When it comes to whole food, plant-based snacks, there’s no shortage of great options. But when you want something highly portable and satisfying that goes beyond a simple fruit or vegetable, these Pistachio and Pecan Bliss Balls always hit the spot. With Medjool dates, pecans, pistachios, peanut butter, coconut flakes and maple syrup, they come together easily in the food processor, can be popped in the freezer for future cravings, and just one will keep you going until your next meal. They’re pretty, they’re oil-free, and they’re delicious – what more could you ask for?

If you’re looking for a great portable snack, these Pistachio and Pecan Bliss Balls are just the ticket. Oil-free yet highly satisfying, they’ve passed the ultimate taste test: approval by both my dad and my brother! That’s not an easy feat, trust me!

When I go grocery shopping in person every two or three weeks, I always seem to get sucked into the “health section”, browsing, reading labels and getting lost among the products. And before I know it, half an hour has passed – every single time.

See, in Malta, we’re just starting to get many of the health food products that the U.S. and UK have enjoyed for quite some time, and it’s always exciting to see what’s new.

However, after reading countless labels, I have to warn you: don’t be fooled by the “health section” label. Even foods that are labeled as “organic” or “made with natural ingredients” aren’t necessarily as healthy as they sound. You really do have to check labels and research.

Now, I do eat store-bought snacks from time to time. But when I have homemade snacks like these Bliss Balls on hand, I don’t even think twice about the store-bought ones. The beauty of this recipe in particular is that it’s not really that much more effort than the store-bought snacks – less, in fact, if you factor in getting dressed and going to the store! Plus, just one ball is surprisingly satisfying thanks to all the healthy fats.

And here’s another warning: you’re going to want to taste-test them after you roll them up. I know how tempting it is, but trust me – you need to let them sit for at least a half hour before digging in. They are a lot better cold, and it will be worth the wait! You can even freeze them so you’ll always have a satisfying snack on hand.

Ingredients:

Makes 14

-1 cup (150 g) Medjool dates (9 dates)

-3/4 cup (80 g) pecans

-1/2 cup (60 g) pistachios

-1/2 cup (120 g) peanut butter

-1/4 cup (10 g) coconut flakes

-1 tablespoon maple syrup

-2 tablespoons water

For rolling:

-1/4 cup (30 g) pistachios

Method:

1. In a small bowl, cover the Medjool dates with boiling water and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, remove the pits from each date, and set aside.

2. In a food processor, crush the ¼ cup pistachios for rolling. Do not process them too finely if you want your bliss balls to be extra crunchy on the outside. Remove the pistachios from the processor and set aside in a small bowl.

3. Add the pecans and the remaining ½ cup pistachios (not the ones you’ve just crushed for rolling!) to the food processor, and process into an almost flour-like texture.

4. Add the pitted dates, peanut butter, coconut flakes, maple syrup and water to the food processor and pulse everything together until well combined. This shouldn’t take more than a minute, but it depends on your processor. It should form a dough-like ball.

5. Form each bliss ball between the palms of your hands using about 2 heaped teaspoons of the mixture. Roll each ball into the reserved pistachios.

6. Repeat until you have about 14 balls. Store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Facts per ball:

Calories: 161

Carbs: 12 g

Protein: 4.3 g

Fat: 11.5 g

Fiber: 2.7 g