Just six simple ingredients are needed to make these Peanut Butter Bliss Balls - and no cooking is required! These bliss balls are so good, you're going to make them all the time. Perfect for a quick snack or a healthy dessert option.
Bliss ball recipes are some of my favorite types of recipes because they're just really fast and simple to do. Adding the protein is the perfect protein boost and a great way to easily add flavor that everyone in the house will love.
It's also really nice to have a recipe this simple that I can make up in a jiffy. When I'm needing something extra to have at home to curb my snacking cravings or just looking for a fun snack for the kids, these simple peanut butter balls never let me down.
We also like to put them in the freezer and eat them as well. It gives them a really cool texture (literally!) and makes them unique and fun to eat.
Be sure to check out my Apricot Bliss Balls for another easy vegan recipe. This one definitely has more of a fruit flavor to them, but they're still extremely good!
Ingredients
Hemp hearts - Adds great fiber to these energy bites. If you aren't on a keto diet you can use oats instead.
Shredded coconut - This healthy treat is delicious as is, but adding in the shredded coconut is delicious. Just be sure that you're using unsweetened.
Peanut butter - Any type of nut butter will work. For a nut-free option, you can use sunflower seed butter.
Powdered sweetener - Honey could also be used as a sweetener in this mixture but you would have to account for the added liquid by adding more of the dry ingredients.
Almond flour - Making your own almond flour for energy bites is really easy. For some baked goods, you need very fine almond flour but for these, it is ok if it is a little coarser. You can also just use an almond meal.
Coconut oil - This is a great way to add healthy fats to the recipe.
How to make Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
This simple gluten-free snack is so easy to make! You're going to crave these vegan energy balls all the time.
Step One: Stir together all of the ingredients. Put the bowl in the fridge and chill for at least 1 hour. Make sure to cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid.
Step Two: Scoop the mixture into small balls and then store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Variations
Add oats - Be careful adding oats if you need this recipe to remain gluten-free. Some may not be certified gluten free oats, but they're a great way to help blend and add texture.
Use different nut butters - Cashew butter or almond butter would be delicious as well.
Add cocoa powder - Why not add a bit of chocolate flavoring to these peanut butter protein balls or try my chocolate bliss balls recipe? If the mixture seems too dry after adding cacao powder or cocoa powder just add a little extra nut butter or coconut oil to compensate.
Add chopped nuts - Chopped pecans, walnuts, or peanuts are a fun addition for flavor and texture. Chia seeds are a great nut-free choice.
Vanilla - Vanilla extract can add a hint of vanilla flavor as well as enhancing the other flavors of the peanut bliss balls.
Chocolate chips - Add some mini chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or peanut butter chocolate chips! Just make sure to use sugar-free chips of you want this recipe to stay sugar-free.
Keep in mind that there are really a lot of variations that you can add to these peanut butter bliss balls. Since there are just a few main ingredients as is, the options are endless. As long as you're adding in ingredients that you like, I see no problem with adding in whatever you'd like.
Common Questions
What are hemp hearts?
Hemp hearts are the edible seeds of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. Also known as hemp seeds, they are a good source of protein, essential fatty acids, and minerals. Hemp hearts can be eaten raw, roasted, or ground into a powder. They have a mild, nutty flavor and are often used in granola, cereals, and spreads.
They contain all 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce. They're also an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, skin and coat, and cardiovascular function.
What can I use as natural sweeteners?
The powdered sweetener I use in this is a natural sweetener. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is derived from glucose. It is found in fruits and vegetables and is also produced by fermentation of yeast. Erythritol has a variety of uses, including as a food additive, sweetener, and bulking agent.
Chopping up apricots or Medjool dates and adding in bits and pieces are a great way to add natural sweetness. Just be sure to use dried fruits that don't have any extra added sugar. You'll probably have to chop them up with a food processor.
Cherries would also be a great natural sweetener as well. The key to adding them into the recipe so that they don't overpower is to chop them up into small bite-sized pieces. Big chunks can be overpowering and take away from the other ingredients.
Will these really give me an energy boost?
Since the main ingredient is peanut butter, they're great for upping protein, which can help with your overall energy.
If you want to add in some extra protein powder to these, you can as well! That would be a really easy way to boost your energy while adding in more protein.
How do I store bliss balls?
To keep them fresh, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They should stay good for 3-4 days, but there is no way that they're going to last that long.
Don't forget that putting them in the freezer is so much fun! You'll enjoy eating them while they're frozen because as you're chewing on them, they'll start to melt in your mouth, creating a creamy and delicious texture.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup hemp hearts or oats
- 1 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup powdered sweetener
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
Instructions
- Stir together all the ingredients. Chill for at least an hour.
- Scoop 24 small balls. Store in the refrigerator.
Terri says
Just wondering if I could use ground flax seed in these in place of hemp hearts? Or what do you suggest since I don’t have hemp hearts & keto so do not want to use oats? Thanks for your help.