. Moreover, food choices are about more than nutrition. Other factors that come into play include what’s available, appealing, and convenient. 

Ultimately, what your adolescent decides to eat (or even whether they eat) is up to them. But you can help out by keeping a variety of options available at home. 

To learn more and get additional snack ideas, go to my latest blog post, link in profile. ⬆️Also, be sure to save this post for future reference (or perhaps share with your teen)!
Weekends call for pancakes! 🥞I have finally sta Weekends call for pancakes! 🥞I have finally started increasing the batter size so that it makes enough pancakes for my family of four. My teen boys can eat a lot and lately we had been running out before the pancake maker (that would be me!) got to eat (or at least eat enough). 

Here is my modified “Flying pancakes” recipe. You can find the original on my blog. 

1 cup spelt or white whole wheat flour
1 cup oat flour
1-2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1/2 heaping teaspoon baking soda
1/2 heaping teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups kefir or buttermilk
1/2 cup plain oat milk
2 tablespoons avocado or canola oil

butter for greasing pancake pan

toppings of choice 

1. In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
2. Add liquid ingredients and stir until just combined.
3. Heat pancake pan of griddle.
4. Grease pan with butter. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes and flip and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy with toppings of choice. No fresh berries? 🍓🫐No problem. Try frozen berries, applesauce, and bananas as pictured here! Or add chocolate chips to the batter, yum.
Happy first day of spring! 🌱The sun is bright ☀️ here and I am on my way out to do some yardwork. It just feels like a day to be outside and after a week of too much time on my computer 👩‍💻 I know that’s what I need! 

Speaking of bright, I made this pretty “Moroccan-spiced carrot salad with lentils” last weekend. It was so delicious and luckily there was enough to enjoy it for a few leftover lunches. Recipe from @loveandlemons cookbook. I highly recommend it. 

What’s on my cooking list today? Not sure. Sometimes you just need a little rest and regroup day if you know what I mean! I am hoping for some local takeout tonight. 

How are you spending your Saturday?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀Why not celebrate w Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀Why not celebrate with a minty green smoothie/ Shamrock Shake? 

Here is how I made this one:

Shamrock Shake

1 smoothie

1/2 cup @siggisdairy plain full fat yogurt
1/2 cup oat milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup baby spinach
7 mint leaves

whipped cream 
dark chocolate

Combine yogurt through mint leaves in a high-speed blender. Pour into a class. Top with whipped cream and then use a microplane to grate dark chocolate on top. Enjoy! 💚

PS - Don’t fear the full fat dairy! It tastes delicious and provides a mega dose of satisfaction. Also, often times when we go for the low-fat we end up adding more sugar to make it taste good. 

#shamrockshake #happystpatricksday #luckoftheirish #greensmoothiesrecipe #siggis #luckysmoothie #stpaddysday #snackideas #familysnacks #momsnack #chocolateplease #dailysiggis #siggisambassador #halsanutrition #foodtographyschool #foodtography @foodtographyschool #replicasurfaces
Friday night is pizza night at our house. 🍕Ofte Friday night is pizza night at our house. 🍕Often, we order takeout but sometimes we make it ourselves.👩‍🍳Pictured here is one of my favorite combo’s: 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞𝕤 𝕡𝕝𝕦𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕦𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒. 🌱Topped with mozzarella and perhaps a drizzle of balsamic glaze it’s 💯.

You can get the recipe for this classic on my blog, link in profile. Here I’ve made it on my homemade rye pizza dough (also on the blog). But you could also pick up some ready-made dough at the store.

One of the best parts of making your own pizza is that everyone in the family can add their own favorite toppings. 🥦🍅🍆🧅🧄My husband generally eats anything I make 🤣 but my kids are more selective. One loves onions but not mushrooms and one prefers just cheese (and red sauce).

Does your family have a pizza night? Do you sometimes make your own or stick to take out? 

#mushroompizza #onionpizza #arugula #flatbreadpizza #recipeontheblog #pizzanight #familypizza #makeyourownpizza  #halsanutrition
I love whipped cream. I'm talking homemade, no sug I love whipped cream. I'm talking homemade, no sugar added, plain whipped heavy cream. It's the way my mom made it growing up.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It's not a food I eat very often, but that means that when I do have it I savor it even more. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
For example, in these Swedish "semlor". These traditional lenten buns are eaten from January through Easter in Sweden. The sweet cardamom yeast dough is baked until golden and then filled with almond paste and whipped cream. ⁠⁠Dreamy. 😍
⁠⁠
I made a couple of batches last month. I ended up freezing several unmade buns to have on hand for future "fikas" (Swedish-stye coffee breaks). ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I finally pulled out the last of them from the freezer today. It turns out my 12-year old really loves to eat these buns plain, he simply takes it out of the freezer and pops it in the microwave for a bit. 🙂 So alas, there are only 4 left, but they are now ready to go for our afternoon fika. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
While I haven't written up the recipe for these (it takes time to translate my Swedish metric recipes into English!) you can do a search and find many good recipes online. 

Happy Thursday! 💗⁠⁠
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#semlor #semla #swedishlentenbun #swedishbaking #homemadesweets #nordicbaking #nordicinspired #homemadewhippedcream #whippedcream #almondpaste #cardamombun #fikatime #slowdown #savorfood #fikatime #fika #coffeebreak #enjoylife #bepresent #todayfood #intuitiveeating #allfoodsfit #foodisculture #foodistradition #foodtography @foodtographyschool #replicasurfaces @replicasurfaces #foodtographyschool #halsanutrition⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day!💫 Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day!💫 

I’ve been a dietitian for 22 years now (but who’s counting!?) Over the years, I have learned that health is about more than nutrition and that nutrition is about more than the food that you eat. Yes, nutrition is important but so are the other reasons that we choose food, such as culture, family, celebration, preference, accessibility, and availability. 💫

These days I take a I take a non-diet, intuitive eating approach in my work. I help people let go of diet culture, improve their relationship with food, (re)discover the joy of eating, get inspired in the kitchen, and feel confident in the choices they make. 💗

Here’s to my fellow RD/RDN’s! I feel grateful to be part of this smart, supportive, and inspiring community. ✨

📷pic of me in my sun-filled ☀️office this afternoon, taken by my 12-year old before he borrowed my phone to film a science project! 😁

#RDNday #rdday #dietitiansofinstagram #nationalregistereddietitianday #intuitiveeating #intuitiveeatingRD #nondietdietitian #antidietculture #registereddietitiannutritionist #halsanutrition
Happy Tuesday my friends! Took a little two week h Happy Tuesday my friends! Took a little two week hiatus from IG to rest and refresh (and grade papers!), but I am back at it. ❤️Excited to bring you more nourishing family food recipes, non-diet tips, and positive inspiration. 

The weather here in New England is warming up ☀️but there is still a chill in the air. I have been making chili, soups, and stews to have on hand for quick and satisfying lunches. Pictured here is a turkey, kale, and  barley soup that is delicious and easy to vary based on the ingredients you have on hand. Recipe coming to the blog soon. 💫

#turkeysoup #kalesoup#barleysoup #halsanutrition #nondietapproach
So I tried to make an impromptu video on how to ma So I tried to make an impromptu video on how to make a chocolate banana smoothie. As you can see it did not go too well. 🤣Seriously, there are several takes like these. My 14-year old was manning the camera and couldn’t keep himself from laughing, which meant that I could not stay serious either. 😂(So then I tried filming myself, but holding your phone with one hand and trying to pour a smoothie into a glass with the other is not so easy.) It might be time to invest in a phone stand. (Or stick to photos!)

In case you are curious about how to make this smoothie, here is the recipe:

Chocolate Banana Smoothie 🍌🍫

1 cup milk
1 banana (frozen for a thicker and colder smoothie) 
1 tablespoon cocoa or cacao powder (we love @flavanaturals which is delicious and extra high in antioxidants )

(Optional add in: 1 tablespoon peanut butter)

Simply combine everything in a blender until smooth. Pour into a glass & enjoy! It’s perfect snack for hungry, growing tweens and teens....and hungry, busy mamas too! It’s especially great for refueling post-exercise. 

#videobloopers #chocolatebanana #chocolatebananasmoothie #snackideas #familynutrition #halsanutrition
Mix up your usual breakfast or snack by adding a v Mix up your usual breakfast or snack by adding a veggie or two. 🌱Sure, eggs on toast are delicious alone, but they really make you pause and slow down when they are presented in as colorful of a way as here.⁠⁠ 💛
⁠⁠
Veggies not only add beauty, but they also add flavor, texture, and, of course, nutrients. ⁠(Microgreens are one of my favorite additions. I also love radishes and need to remember to buy them more often!)⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It's easy to get in a rut with our meals. It's also easy to mindlessly eat while scrolling or typing away on our devices. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Put the screen away and carve out a little extra time to make your meal. Add a little extra color to your plate in the form of veggies or fruit and then give your food the full attention it deserves.⁠⁠ 🌈
⁠⁠
Sure, it takes a little more work to wash and slice up some produce, but the effort is well worth it. ⁠⁠💫
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#halfplateveggies #moreveggies #eggsontoast #satisfyingsnack #nourishingsnack #mindfuleating #mindfulsnacking #colorfulplate #halsanutrition #snacktime #familynutrition #momnutrition #spiceupyoursnack #mixupyoursnack #nourishingfood #nondietapproach #intuitiveeating #registereddietitian
Happy Weekend! 💫It’s snowing here again, but Happy Weekend! 💫It’s snowing here again, but it’s winter after all. ❄️ I find it absolutely beautiful but that said, I admit I am also looking forward to warmer days and being outside without my fingers & toes getting cold so easily! (hello #reynauds)

I did get my boys out for a dog walk in the snow this afternoon. Grateful for these moments. ❤️ Also grateful for our dog who gets us out of the house even when it’s cold out. 

Hoping we get enough fresh snow for cross-country skiing this weekend. And perhaps an outdoor fika. ☕️What are your weekend plans? 

#stillwinter #marblehead #weekendmood #getoutside #snowflakes #halsanutrition
More snow is coming ❄️❄️❄️here and to More snow is coming ❄️❄️❄️here and to say that temperatures have been cold throughout most of the US lately would be an understatement! 💨So why not warm up with a hot bowl of soup or stew. 🍲

My latest blog post features a round up of 11 delicious vegetarian soup and stew recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers. Best of all, they can all be made with the help of an instant pot or slow cooker.

Included in the round up is my slow cooker black bean, sweet potato, quinoa chili pictured here. 🌶 

Get the link in my profile. ⤴️ 

What’s your favorite soup or stew?

#slowcookerrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #plantforward #halsanutrition #familyfriendly #instantpotrecipes #familyfuel #souprecipes #stewrecipes #vegetarianchili #foodtographyschool #foodtography #meatlessmonday
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Meet Maria!

I'm a Swedish-born, New England-raised dietitian with a love for good food and baking. Follow my blog for nourishing recipes, non-diet nutrition advice, and a touch of Swedish inspiration. Read More…

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