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Vegan Coconut Caramel Energy Balls (Coconut Caramel Bites)

April 5, 2020 By Richa 27 Comments

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These easy Vegan Coconut Caramel Energy Balls are a healthy 3 ingredient snack that you can whip up in minutes in your food processor. Samoa  Cookie Bites in 5 mins! Naturally sweetened, paleo, and the perfect healthy treat both kids and adults will love. Jump to Recipe

a plate with easy vegan date coconut energy balls

These vegan coconut caramel balls (aka bliss balls) are a nice healthy sweet treat to have around the house for whenever you feel like a little pick-me-up. They are so easy to make and can last a while in the fridge.

To make these healthy date caramel coconut balls, all you need is a food processor and 4 ingredients, one of them being salt, so it’s really more like 3 ingredients. No baking required!

They are wonderfully soft and creamy and taste a bit like salted caramel candy / samoa cookies! thanks to the combination of toasted coconut and fiber-rich dates. A healthy snack I feel good about reaching for any time. These babies are wholesome and decadent at the same time!

side view of a plate with vegan coconut caramel date energy balls

You can also give these away as gifts. Stick them in a jar and tie a pretty bow around it for a lovely healthy present from your kitchen.

Ingredients for making vegan energy balls:

  • shredded coconut, small to medium shreds and the fresher the better. The baking aisle is where you should find them. To keep these bites refined sugar-free, make sure they are unsweetened! Sometimes shredded coconut is in the natural food aisle, but you may also want to look in the bulk section of the store
  • dates – Medjool or regular dates. Medjool dates are bigger, softer and have a more caramelly flavor than regular dates so do get them if you find them at a good price. You can also find soft dates in Indian stores that might be smaller but are usually fresh and soft.
  • almond butter or sun butter. Sun butter is made from sunflower seeds and safe for people with nut allergies and a great sweet lunchbox treat for nut-free classrooms.
  • salt helps bring out the sweetness of the dates and makes these taste a bit like salted caramel candy, so don’t skip it.

overhead shot of ingredients needed for making vegan date coconut balls

Tips and Substitutions:

  • For a gourmet-looking treat, you could also roll the coconut balls in shredded coconut or cocoa powder before chilling. Or roll them in hemp, sesame or chia seeds.
  • Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or chai spice to the mix.  Vanilla paste is also a great addition. Some cardamom and finely ground fennel seeds would also work really well and add an Indian twist to these.
  • Add the zest of half a lemon or orange for a bit of zing.
  • For mess-free eating, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  •  If your dough isn’t sticky enough, add a couple more dates and pulse until it feels nice and sticky.

How to make Vegan Coconut Caramel Bites :

unsweetened coconut being toasted in a pan

Toast the coconut over a skillet until golden, keep stirring after the first minute. Let the coconut cool for 10 mins.

overhead shot of a food processor filled with toasted coconut

Add the coconut to food processor and process to make smaller shreds.

dates being added to toasted coconut in a food processor to make vegan coconut balls

Add the dates and process until dates are evenly distributed over the coconuts.

shredded coconut and dates in the container of a food processor

Add the salt and the almond butter and process again until the mixture forms fat, crumbs that stick together easily.

almond butter being added to date and coconut mixture in a food processor to make energy balls

If the mixture is not sticking together easily, add some more almond butter or if it is too crumbly then add a tsp of oat flour or regular flour.

coconut dates and almond butter being blended in a food processor to make vegan energy balls

Pulse a couple of times to combine, then shape into balls.

overhead shot of a plate of vegan coconut balls

How long do homemade vegan energy balls last?

You can store these for up to a week in the refrigerator and a month in the freezer

More vegan snacks from the blog:

  • Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites – When you want a blueberry muffin without baking.
  • Carrot Cake Bites – They taste like Carrot Cake!
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls with Rice Krispies– Cannot get any better than pb and choc
  • Seedy Chocolate Snack Bars – no dates!
  • Golden Sesame Balls – Because turmeric
  • Mojito Energy Balls – so fresh and zesty!
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Vegan Coconut Caramel Bites

These easy Coconut Caramel Energy Balls are a healthy 3 ingredient snack that you can whip up in minutes in your food processor. Naturally sweetened, paleo, vegan and the perfect healthy treat both kids and adults will love.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time3 mins
Total Time18 mins
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Vegan
Keyword: coconut bliss balls, vegan coconut balls, vegan energy bites
Servings: 14
Calories: 88.93kcal
Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups (120 g) coconut shreds , small to medium shred, unsweetened and fresher the better
  • 1 heaping cup of dates 11-12
  • 1/4 cup (65 g) almond butter or sun butter
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Toast the coconut over a skillet until golden, keep stirring after the first minute.- Let the coconut cool for 10 mins.
  • Add the coconut to food processor and process to make smaller shreds, then add the dates and process until dates are evenly distributed over the coconuts- Add the salt and the almond butter and process again until the mixture forms fat, crumbs that sticks together easily.
  • If the mixture is not sticking together easily, add some more almond butter or if it is too crumbly then add a tsp of oat flour or regular flour.
  • Pulse a couple of times to combine. then shape into balls.
  • Store them for up to a week in the refrigerator and a month in the freezer.

Notes

  • For a gourmet-looking treat, you could also roll the coconut balls in shredded coconut or cocoa powder before chilling. Or roll them in hemp, sesame or chia seeds. 
  • Feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or chai spice to the mix.  Vanilla paste is also a great addition. Some cardamom and finely ground fennel seeds would also work really well and add an Indian twist to these.
  • For mess-free eating, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  •  If your dough isn’t sticky enough, add a couple more dates and pulse until it feels nice and sticky.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Vegan Coconut Caramel Bites
Amount Per Serving (1 ball)
Calories 88.93 Calories from Fat 75
% Daily Value*
Fat 8.36g13%
Saturated Fat 5.4g34%
Sodium 45.22mg2%
Potassium 86.13mg2%
Carbohydrates 3.37g1%
Fiber 1.98g8%
Sugar 1.18g1%
Protein 1.57g3%
Vitamin C 0.14mg0%
Calcium 17.86mg2%
Iron 0.46mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Filed Under: Breakfast Recipes, Christmas Vegan Recipes, dessert, Freezer friendly, gluten free, grain free, gum-free, holiday, kid approved, mothers day, nut-free option, palm oil free, refined oil free, refined sugar free, snack, soy free, summer, valentines day Tagged With: almond butter, dates, shredded coconut, vegan



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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  1. Tamara says

    April 5, 2020 at 10:53 am

    Yay! These are PERFECT snacks for my vegan keto diet!!! I will make these today, to stave off any carb cravings!

    Reply
    • Richa says

      April 5, 2020 at 5:19 pm

      they are so delicious!

      Reply
  2. Sara Ross says

    April 5, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    5 stars
    Easy to make,taste good too, no sugar. Great simple recipe.

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 17, 2020 at 11:38 am

      thanks! simple is best

      Reply
  3. Raymond says

    April 6, 2020 at 12:36 am

    5 stars
    Hello Richa,
    which kind of food processor are you recommending?
    Best greetings

    Reply
    • Richa says

      April 6, 2020 at 12:37 pm

      any food processor 5 to 8 cup size.

      Reply
  4. Dale says

    April 6, 2020 at 5:23 am

    I love these – so simple!

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 17, 2020 at 11:38 am

      exactly – thank you!

      Reply
  5. Olivia says

    April 7, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    Interesting Article. Thanks

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 17, 2020 at 11:39 am

      thank you!

      Reply
  6. Shweta says

    April 9, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    looks do yum!! Definitely gonna try this out.

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 17, 2020 at 11:40 am

      I hope that you do – thank you!

      Reply
  7. Ghulam Mohyudin says

    April 9, 2020 at 11:45 pm

    5 stars
    Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.

    Reply
    • Richa says

      April 17, 2020 at 11:41 am

      amesome!

      Reply
  8. Jennifer says

    April 10, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    If I don’t have dates, could I use something Else?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 24, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      dried figs or raisins would work

      Reply
  9. Tracy E Henry says

    April 19, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    OMG, just made these. These are fantastic!!! And filling!
    Thank you so much,. They are not my go to snack. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Keani says

    April 24, 2020 at 1:45 am

    Do you think cashew butter would work well for this? I’m tempted to try this with it before making sun butter. My four year old and I are excited to make this!!

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 24, 2020 at 10:43 am

      I think so, yes!

      Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 24, 2020 at 11:44 am

      yes!

      Reply
  11. Keani says

    April 26, 2020 at 4:20 am

    5 stars
    We made these today with cashew butter and they were a hit!! The decadent side of me wants to dip these in melted chocolate sauce. 😄 Totally not necessary but sure sounds delicious!

    Reply
  12. Anusooya says

    April 30, 2020 at 9:22 am

    Thank you very much for the recipe. Taste delicious.
    I added a pinch of cinnamon and cardamon and rolled in sesame seeds.

    Reply
    • Vegan Richa Support says

      April 30, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      Thank you for trying it out! oh sesame seeds – nice twist!

      Reply
  13. Sreeja says

    May 9, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    Can I use freshly grated coconut?

    Reply
    • Richa says

      May 10, 2020 at 12:04 am

      Yes, store it in the fridge though

      Reply
  14. Mandy Ross Screven says

    August 15, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    5 stars
    Yes Richa these are the bomb!
    Here’s is my Facebook post about them!
    This weeks sweet Treat is super yummy, Coconut Caramel Balls- By VeganRicha-
    We actually formed them into bars and sprinkled some Cacoa Nibs on top.
    If you already have almond butter on hand it will be very quick treat. However I made it from scratch and that took way longer than any other nut butter I’ve ever made, (probably 45 minutes for it break down into butter) Really put my Cuisinart through it’s paces. It’s kind of like making coconut butter as you think it will never turn to creamy but just be patient and the results are worth it.

    Reply
  15. Robertson says

    October 10, 2020 at 6:53 am

    It looks yammy. I am definitely going to try this vegan energy ball.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options. Read more about me and the blog...

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