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Hey, hi! Happy Friday!! Let’s talk chocolate things!

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

I am so excited today is finally here. The weekend is very very much needed. But first, we have these crazy healthy winter bliss balls to chat about for one. These are basically superfood in dessert form, and I could not love them more. Plus, they’re incredibly easy…and fast 10 mins to chocolate paradise. Win. Win.

But…before I dive into these winter bliss balls and other weekend things, I just wanted to quickly address yesterday’s missing post. Some of you may or may not have noticed, but there wasn’t a new post yesterday, as there typically has been on Thursday for the past 4 1/2 years. I am so sorry! We made some major site adjustments on the back-end on Wednesday…hopefully to improve the site and the reader experience (meaning make it faster and easier for you guys to use!). however, late Wednesday night some malfunctions began to occur and we were unable to have the new post go live. Not going to lie, I am pretty bummed about it. This is the very first time in my four and a half years of writing this little blog that a new post has not gone live on a weekday. I know, things happen and it’s just one post, but I feel bad that I didn’t have something for you all to read! Plus, the recipe is pretty delicious!

Don’t worry, I will be sharing it next week, and I have a special Saturday post planned for this weekend, so you’re still going to get plenty of ME…whether you want to or not. 🙂

Thanks for being the bestest and kindest readers out there, and for sticking with me even when the site has being SO annoying, you guys are seriously the best! Hoping all the kinks have been worked out (fingers crossed) and we can now only chat about super fun chocolate things and weekend things too!

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

OK! Let’s talk chocolate loaded bliss balls and Friday things. These chocolate balls have quickly become a new family favorite as both of my parents are now on a massive cacao kick after learning of its superfood characteristics and age reversing benefits. My mom has actually been drinking a 3/1 mix of cacao to cocoa for maybe two years now, but she recently read something to my dad that’s got him going now too. He is not one to “drink warm milk”, but I think he’s been sprinkling the cacao powder on things. I mean, I’ve only been telling them cacao’s benefits for the last year, but I guess they needed an online article to really convince them. Whatever, at least they are both on the superfood train now…cool, cool. I’m already dreaming up all the desserts I can make healthier!

Wondering what the heck cacao powder is? Like dark chocolate, cacao powder contains flavonoids, which are said to help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the brain and heart. Cacao also contains an abundance of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Long story short, cacao is chocolate in its purist and rawest form. It’s bitter, but when paired with sweet dates, like in these bliss balls, it’s a guilt free superfood that we all need so much more of in our lives. <–truth.

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

SO to solve all of our problems, I made use these delicious chocolate bliss balls!

Now we can eat all the chocolate we like and actually feel good about it, not an ounce of guilt here. Thank God because today needs lots and lots of chocolate. Busy week and and even busier weekend ahead. Meaning these winter bliss balls need to be made!

Here’s how these work. Take some dates, cashews, cacao powder, coconut, hemp seeds, chai seeds, maca powder (great for helping to balance hormones!), and orange zest. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse away until you have a dough that looks like well…chocolate dough!!

Roll the dough into balls, and then roll the balls in the toppings…simple as that. These are best straight out of the fridge, but still delicious at room temperature making them perfect for easy on the go snacking…which is just what is needed for this weekend!

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

The family is headed to Aspen to watch Red compete at the Winter X-Games. Everyone’s pretty excited, and all of us could not be more proud. Qualifiers are today and if he makes it through those, then it’s off to finals on Sunday. If you feel the need, please say a little prayer for kid. He’s flying way too high over massive jumps made of snow and ice, and even though he’s got serious skills he needs all the good vibes he can get! OKOK and I worry about him way too much, so I’d greatly appreciate the extra positivity. I’m one of those people that covers their eyes while they watch. Like tell me when it’s over and he’s landed everything and is completely safe and sound, you know?

Sister vibes I guess.

Anyway, that’s what I am doing this weekend, and since I promised Red that I would bring lots of treats with me, these balls are definitely coming on the road to fancy Aspen…along with pans of cookies, bars and brownies.

Follow along on Instagram! And then go make some winter bliss balls! 🙂

Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Winter Bliss Balls.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 18 balls
Calories Per Serving: 152 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

  • 25-30 medjool dates, pitted (about 2 cups packed)
  • 1 1/2 cups roasted cashews
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 2 teaspoon maca powder
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • pinch of flaky sea salt
  • melted chocolate, nuts,seeds, dried roses, cocoa or cacao powder, for topping

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add all the ingredients to a food a processor and pulse until fully combined and the dough easily holds together when squeezed in your hand.
  • Roll the dough into tablespoon size balls. If desired, roll on your desired toppings OR dip in melted chocolate and sprinkle your toppings onto the chocolate. Allow the chocolate to set in the fridge.
  • Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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Winter Bliss Balls | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Have a great weekend!

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Comments

  1. I want to make these because I do have dates that I need to use. But, I don’t have hemp seeds, chia seeds, or maca powder — how critical are they? I do have ground flaxseed. Could I put some of that in?

    1. Hi! Yes, use flax seeds in place of the chia seeds and just omit the hemp seeds and maca powder. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!

  2. These look amazing! LOVE dates and could eat a whole container of them at once. Do I have to use maca powder; I don’t have any and probably won’t use again? Also, do you mean chia seeds? You have posted chai seeds–assuming that’s what you meant.
    Good Luck Red!

    1. Hey Penny! Yes, you can omit the maca powder and yes, I mean chia seeds, sorry about that! Thank you! Red did great! 🙂

  3. hopefully it was just a one off and your site is fully functional again! sending all the good vibes (safety and performance wise) to red; hoping it’s televised somewhere and that i can catch a glimpse (:

  4. just so you know, i did notice and checked back a few time throughout the day. i though you might like to know you were missed 🙂

  5. These winter bliss balls look sooo good. I love chocolate so this is just perfect for me!

  6. Love these energy balls! Medjool dates taste amazing and combined with the rest of delicious ingredients they must taste unreal! 🙂

  7. These look fabulous! One of them looks like you covered it in chocolate – is that sugar free or regular chocolate? Will be making these this weekend. I LOVE the healthy recipes you’ve been posting and I hope they continue.

  8. It it weird that I was kinda worried about you? Like, “oh man, she never misses a post, i hope she’s okay.” Anyways, I’m glad it was just a glitchy site thing.

    Now…these chocolate treats look awesome, perfect for weekend snackin’. Good luck to your li’l brother, I’m sure he’ll rock it.

    1. Same thought here — worried! Glad it was just the site. Also, can’t wait to make these and bring them climbing!

    2. I thought the same thing! One of the positives of the internet! We’ve never met but somehow it feels like we know each other and it’s become this kind of family affair 🙂

  9. These look and sound amazing Tieghan! I started following Red on Insta a few months ago because the kid has mad skills, so I will be rooting for him, but I get the whole “covers eyes… tell me when he’s landed” thing. He’ll do awesome, just make sure you’ve filled him lots of these bliss balls for energy!