Salted Carob Bliss Balls

Carob Bliss Balls3These ones are a recent creation! And they are good!

I’ve used Carob instead of Cacao. Carob is naturally sweeter than cacao and is caffeine free. It’s a great alternative to cacao and has a beautiful sweet, mellow flavour.  You can use Cacao, but I much prefer the carob in these ones, it’s just a perfect flavour with the slight saltiness.

More and more I realise how much I’m going back to my childhood. Carob was the only thing we ate, chocolate was unheard of in our house!…I know deprived! But now I think oh yum carob for a change!

Carob Bliss Balls1

I’ve used part almonds, part sunflower seeds, and I roast both of them. The almonds are easy to do in the oven on about 180° for 15 minutes and the sunflowers are easiest to toast in a frypan over medium heat until golden. You don’t have to roast them if you want them to be completely raw, but I do love the flavour of roasted nuts and seeds!

There is no added sweetener other than the dates. I love this. You could eat a couple for breakfast they are that good!

The little bit of coconut cream adds to the texture and helps bind them too.

 I love having some ready make bliss balls in the fridge at all times so there’s a quick fix snack for lunchboxes or just when there’s a hankering for something sweet.

Salted Carob Bliss Balls
Yields 18
A bliss ball good enough to eat for breakfast!
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Prep Time
2 min
Total Time
10 min
Prep Time
2 min
Total Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 100g Roasted Almonds
  2. 50g Toasted Sunflower Seeds
  3. 4 Medjool Dates, seeds removed
  4. 50g Coconut Oil
  5. 20g (2 Tbsp) Carob Powder
  6. 40g Coconut Cream
  7. 1 tsp Vanilla Essence or Paste
  8. 1/8 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
  9. Desiccated Coconut for rolling
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients into the Thermomix and process 10 Sec/Speed 6. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and process a further 10 Sec/Speed 7, or until a nice sticky crumb is achieved.
  2. Roll the mixture into balls and toss through the coconut to coat before placing into the fridge to set.
Notes
  1. If the mixture is a bit too oily to roll easily, place into the fridge to set for 30-60 mins before rolling.
Kitch'n Thyme http://kitchnthyme.com.au/

Hazelnut & Cacao Nib Bliss Balls

imageThis beautiful bliss ball recipe came about recently when I was going to make my Paleo Chocolate Mango Tart. I had planned to make a batch of bliss balls that day also. The filling for the tart was sitting in the Thermomix and upon a second glance I all of a sudden had a ‘uh huh’ moment! This would make the perfect start to some delightful bliss balls! Yummo! So the whole tart went immediately out the window! Well thankfully, not really! I added a few more things to the mix and by golly it was delicious!

I add a few medjool dates and almond meal, along with the cacao nibs which add a gorgeous crunch to each bite, and a lovely bitterness!image

For the bliss balls I’ve reduced the maple syrup a little to 80g instead of 120g in the tart filling, as I like them to be more of an energy pick me up rather than an actual treat! I’m not a big sweet tooth, so I don’t mind it a little richer. It’s up to you.

You can also add in a protein powder to give them an extra protein kick for a post workout snack or for busy mums and breastfeeding mums! They are a little more fudgey with the protein powder. Try both and see which you prefer.

I then roll them in roasted hazelnuts! I love hazelnuts with chocolate or carob. (You can definitely use carob powder for these too!) They are just so good with the extra crunch on the outside! You could leave them with no coating or use coconut perhaps.

Hazelnut & Cacao Nib Bliss Balls
Yields 50
Crunchy, nutty, creamy bliss balls! Almost a little Ferrero rocher like!
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Ingredients
  1. 140g Roasted Hazelnuts
  2. 80g Coconut Oil
  3. 80g Coconut Milk
  4. 80g Maple Syrup
  5. 50g Raw Cacao Powder
  6. 1 tsp Vanilla Essence
  7. pinch salt
  8. 200g Almond Meal
  9. 4 Medjool Dates
  10. 40g Cacao Nibs
  11. 100g Protein Powder (optional)
Instructions
  1. To make the filling, place 60g of the hazelnuts into the Thermomix and mill 10 Sec/Speed 9.
  2. Add the oil, milk, maple, cacao powder, vanilla, salt and dates and cook 2 Mins/50°/Speed 3.
  3. Add the almond meal & cacao nibs (& protein powder if using) and process 10 Sec/Speed 4-5/Reverse.
  4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill. Once chilled the mixture will be much easier to roll.
  5. Place the remaining 80g hazelnuts into the Thermomix and chop 15-20 Sec/Speed 4.
  6. Place into a shallow bowl for rolling. Take small spoonfuls of the chilled mixture and roll into balls. Finish by rolling in the hazelnut crumbs and refrigerate until firm.
Notes
  1. My original version didn't have protein powder in them, however you can add it if you want to boost the protein content. They are a little more fudgey in texture with the protein!
Kitch'n Thyme http://kitchnthyme.com.au/