Can I substitute a different kind of nut for the cashews?

If you don't have or don't like cashews, you can feel free to substitute your favorite type of nut. I think almond or macadamia nuts would be good substitutions. Cashew nuts are pretty soft, so just be aware that depending on the type of nut you substitute, you may need to pulse the nuts for longer than listed in the recipe to break them down to the right size.

Can I substitute something else for the orange?

The orange is there to add moisture (from the juice) and a complementary flavor to the apricot (from the zest and juice). However, if you don't like orange juice, you can add a different type of juice, like apple. Or, you can even just add in an equal amount of water instead. Finally, to replace the flavor from the zest, you can try lemon zest instead. Or, just leave it out, and the bliss balls will still taste great!

How do I store apricot bliss balls? Can I freeze them?

Because these bliss balls have freshly-squeezed orange juice in them, I store them in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh. When storing, cover them tightly so they don't dry out or pick up odors. They will keep well in the fridge for about 3 - 4 days. To freeze the bliss balls, I like to first freeze them flat on a plate or tray (covered with plastic wrap). When they are frozen through, then you can move them to a zip top bag for long-term storage. Freezing them flat first prevents them from mashing together and distorting their round shape. Alternatively, you can layer them in an airtight food storage container, separating each layer with a sheet of parchment paper. These bliss balls, if properly sealed, should last well in the freezer for 3 - 4 months . You can then thaw them in the fridge for a couple hours, or let them sit at room temp for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Apricot Bliss Balls

Print Recipe

5 from 1 reviews

Soft, tender bliss balls with a deliciously tangy and slightly sweet apricot orange flavor. Takes only a few ingredients and a few minutes to make!

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 15 balls 1x
Category: snacks, breakfast
Method: food processor
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup (167 g) dried apricots, see note 1
6 pitted Medjool dates (130 g), see note 2
1 medium orange
1 1/4 cup (149 g) roasted salted cashews, see notes 3 - 4
1 - 2 tablespoons honey (optional if you want a sweeter ball)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Place cashews in the bowl of a food processor and pulse in 1 second increments until the cashews are finely chopped. This should take about 9 - 10 pulses. Remove the cashews from the food processor and set aside. Separate out 6 tablespoons (40 g) of the cashews to save for coating the balls at the end.
Place the dates and apricots in the food processor and pulse in 1 second increments until the fruit is broken down into chunks (does not have to be perfectly even at this point). This should take about 5 pulses.
Rinse the orange and dry well. Zest the orange, making sure to only remove the colored portion from the peel (the white part is quite bitter). Measure out 1 teaspoon of zest. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the orange halves, collecting the juice into a small cup or bowl.
Add the 1 teaspoon zest to the fruit in the food processor. Measure out 1 tablespoon of the orange juice and it to the food processor. If you want some extra sweetness, add in 1 - 2 tablespoons honey (optional).
Pulse the fruit, zest and juice mixture a couple more times until the fruit is broken down into smaller, even pieces and the mixture begins to clump up.
Add in the finely chopped cashews, except for the reserved 6 tablespoons (40 g). Pulse a few more times until the cashews are evenly incorporated and the mixture starts to form a ball.
Taste a bit of the mixture. if you want it sweeter, add in a little (more) honey. If you want the texture to be softer, add in a little bit more orange juice. (Keep in mind that the bliss balls will firm up a little more in the fridge.)
Dump the reserved cashews onto a plate. Roll the fruit and nut mixture into balls. You can make the balls any size; I made mine about 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter. Place the balls onto the plate and roll them around in the cashews until they are evenly coated. Store in the refrigerator or freezer, tightly covered. Balls will firm up as they chill. (See note 5.)

Notes

For this recipe, you will need sulfured apricots; these are the bright orange-colored dried apricots that are most commonly available (at least in the US). Sulfured apricots work best in this recipe because they are much softer and more moist than unsulfured apricots.
The dates I used were about 2 inches long; if you have smaller dates you can add an additional 1 - 2 dates. Or, go by the weighted measure listed in the ingredients section (130 g).
I used roasted, salted cashews but you can use any type. If your cashews are unsalted you may want to add in a pinch of salt to help enhance the flavors.
Also, feel free to buy cashew pieces rather than whole; they are less expensive and it won't matter since you will be blending them into smaller pieces. If using mostly pieces, try to use the weight measurement (149 g) instead of volume measurement for better accuracy.
The bliss balls will last in the fridge for 3 - 4 days, or for 3 - 4 months in the freezer.
The nutrition information below was calculated to include 1 tablespoon honey in the recipe. This nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full disclosure policy.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/5 recipe (about 3 balls)
Calories: 361
Sugar: 45 g
Sodium: 43 mg
Fat: 12.5 g
Saturated Fat: 2.3 g
Carbohydrates: 60.8 g
Fiber: 5.6 g
Protein: 5.7 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: apricot bliss balls, apricot energy balls

Find it online: https://nibbleanddine.com/apricot-orange-energy-balls/