Chocolate Coated Gingerbread Bliss Balls

Nothing screams Christmas treats more to me than gingerbread, and gingersnaps, and the whole taste and smell of gingerbread goodness!! I was trying to think of how I could make a treat/snack that had this amazing flavor yet wasn’t full of refined sugars, flours, or other junky ingredients.

Then it came to me… BLISS BALLS! For those who don’t know what “bliss balls” are, they are an “energy” bar kind-of-thing, rolled into balls, and made with dates as the base. I first tried a New World Natural Foods Bliss Ball when Planet Organic, my local organic grocery store started carrying them. I was hooked. I actually had to stop buying them because it was hard to resist having only one!! But, for an occasional treat, and a really good pre-workout snack, I think these are perfect!

They came in different flavors like cranberry, chocolate, ginger, fruit & nut, etc. Some were coated in coconut, others in chocolate, just pure bliss – they definitely got the name right! So this recipe is my own GINGERBREAD version!!

The balls are still made with mostly dates, then I added raisins for extra sweetness, and molasses to give that gingerbready flavor. Then the necessary spices; ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg! Protein with walnuts, extra fiber from oats, and a tad more sweetness with a little pure maple syrup, all coated in a coconut oil and dark chocolate shell!

Hellooooo deliciousness! These are a perfect healthy treat to take to a party, store at home in the fridge to snack on pre-workout or during a busy day, or wrap in a little Christmas container or box and give away as gifts!!

Mmm.. perfection. Enjoy!

Chocolate Coated Gingerbread Bliss Balls (Vegan & GF!)

 

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Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 1½ cups walnuts
• ¾ cup plain instant oats (GF if needed)
• ½ cup raisins
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon organic blackstrap molasses
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

1. Soak the dates in warm water for 30 minutes, drain.
2. Place the oats, walnuts, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together in a food processor and blend until finely ground.
3. Add the soaked dates and raisins and blend again about one minute more, until the mixture is well incorporated.
4. Add the molasses and maple syrup and blend again for another minute or so.
5. The mixture should be nice and sticky and hold together, if it is too dry add a few drops of water and mix again.
6. With clean, wet hands, roll the mixture into 1½-inch balls. (having your hands slightly wet stops the mixture from sticking to your hands!)
7. Place balls on a baking sheet and put in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
8. After balls have set, heat coconut oil and chocolate chips at very low heat in a saucepan until it becomes a chocolate sauce.
9. Roll each ball in the chocolate sauce to cover and place back on the baking sheet. (just a warning this can be a tad messy, expect to have very chocolaty fingers!)
10. Once all balls are coated, place back in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
11. Enjoy!!
12. Store balls in the fridge or freezer and enjoy as you wish!

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