The perfect, quick no-bake recipe, these chocolate orange balls are the best festive treat.
I love the combination of chocolate and orange, and it always reminds me of Christmas. When I was younger, we would eat Terry’s Chocolate Orange every year and I still love that taste!!
These little balls are half energy ball and half indulgent truffles! They come together in minutes and pack a nutritional punch thanks to their amazing, whole-food ingredients. Whether you need a quick pick-me-up or a festive gift, these vegan chocolate balls tick all the boxes.
Are these chocolate orange balls easy to make?
Definitely! They are very simple to make. You simply add the main ingredients to a food processor and blend well. You can then dip in dark chocolate and leave to set. They are also great (and quicker to make) without adding the dark chocolate coating.
Do I need a food processor to make these energy balls?
Ideally yes! Food processors are generally more powerful than a blender. And to ensure you blend the ingredients fully, I would always recommend you use one. A blender may work, but they usually struggle to blend the dates into a smooth paste.
Are these balls nutritious?
They are rich in healthy fats, antioxidants and key nutrients such as magnesium. And because they are home-made, you can judge for yourself what goes in them. I don’t add extra sweeteners either, so they are indulgent without being overly sugary.
The Five Simple Ingredients
This recipe only uses 5 store-cupboard ingredients:
- Medjool dates
- Cashew nuts
- Orange
- Cacao powder
- Dark chocolate
Medjool dates
My preferred sweetener for sweet treats is always dates! And medjool dates are the best! They are naturally sweet and packed with fibre. They’re also a good source of potassium.
Cashew nuts
These nuts provide a lovely, creamy texture to the chocolate orange balls and are great for you too. They’re a good source of healthy monounsaturated fats, and contain essential minerals like magnesium, copper, and zinc.
Orange
There’s not really enough orange in these balls to give you much of a Vitamin C hit, but if you have any leftover – make sure you eat it! Fresh oranges will give you a great boost of vitamin C.
Cacao powder
The cacao powder gives these balls a rich chocolatey taste. It is a great source of antioxidants and rich in magnesium too. If you find it too bitter, you can swap out for cocoa powder.
Dark Chocolate
You will know by now that dark chocolate is always my preferred choice. It’s a good source of antioxidants and contains minerals such as iron, magnesium, and copper. I also opt for one that has minimal sugar and at least 70% cocoa solids.
Storage and Shelf Life
These balls store really well in the fridge. I like to store in the fridge as it keeps them harder and ensures they last longer. They’ll last for at 8-10 days.
They also freeze well and will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Recipe Tips
Use a food processor: A food processor is needed to ensure you blend the ingredients fully. A blender may work, but they usually struggle to blend the dates fully into a smooth paste.
Chocolate: I have used dark chocolate that is 70% cocoa solids. I prefer this as it’s less sweet and has more of the goodness from chocolate. However, if you would prefer a different chocolate option, please use that.
Adjust the sweetness: If you have a sweeter tooth, you can add a little bit of maple syrup or agave to the mixture.
Chocolate drizzle alternative: If you don’t want to coat the whole ball in a layer of chocolate, you can drizzle the dark chocolate on top for a lighter finish. This way, you still get a bit of the chocolate taste without fully covering the ball.
Add a pinch of sea salt: For a salty-sweet taste, add a pinch of sea salt to the base whilst mixing.
Try them for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments!
If you liked this recipe for chocolate orange balls, you might want to try these other no-bake options:
No Bake Almond & Strawberry Brownie
Chocolate Orange Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews (140g)
- 12 large medjool dates pitted (about 250g)
- 3 tbsp raw cacao powder
- Zest of an orange plus 2-3 tbsp of the juice
- 1 cup dark chocolate (about 125g)
- 1 tsp coconut oil melted (optional)
- Orange zest to top
Instructions
- Add the cashews, dates, cacao & orange juice/zest to a food processor and blitz until combined. If your dates are a bit dry add a bit more juice – keep blending until soft and well combined.
- Roll into 16 balls and refrigerate whilst you melt the chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water. You can add a tsp of coconut oil to thin the chocolate slightly, so it is easier to coat the chocolate. Coat each ball fully in chocolate. Top with orange zest. Refrigerate to set.
Notes
- I use a vegan, 70% cocoa solids dark chocolate.
- The coconut oil is optional. However, it thins the chocolate slightly and helps to cover the balls more easily.
- If you can find a dark chocolate that also has orange oil or extract, then use that – it really adds to the orange flavour!
Insanely good! There will be a constant supply in my fridge for Christmas visitors – thank you!
Great to hear! They freeze well too if you want to make ahead! x