Healthy Christmas Mango Bliss Balls

It's that time of the year again, a time for family, friends and indulgence.

Everywhere you turn there seems to be sweet temptations calling your name and the fight against sugar overload for kids is a daily battle.

So let's turn to a quick, easy and healthy treat for all the family, that can also be made into great gifts for friends this festive season.

Introducing Mango Bliss Balls (original recipe from, and credits to, Minimalist Baker)

These healthy treats are super summery, naturally sweetened, and make a great homemade Christmas gift for friends and family.

Bulk make these little beauties and freeze them for a later date.

The bliss part of these bites is they each provide a mix of fiber, protein, healthy fat, and natural sugars for an energy boost. Have one or more for guilt-free snacking.

PREP TIME: 20mins

COOK TIME: 10mins

TOTAL TIME: 30mins

Easy, 6-ingredient mango bliss balls with dates, coconut, hemp seeds, and lime zest! Perfectly sweet, tender, and so full of natural energy!

Author: Minimalist Baker

Recipe type: Snack

Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-Free

Serves: 17-20

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup (150 g) raw walnuts or cashews (can mix both)

• 1 cup firmly packed (5.5 ounces or 155 g) dried unsweetened mango

• 10 pitted medjool dates

• 2 Tbsp (20 g) hemp seeds

• 1/3 cup (27 g) unsweetened finely shredded coconut (also known as desiccated)

• optional: 1 lime, zested

• Pinch sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and arrange nuts on a baking sheet. Toast for 8-12 minutes or until light golden brown and fragrant. Set aside.

2. In the meantime, add dried mango to a mixing bowl and cover with warm water (don't skip this step or they'll be too tough to blend). Let soak for 5-7 minutes or until soft and pliable but not too soggy. Then drain, lay on a towel, and pat off excess moisture. Set aside.

3. Add nuts to a food processor and mix into a fine meal. Remove from bowl and set aside.

4. Add pitted dates and soaked, dried mango to the food processor and mix until a rough paste/sticky dough forms.

5. Add nut meal back in, along with hemp seeds, shredded coconut, lime zest (optional), and sea salt. Mix until it forms a moldable dough. Add more coconut or hemp seed if it feels too sticky or wet. Add more dates if it’s too dry.

6. Scoop out rounded Tablespoon amounts (I love this 1.5 Tbsp scoop) and roll into little balls in the palms of your hands. Then roll in more shredded coconut or hemp speeds, or a mixture of both.

7. Enjoy immediately. Store at room temperature up to 3-4 days, in the refrigerator 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

Notes

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 17 energy bites.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 ball of 17 Calories: 80 Fat: 5.8 g Saturated fat: 0.8 g Carbohydrates: 6.3 g Sugar: 4.7 gSodium: 1 mg Fiber: 1.3 g Protein: 2.3 g