Bliss Balls
by Manisha Kshirsagar
These lightly sweet energy balls are nourishing, and an easy snack to make. A perfect delicious and raw (optional) on-the-go snack! They provide nutritional benefits and are a healthy alternative to sweets. Everyone including your children will love them!
Benefits:
- Very Sattvic, Increases Ojas, Rejuvenating, Tonifying, Nourishing, and a great source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, protein, and calcium.
- Good for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Doshas. (You should enjoy 1-2balls/day, though Kaphas should eat fewer- or make the balls smaller)
- Good for the nervous system, Memory, bones and joints.
Bliss Balls – 2 Methods (Roasted or Raw)
Bliss Balls (roasted)
Preparation Time: 15-20 min. Yield: 25
Ingredients:
1 cup Dry coconut flakes 1/4 cup Almonds
1/4 cup Walnuts
1/4 cup Sesame seeds
1/4 cup Sunflower seeds
1-2 Tbsp Pumpkin seeds
1 Tbsp Flax seeds
1 cup Raisins/dates/cranberries (If you don’t like to use raisins or dates or cranberries then use Maple syrup/ honey.)
1/4 tsp Cardamom—1/4 tsp.
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
5-6 saffron strands
Ghee or Honey to roll if necessary.
Directions:
Dry roast all ingredients except spices, raisins, dates and/or cranberries.
Roast all ingredients separately since they need different heat, roast to a golden brown. Almonds need the most heat, and blanching and removing skins prior to roasting is best if you’re up for the task. You might blanch, skin, and then pop these in the oven at 350. Flax and sesame seeds will toast more quickly, and need more attention. Use a clean lidded pan with no oil and shift the pan while cooking- pretend they’re popcorn, when most have popped, you’re done.) Do the coconut flakes last. They will toast REALLY quickly- i.e. don’t look away.
Let all the seeds, and nuts cool and put them into the food processor. Keep the coconut flakes out. Grind into a course powder. Add cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, toasted coconut and 1 cup of dried fruit. Pulse all ingredients until the crumbly mix stays together. Roll into small balls with your hands. Alternately use the smaller shredded coconut and roll balls in the coconut for the exterior coat. Keep them in a glass jar. Shelf life of 15-20 days.
Bliss Balls (raw method)
Prep. Time: 10 min
Yield: 25-30 balls
Ingredients:
1/2 cup tahini butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup coconut Flakes
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup Hemp seeds
1/4 cup raisins
Directions:
In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the tahini, peanut butter, honey and cocoa powder. Add sesame, sunflower, hemp seeds and raisins (currants, with their smaller size may be preferable). Mix well by and form into small balls. Roll the balls in a small amount of coconut. Place them on a cookie sheet and put into the refrigerator for 20 minutes to harden. Then move to sealed glass container and continue to refrigerate. Shelf life of 15-20 days.
Enjoy!!!