Name: Chocolate Peppermint Bliss Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup whole rolled oats; 1 cup cashew butter; 1/2 cup pure maple syrup; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon peppermint extract; 1/4 cup hemp hearts; 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut; 1/2 cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs

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These chocolate peppermint bliss balls are the perfect, easy vegan snack for the colder months. No blender or food processor is required for this recipe! Chances are that you already have all the ingredients for these blissful mint chocolate balls in your pantry! They are refined sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.

So, what do you call them?? Bliss balls, energy balls, or protein balls? I personally call these little guys bliss balls! They are always a delicious, healthy snack filled with protein- aka the energy that'll keep ya going throughout the day!

What are Bliss Balls?

Bliss balls are a filling and healthy snack (or treat) usually made of raw, natural, and unprocessed ingredients. Some common bliss ball ingredients are nut butter (like peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter), cocoa powder, natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, and "superfoods" like chia seeds, hemp hearts, coconut, and Medjool dates. The ingredients are blended or mixed together to create one delicious concoction: the bliss ball! I love bliss balls or energy balls because they are so simple to make. They are also easy to pack and travel with. I make bliss balls about once a week and then store them in Stasher bags in the fridge. It's always so easy to just grab a little bag of bliss before leaving the house to run errands! Because of all these reasons, I've been reaching for these chocolate peppermint bliss balls allll winter long.

Are Chocolate Peppermint Bliss Balls Healthy?

So, is there anything remotely healthy about something as delicious as a mint chocolate bliss ball? The short answer is yes! Bliss balls are typically made with only a handful of ingredients- most of which are unprocessed. The unprocessed, raw, grain free, and plant-based nature of these ingredients aid in digestion. Bliss balls are also full of fiber, healthy fats, and protein. Because of the protein from the cashew butter and natural sweetness of maple syrup, these bliss balls will give you tons of energy without the dreaded blood sugar spikes and crashing.

How to Make Chocolate Peppermint Bliss Balls

I specifically developed this energy ball recipe to be made without the use of a blender or food processor. Most bliss ball recipes that require a blender are made with dates. I love using Medjool dates in bliss ball recipes, however they need to be soaked- usually overnight- and then blended with the other ingredients. Sometimes, you just don't have the time, energy, or the equipment (it's the patience to clean up for me) to make date-based energy bites! So, I wanted to create a vegan chocolate bliss balls recipe that didn't require any extra kitchen gadgets.

All you have to do to make this recipe is put all of your ingredients in a bowl and mix 'em up. After that, chill the mixture for about 20 minutes, and lastly, roll the mixture into balls. That. Is. It! Learning how to make bliss balls without a food processor is easy as friggin pie.

Another thing that makes this recipe super easy is that there are only 8 ingredients!! And you probably have most of them in your pantry already!

How to Store Chocolate Mint Bliss Balls

I store my chocolate mint balls in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

How Long Will Bliss Balls Keep?

The balls will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Can They be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze bliss balls! They can be stored in the freezer for up to one month in an airtight container.

Mint Chocolate Bliss Ball Substitutions

There are quite a few substitutions you can make in this recipe. For instance, you could substitute chia seeds for the hemp hearts. Another thing you could do is omit the peppermint extract. You could even add vanilla extract in lieu of the peppermint extract!

Here are some more fun add-ins you can try. Feel free to get creative! However, you should know that the more ingredients you add, the more moisture and stickiness you will need from the cashew butter and maple syrup. This is important to keep in mind because the moisture is what helps the bliss balls stick together.

You could add:

Cacao nibs
Protein powder (you could switch out the cocoa powder for a chocolate protein powder or collagen)
Flax seeds
Dried fruit
White chocolate chips
Matcha powder to roll the balls in!

If you're interested in other ways to make bliss balls, I have a pumpkin spice bliss ball recipe on my Instagram you can check out. With all of that said, let's get into the recipe!