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    Home » Recipes » Healthy Eating

    No Bake Lemon Bliss Balls

    Published: Apr 27, 2019 · Modified: Feb 4, 2021 by Sarah Cook · 26 Comments

    Yield 10
    Prep 5 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe
    A plate of lemon bliss balls on a wooden board with lemon slices and dates.

    Deliciously addicting, these No Bake Lemon Bliss Balls are a healthy and poppable snack. Made with all wholesome ingredients, you'll love that these protein bites are kid-friendly, vegan, paleo, gluten, and dairy-free.

    A plate of lemon bliss balls on a wooden board with lemon slices and dates.

    These lemon protein balls are the perfect afternoon bite, post-workout snack, or refined sugar-free dessert. Thanks to the natural sweetness of the dates, they have just the right amount of citrus kick without feeling like your mouth will be permanently puckered.

    I have a thing for making bliss balls of all flavors and variety. Banana Chocolate Chip Energy Bites have been the reigning favorite for years, but these lemon bites have swooped into first place!

    What Ingredients Are in Lemon Bliss Balls?

    You're going to love how simple these are! This recipe only has three ingredients!

    • Dates
    • Nuts (use your favorite)
    • Lemon zest

    A bowl of dates, nuts, a lemon and a zester on a wooden board.

    I use a mix of almonds and cashews because I love the creaminess of the cashews but appreciate the protein content of the almonds. If you love macadamia nuts or pecans, feel free to use those! I have not had good luck using walnuts in homemade bliss balls because they release so much oil in the food processor.

    If you have a nut allergy, you can sub in sunflower seeds or use old-fashioned rolled oats. You may need to add additional dates if using oats due to the dry texture.

    What Are The Best Dates for Bliss Balls?

    Let's talk about dates, shall we? These nutritional powerhouses are packed full of fiber, potassium, and a decent amount of calcium. They're nature's candy.

    There are two main kinds of dates sold in conventional grocery stores - Medjool and Deglet Noor. Medjool is larger and darker and deglet noor is small with a light honey taste. Typically Medjool are sold with pits and deglet have had the pits removed.

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    This recipe uses deglet noor dates so if you use Medjool, make sure you a) pit them! b) reduce the number of dates used in these lemon bliss balls. Start with 15 Medjool and slowly add additional dates one at a time until the mixture has come together.

    Why You'll Love These Lemon Date Balls

    When you're craving something sweet but are trying to stay off of refined sugar, these date balls are a snack you can feel good about.

    • They're intensely flavored in the best possible way. The lemon flavor is bright without being overwhelming.
    • They taste like a fresh sunny day.
    • You can whip up a batch in only 5 minutes. Five minutes to bliss town!

    Lemon energy bites on a plate with a blue cloth.

    How to Make Lemon Bliss Balls

    You're going to be tickled pink at how easy these are to make. There are really only three steps and no cooking involved!

    Start by pulsing the nuts in a food processor until they're mostly small pieces. You'll notice some larger chunks will remain and that's ok!

    Two photos showing nuts in a food processor for making lemon bliss balls.

    Add in the dates and lemon zest. Process until the mixture is starting to stick together.

    Ingredients for lemon date bites in a food processor.

    Pinch off pieces of the mixture and roll into balls.

    Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

    • Have fun with creative toppings for these bliss balls. Roll the balls in shredded unsweetened coconut, cocoa powder, chia seeds, or more crushed nuts.
    • Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. If you'd like to make a lot, store any in the freezer that won't be consumed within two weeks.
    • Add a splash of vanilla to compliment the flavor of the lemon. With the price of vanilla these days, consider making your own! Learn how to make homemade vanilla extract with a traditional steeping method or in the Instant Pot.

    More Recipes Like These Healthy Protein Balls

    • Mexican Hot Chocolate Lara Bars
    • Quinoa Protein Bites
    • Asian Teriyaki Meatballs

    If you loved these No Bake Lemon Balls, give this recipe a star review! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #sustainablecooks and tagging me @sustainablecooks and @recipesworthrepeating.

    Lemon bliss balls on a plate with a slice of lemon.

    No Bake Lemon Bliss Balls

    Deliciously addicting, these No Bake Lemon Bliss Balls are a healthy and poppable snack. These tasty protein bites are vegan, paleo, gluten, and dairy-free.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 82kcal
    Author: Amanda Mason

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup cashews
    • ¼ cup almonds
    • 25 dates pitted (deglet noor)
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest

    Instructions

    • Pulse nuts in the food processor until there are mostly small pieces.
    • Add lemon zest and 18 dates to the food processor and process until the mixture just starts to come together. If the mixture is too dry, add in dates one by one until the mixture is sticking together.
    • Pinch off pieces of the mixture and roll into balls. 

    Notes

    • If using Medjool dates, start with 15 and slowly add additional dates one at a time if needed.
    • Have fun with creative toppings for these bliss balls. Roll the balls in shredded unsweetened coconut, cocoa powder, chia seeds, or more crushed nuts.
    • Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ball | Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @RecipesWorthRep or tag #RecipesWorthRepeating!
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    About Sarah Cook

    Sarah Cook is the founder of Sustainable Cook where she serves up family-friendly recipes that are mostly Whole30 and Paleo.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 9 votes

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      Recipe Rating




       

    1. Russ

      March 08, 2024 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      I will admit that when I read this recipe, I was skeptical since I am not a big fan of dates. I put it all together with a little of the vanilla as suggested and what do you know, delicious. Thanks for another tasty recipe that I will be making over and over.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        March 08, 2024 at 12:51 pm

        Ha HA!!! Thanks Russ! I know....when you first look at it you're like...ummmm, maybe but OMG these little bites are so good and really easy to make! The perfect snack or healthy dessert! Thanks for letting me know how they turned out for you!!

        Reply
    2. Dr T

      October 01, 2023 at 7:42 am

      5 stars
      Amanda, these lemon bliss balls are delicious. ...and they are literally too easy to make. We usually are not big on dates but the lemon shines through and the dates provide the perfect medium to hold everything together that is not too sweet. The mix of cashews & almonds is also perfect. It took us less than ten minutes to make these and one day later we need to make another batch. Nice recipe; thanks!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        October 01, 2023 at 8:02 am

        So glad to hear you love them! They are an amazingly healthy snack! And they are gone FAST in my house, as well!!

        Reply
    3. Amanda

      June 09, 2019 at 5:14 pm

      5 stars
      These couldn't be easier to make, and that bright burst of citrus makes them the perfect snack for the summer! I'll definitely be snacking on these all summer long. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2019 at 9:48 pm

        Thanks, Amanda! You'll love these sweet little snacks!

        Reply
    4. Anne Lawton

      June 09, 2019 at 8:01 am

      5 stars
      I love all of the flavors in these, I'm sure that lemon just takes and energy all to the next level!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2019 at 9:49 pm

        Yes - they are delish and provide a burst of energy! The perfect snack!!

        Reply
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