When it comes to healthy snacks, granola bars are our first sweethearts. It was love at first bite, and we thought there would be no looking back.
Oh, the hubris of our unschooled palates. It took a single look, and we cheated on our first love. Thoroughly.
With what? Bliss balls.
These little spheres of joy are wholesome, nutrient-packed snacks that make you forget that youโre actually eating something healthy. Theyโre that good.
Over the past four years, Iโve made tons of them. This time I went for chickpea protein bliss balls.ย
Chickpeas are a staple in Indian food. My family adores it in all forms. Thatโs why I always keep cooked chickpeas in the freezer. Theyโre handy for recipes that need it as an ingredient.ย
But Iโve never used chickpeas in dessert, something Iโve been coming across ad nauseam on the internet lately. The chickpeas protein bliss balls are my take on this avant-garde concept of chickpeas in sweets.
And yes, bliss balls make for a lovely dessert. They give you a sugar fix without the unhealthy high!
Whatโs so great about chickpeas?
The legume has a remarkable nutrition profile. Chickpeas are not only a profound source of protein but also minerals, fibers, and carbs. If youโre a vegetarian or vegan, they are the best replacement for meat.
Besides, they are full of iron, phosphorus, folate (and other Vitamin B compounds), Zinc, and magnesiumโ all minerals and vitamins your body needs.
Plus, the grainy texture of chickpeas and nutty taste pairs excellently with plenty of ingredients.
How to Make Chickpeas Protein Bliss Balls?
You whizz all the ingredients in a processor and convert it into balls or laddoos (as we call them in India).
Making bliss balls is that simple.
Take cooked chickpeas (safed chana), rolled oats, dates, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and desiccated coconut. Grind it all till you have a sticky, smooth mass that appears like dough.
Refrigerate the dough for 15 to 20 mins, expressly if itโs hot and humid where you live. Cooling the dough allows you to handle the mixture easily.
Once chilled, roll the dough into equal-sized balls and voila!
The next step is optional, though not in my home. You dip the balls in 70% dark chocolate and then enjoy it. I made half and half, and the kids were delighted with both types!
Quick notes
The dates have to be soaked before you pulse them. 10 minutes in warm water should do the trick and soften them.
Save the date-water. Itโll come handy if the dough is too dry or crumbly. Simply add spoons of water as needed into the mixture, and itโll act like glue. You can even use regular water.
In case your dough feels too sticky or wet to you, toss some rolled oats into it. Wet your hands when youโre rolling the protein bliss balls, and itโll be more manageable.
Variations of chickpeas protein bliss balls
If you donโt have peanut butter, tahini or almond butter is a great substitute. Cashew butter will also work.
In case youโre allergic to nuts or donโt want them in the protein bliss balls, switch to a seed butter like sunflower.
Instead of desiccated coconut, you can utilize almond meal or any nut you prefer. You can even leave it out if you donโt care for the taste of coconut.
Regular oats work like a charm if youโre all out of rolled oats.
For those using canned chickpeas, Iโll advise draining them. Else the mixture will be too wet. If itโs still very sticky, add more oats.
Serving the Chickpeas Protein Bliss Balls
You can store these gluten-free, refined-sugar free, and vegan bliss balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
They make for a great anytime snack. Think post or pre-workout. Theyโre also easy to pick and eat on-the-go food.
I donโt need to pack tiffin boxes anymore, but if you do, they are an excellent treat for lunch to add a boost of energy.
Although they are rich in protein and fiber, the hearty, nutritious bliss balls donโt sit heavy in your stomach. And theyโre so delicious that no one can tell that the main ingredient is chickpeas!
We savored the chickpea protein bliss balls as small bites of dessert after dinner. The smooth, fudgy, and very moist bliss balls were sweet enough to satisfy our craving for something sugary.ย
The chickpeas gave them heft, the rolled oats married with coconut a beautiful crunchy, chewy texture, and the peanut butter rounded it off with perfect gooeyness.
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๐ Recipe
Chickpea Protein Bliss Balls
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Cooked chickpeas You can use canned chickpeas. Please drain them well.
- 3/4 cup Rolled oats You can use quick cooking oast too.
- 8-10 Dates, pitted and soaked in warm water for 5 minutes
- 2 tbsp Peanut butter
- 2 tbsp Desiccated coconut
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Topping ( optional)
- 1/3 cup Dairy-free dark 70% chocolate You can use regular dark chocolate too.
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients - chickpeas, rolled oats, dates ( without their water), peanut butter, desiccated coconut and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until well combined.
- If the mixture is too dry, add water in which dates were soaked, a teaspoon at a time until you get a slightly sticky dough - like consistency.If the mixture seems too sticky, add some more oats or desiccated coconut.
- Refrigerate the dough for 15-20 minutes. It makes handling easier.
- Once the dough is chilled a bit, roll into even sized balls.ย
- The bliss balls are ready to eat!
Chocolate Dip ( Optional)
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or in a double-boiler.
- Dip the bliss balls and place them on a baking paper-lined tray. Refrigerate till the chocolate sets.
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Barbara says
Do they need to be refrigerated?
Natasha Minocha says
Hi Barbara, yes, I would recommend refrigerating these. Thank you for your interest in this recipe.:)
Resmi says
Hi Natasha, wonderful recipe. Iโve been thinking of ways of sneaking in chickpeas into my sonโs menu. Hope this does the trick. Do you think roasted chickpeas flour can be used instead of cooked?
Thanks
Resm
Natasha Minocha says
Hi Resmi, Thank you so much! I'm not sure if the flour will work as well in this recipe. The chickpeas give a softer, heartier texture to these bliss balls. You can't really taste them, if that's a concern. They mix in rather well with the rest of the ingredients and have a lovely fudgy texture. Hope this helps. ๐
Ingrid says
This recipe looks interesting. I'm always on the lookout for recipes utilizing chick peas. However, I try to limit carbs. Do you have the nutrition facts; calories, carbs, and fiber for these?
Natasha Minocha says
Oh, thank you so much, Ingrid! I'm so glad you find this recipe interesting. Unfortunately, I don't have the nutrition facts for any of my recipes yet. I hope to be able to add them sometime in the future.
Kinya Mogaka says
Can you substitute the dates with raw sugar?
Natasha Minocha says
Hi Kinya, I suppose you could, but the texture will be different as dates make the bliss balls very gooey and fudgy. ๐
Kinya Mogaka says
Thanks for reply. Have you tried raisin paste, can it serve as a substitute for date paste?
Natasha Minocha says
Sure ๐ I've never tried raisin paste, but I'm quite certain it will work.