Chocolate Mint Bliss Balls are truly the best protein-packed snack! These no-bake energy balls have over 7 grams of protein in one serving, are naturally sweetened with dates, and have a kick of peppermint & chocolate for the tastiest choc mint protein balls.
*Recipe originally shared June 2018 and updated March 2020*
I have been making these vegan bliss balls along with my Tahini Freezer Fudge to satisfy my pretty strong sweet tooth while also enjoying a healthy vegan snack in the middle of the day.
I don't know about you, but I need a solid snack to help me survive that 3 pm slump before dinner. So, I took two of my favorite flavors to create a raw, paleo, protein-packed, & gluten-free bliss ball recipe full of healthy fats to hold me over!
Ingredients:
If I'm being honest, it's girl scout cookie season here and I am CRAVING them. This is really what spurred me to make these healthier choc mint bliss balls. Here are the 8 ingredients you need to make these energy balls!
How to make mint chocolate bliss balls
There are only three easy steps to make these homemade bliss balls. Plus, all you need is a food processor to blitz these bites to perfection! I personally have a Ninja Food Processor and love using it for easy protein ball recipes like this.
Blend ingredients in food processor
Add all of the ingredients except the cacao nibs to the food processor and blend until a thick & smooth dough forms. It's worth mentioning, I usually have to stop a few times to scrape down the sides to make sure everything blends evenly.
However, it really only takes 2-5 minutes to blend everything together.
Once blended, add in the cacao nibs and mix in with a spoon or by hand.
Roll the balls & refrigerate before eating
Once the dough has formed, roll it into 12 evenly sized chocolate mint protein balls. At this point, you can leave them as is or roll the bliss balls in hemp seeds!
Hemp seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition ( I use them weekly in my Vegan Green Smoothies) and they also add a nice crunch. Again, this is totally optional, but if you want to add a topping make sure add while the dough is soft before placing it in the fridge.
Refrigerate the chocolate bliss balls
Once all the peppermint protein balls have been formed, add them to the fridge for at least 30 minutes before eating. In the fridge, the coconut oil, flax eggs, and dates firm up and give these energy balls the BEST chewy texture.
Honestly, these choc mint balls taste the best the day after making them!
Protein ball substitution Ideas:
While I LOVE all the ingredients I used to make these mint chocolate balls, I realize sometimes you might just not have them on hand or available. Here are some substitutions & add-ins for these choc mint bliss balls:
Looking to make this recipe oil-free? Instead of coconut oil use extra nut-butter, but expect a chewier treat.
Can't find dates? Use any other dried fruit such as dried figs, dried cranberries, or raisins, or apricots as a date substitution. It will change the taste/texture and the bliss balls may be less sweet overall, but they'll still have a good chewy texture!
Not into protein powder? Swap it out with 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder for the same chocolatey flavor.
No cacao nibs? Swap in vegan chocolate chips for a more decadent treat or omit them altogether.
Looking to make these energy balls nut-free? Cashew butter can be replaced 1:1 for any other nut butter. I prefer cashew since it's really mild in flavor, however, it can be replaced with almond butter, tahini, pumpkin seed butter, peanut butter, or really any nut/seed butter you can imagine!
No ground flax? Use chia seeds instead as a binder in this recipe.
No hemp seeds? Try rolling these bliss balls in matcha powder, extra cacao nibs, or dried coconut instead. Even better, drizzle some melted coconut butter on top!
I truly hope these substitutions help you out! It is worth noting, I don't recommend replacing the oats with another ingredient in this recipe as it's not really an easy 1:1 replacement. However, if you try to make these energy balls with another flour or grain let me know!
I truly believe these Vegan Chocolate Mint Bliss Balls make the best healthy snack! I prep bliss balls every Sunday so I always have them to eat throughout the week.
Right now I'm rotating between these peppermint bliss balls and my favorite Healthy Pumpkin Truffles (that are grain-free & vegan!), but I hope to add some more variety to the mix in the coming weeks. Enjoy this tasty snack!
-TSG
More gluten-free & vegan snack and dessert recipes you will love:
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Chocolate Mint Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten free rolled oats
- ½ cup cashew butter
- 50 grams chocolate protein powder *I used Ora Organic, but any brand will work
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil room temp
- 2 medjool dates pits removed
- 2 flax eggs 2 Tbsp (16 grams) ground flax mixed with 6 Tbsp water left to sit for 5-10 mins
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- ¼ cup cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips
- 2 Tablespoons hemp seeds optional
Instructions
- First make the flax eggs by adding 2 Tbsp ground flax and 6 Tbsp water to a small bowl. Let sit 5-10 minutes.
- Add all your ingredients except the cacao nibs/chocolate chips to a food processor/blender. Blend until combined into a thick mixture, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Once a thick mixture is formed, use a spatula or your hands to gently fold in the cacao nibs/ mini chocolate chips.
- Using your hands, roll the dough into 10-12 large bliss balls that are about 2 inches in diameter and place onto a sheet pan or plate covered with parchment paper. For an extra delicious & protein-packed treat, roll the bliss balls in hemp seeds before adding to the fridge.
- Bliss Balls can be eaten right away but are best enjoyed after sitting in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
- Bliss balls can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer up to 1 month. I recommend storing between layers of parchment paper so they do not stick together.
- Coconut oil can be subbed for more cashew butter to make this recipe oil-free
- Medjool dates can be subbed with any dried fruit for this recipe, but keep in mind it will change the flavor of these bliss balls.
- Protein powder can be swapped for cacao powder for the same chocolate flavor
- Sub flax eggs 1:1 with chia eggs for similar results
Jacob says
Wow these were so easy and good. Officially one of my favorite snack recipes!
Jacob says
Wow these were so easy and good. Officially one of my favorite snack recipes!
ShortGirlTallOrder says
It totally makes the best snack! 🙂