If you have 10 minutes, you can make these Chocolate Beet Bliss Balls!
A nutritious, valentine’s treat! No baking required!
You blitz the ingredients together in a food processor with the option to roll them in coconut or more cocoa and they’re ready to eat. I like to keep them in the freezer and sneak one for afternoon cravings (I eat it right out of the freezer).
Here are the main ingredients and the health benefits these beet bliss balls offer:
Beets: Fiber, vitamin C, folate, phytonutrients that can help lower blood pressure. I use beets, raw or roasted, to add pink/red/purple colors to food as oppose to food coloring (that stuff is nasty). They’re low in calorie and cheap!
Walnuts: Omega-3 anti-inflammatory fats! A superfood nut. The fact that they look like little brains makes me smile!
Oats: Iron! Oats are an amazing source of iron, I have them daily. They also provide zinc, a mineral that can be a little more difficult to attain on a plant-based diet. My fav gluten-free brand is Bob’s Red Mill.
Dates: Whole food sweetener offering vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. Dates are a dried food so they’re still a source of sugar but it’s much much much better than more traditional sweeteners that are highly processed. Dates provide bulk and fiber to recipes and have a lower glycemic index. For this recipe you can use Medjool dates or Deglet Noor (which is what I used).
Cocoa/Cacao: Rich in magnesium! I crave cocoa often and I flip back and forth between cacao and cocoa. Cocoa is more processed and has fewer health benefits but in low-moderate quantities, it’s a game-changing ingredient for desserts and sweets. Note to self, I say game-changing way to often. Oh on that note, everyone must watch Game Changers. MUST.
I rolled these chocolate beet bliss balls in shredded, unsweetened coconut which is a delicious combination but I actually prefer them plain or rolled in more cocoa powder or even hemp seeds! I offer up these options in the recipe. I generally try to reduce coconut in my diet to keep saturated fat in check.
No, I don’t think fat is evil. But, I do follow some dietary guidelines form The Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Program (OMS) that suggest limiting saturated fat intake if you have MS. Just in case you’ve noticed a lack of coconut-y creations around here. If you have questions about this, I highly suggest you check out the very easy to read, user-friendly resources on the OMS website.
Chocolate Beet Bliss Balls
Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Servings: 16 balls
If you have 15 minutes, you can make these Chocolate Beet Bliss Balls! No baking required! You blitz the ingredients together in a food processor with the option to roll them in coconut or more cocoa and they're ready to eat. I like to keep them in the freezer and sneak one for afternoon cravings (I eat it right out of the freezer).
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup gluten free rolled oats (or regular if gluten isn't an issue)
- 1 packed cup pitted dates (Medjool or Deglet Noor)
- ½ heaping cup chopped raw purple/red beet
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed (or flax meal)
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tbsp cinnamon
- Pinch salt
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Optional Coating
- 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds extra cocoa/cacao powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in the order listed to a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine and then process continuously until the mix starts clumping together and rolling around in a ball.
- Remove the mix from the processor. Scoop out about 2 tablespoons for each bliss ball and roll it between your hands. Roll in your chosen coating. Keep these in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
If you've chosen to omit the maple syrup and the mix is too dry and not sticking together, add a tablespoon of plant-based milk while the mix is processing.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @riseshinecook on Instagram or hashtag it #riseshinecook
D
Is there another nut or seed you would recommend instead of walnuts?