Name: Cherry Coconut Bliss Bites
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup dried cherries (soaked); 1/2 cup (4 small) medjool dates ( soaked if not soft); 1/4 cup raw cashews; 1/4 cup shredded coconut; 1/4 cup oats (gluten-free if needed); ground flaxeseed, shredded coconut, white or dark chocolate

Made with simple ingredients, these Cherry Coconut Bliss Balls are the perfect healthy snack or easy breakfast the whole family will love. Make them ahead of time for a delicious treat that is vegan and gluten-free!

The Best-Ever Summertime Snack

What’s better than a no-bake protein ball? That’s a trick question. Obviously, the answer is nothing! Over the years, I’ve come up with plenty of no-bake ball recipes and energy bites, but, in my opinion, you can never have enough. I mean, they’re super fast, always tasty, and usually made with ingredients you already have in your kitchen! I don’t know about you, but in this summer time heat, I have no interest in turning on the oven and heating up the house anymore. Therefore, these no-bake bites are the perfect option to keep your little ones satisfied throughout the day. In fact, they’re so good, my kiddos ask for them. That’s a huge win in my book!

The only challenge in making this recipe was trying to decide on what flavors to use. Obviously, I wanted to incorporate summer time flavors, but I wasn’t sure what to use. So, I went back to my blog for inspiration. With recipes like Vegan Coconut Maple Donuts, Maple Cashew Coconut Granola, my (Big Ass) Matcha Coconut Cookie and more, it’s obvious my love for coconut is real. Therefore, using it seemed like a no-brainer, but for this recipe I wanted to do something a little different. So, I added cherries, too! You’re welcome.

In all honesty, this coconut balls recipe might be my favorite way to use coconut to date. I know you’re gonna love them, too.

Let’s get in the kitchen!

Simple Ingredients for Coconut Balls

It really can’t get any easier than this coconut balls recipe. Seriously, all you need is 4 pantry-staples, and you’re on your way to your new favorite snack!

Dried Cherries – Dried cherries add a touch of sweetness without the need for sugar. Make sure they’re dried as their stickiness helps keep the balls from falling apart.

Medjool Dates – Medjool dates act as the “glue” in these coconut balls. If they aren’t soft when you get them, let them soak in water until they are. Also, for easy no-baking, opt for the pitted dates.

Cashews – Of course, you do you, but I recommend raw cashews for this recipe.

Coconut – If you like things on the super sweet side, feel free to use sweetened coconut flakes, but thanks to the fruit, this recipe is sweet enough on its own.

Oats – If needed, make sure your oats are gluten-free. Any kind should work, but I would avoid using steel cut oats as they aren’t quite as fluffy as the rest.

Optional Add-Ins for Even More Flavor

Obviously, I wouldn’t give you a recipe that isn’t 100% all on it’s own, but there’s always room for additions. Am I right? If you want to get creative and spruce up your coconut balls even more, feel free to add in any additional ingredients or make any swaps you’d like! Some of my favorites are listed below.

Raisins – If you aren’t a fan of cherries, feel free to use raisins instead!

Chocolate Chips – Chocolate goes with everything, right? Feel free to treat yourself by adding chocolate chips to these coconut balls. Semi-sweet, white chocolate, and dark chocolate all work. However, I suggest opting for mini chocolate chips so they don’t overpower the rest of the flavors.

Almonds – If you can’t eat cashews or don’t have them on hand, just swap them out with almonds or another nut you prefer.

Peanut Butter – Add a drop of peanut butter to your mixture for extra stickiness and delicious nutty flavor.

Hemp Seeds – Using hemp seeds is a great way to add some healthy fats to make these coconut balls even more filling!

Protein Powder – For added protein, toss in your favorite protein powder. Of course, my favorite is Nuzest (code: thekellykathleen), but you can use whatever you like best! Just keep in mind you might need to add more dates to hold the balls together.

Easy Toppings for these Coconut Balls

Now that we’ve got the core ingredients and optional add-ins covered, why not add some toppings as well? For fancy coconut balls, try dipping them in melted chocolate or yogurt. Then, if you want to go one step further, sprinkle them with more shredded coconut or crushed nuts!

How to Make this Coconut Balls Recipe

If you thought the recipe ingredients for these coconut balls, wait until you read how to make them! You can probably make them in a shorter amount of time than it takes you to read how. Even better, get the kids involved in the kitchen to help you out. My littles love getting their hands sticky making these.

To start, if your cherries and dates aren’t already soft, soak them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. Be sure to drain them before adding them to your food processor, and pulse them until just broken up. You don’t want them to be completely pulverized!

Then, add in the remaining ingredients, and pulse the food processor until they are all well-blended. For easy rolling, wet your hands before removing the mixture from the food processor.

To finish, create 6-8 small bites, and enjoy!

How to Store Coconut Balls

For the best results, store your coconut balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Or, make a big batch, and place them in the freezer for months.

What to Do When Your No-Bake Balls Won’t Stay Together

If your coconut balls are too crumbly, try adding more dates or raisins into the mixture. Or, drizzle in some honey or peanut butter for added stickiness. For the best results, place them on a baking sheet, and pop them in the freezer for a few minutes before eating.

Even More No-Bake Balls You’ll Love

Told ya this recipe was super easy! What are your favorite no-bake recipes? Let me know in the comments below!