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Hey friend, how’s your week going?

Me?

Well, it looks like I may have figured out why my laptop keeps freezing and crashing and freezing and crashing and freezing and crashing. . . turns out my storage disk is full so . . .  guess Ima have to go try figure that out . . .

Looks like I’ll be needing lots of snacks  . . .

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

And coffee . . .

And chocolate . . .

HELP MEEEEEE!

Luck I have just the thing!

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

Question for you . . .

Are bliss bites still a thing?!

Please tell me they’re still a thing?

Or, did I miss the memo and they’re totally not cool anymore?

For me, cool or not, they will always be a thing!

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

You and I both know your girl here loves a snack.

And bliss bites are just so easy to make.

Not to mention they’re oh so delicious!

And versatile!

The ways you can change the flavors by adding chocolate (always a good idea)  or spices, or using different nuts and seeds, so many options  . . .

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

Safe to say for me they will always be a thing, and if I missed the memo and they are no longer a thing I think they are about to make a very real and very big come back in the form of these date free, black forest bliss bites!

Aka my current obsession!

Decadent and rich (but not too rich), subtly sweet, soft and chewy, seriously chocolatey, coconut infused bliss bites spiked with a gentle hum (or loud rev if you prefer) of espresso.

It’s everything I love in life all served up in one delicious little mouthful!

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

Coffee – Only as I live and breathe!

Chocolate – Do you even have to ask?!

Coconut – Fixes everything!

Cherries – Soooooo good!

Using dried cherries in place of the more traditional dates to make these bliss bites = best idea, ever!

They still have that soft and chewy texture we all know and love but those slightly tart chewy cherries balances out the richness of cacao and sweetness of coconut just perfectly. It totally takes the flavor profile to a whole new level!

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

Plus, those cheeky cherries add an extra nutritional boost!

Did you know that cherries are rich in antioxidants, can help to regulate blood sugar, are a natural anti-inflammatory, can increase brain function, boost memory and reduce your risk of diabetes and cancer?!

They also help reduce muscles soreness, and improve sleep quality?!

Plus they taste all kinds of incredible!

Chocolate + coffee + cherries + coconut = blissful deliciousness!

If you’re looking for an excuse to eat more snacks then look no further friend, I gotchu!

Made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already and can be ready to devour in around 15 minutes!

Toast – Blend – Roll – Devour!

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

Gluten Free – Dairy free – Grain free – Refined sugar free – Paleo – Keto &  Vegan friendly !

7 ingredients – 15 minutes in the making

The only thing that’s left to decide is which will you devour first?!

Original, cacao or coconut?!

Cacao (and a double espresso) for me please!

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites {Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Paleo} - www.betterwithcake.com

Date Free Black Forest Bliss Bites

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Persons: 16+
  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Ingredients
  • For the (not so) basic bliss ball base –
  • 1/2 cup raw almonds
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup dried cherries  – I used these organic, naturally sweetened tart dried cherries from Ceres Organics
  • 1 Tablespoon of cacao
  • 1 Tablespoon of shredded coconut
  • 1 teaspoon of instant espresso
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • A good pinch of sea salt
  • Optional add ins;
  • Dark chocolate, roughly chopped – extra antioxidants?!
  • 1 teaspoon of maca powder – hormone balance
  • 2 scoops of collagen – adds an extra hit of protein & is great for hair, skin, nails & gut health***
  • 1-2 Tbsp of protein powder ****
  • Optional for serving –
  • Cacao
  • Finely shredded coconut flakes
  1. Instructions
  2. Optional but highly (HIGHLY) recommended – Place your almonds and cashews on to a lined baking tray and roast at 175’C/350’F for 5-10 mins until lightly toasted, gloriously golden and deliciously fragrant.
  3. Once toasted, place your nuts into your food processor/blender and pulse until crumbly, you want there to still be a few bigger chunks to give the bites some nice texture.
  4. Add dried cherries and process until the mixture starts to come together into a sticky “dough”.
    If your mixture seems a little dry, simply add some filtered water, 1 teaspoon at a time until it comes together.
  5. Add vanilla, coconut , espresso, chocolate,  maca and collagen (if using) then process again until combined.
  6. Using your hands, roll approx 1 small Tablespoons worth of dough into bite size balls then set aside
 – FYI – I like to make my bites on the smaller side. You would probably need 3 of mine to make up one of those golf ball size bites you buy at cafe’s or in stores.
  7. If you are going to coat your bliss bites simply place your cacao & coconut into a small bowl or zip lock bag and gentle press/shake until nicely coated. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
  8. Enjoy xo

Notes –

*  Keto/ low carb lovin’ friends & those of you who have trouble digestive dates –  soak/ferment your dates in coconut water keifr or kombucha overnight and you should be ready to roll. How you ask?! Well, apparenely adding beneficial bacteria to them in the way of coconut yoghurt or coconut kefir or kombucha removes all the sugar in the fruit! You cab read more about how/why it works here

** if your dates are a little dry/ you’re not using fresh juicy dates (or fermenting them first), soak in boiling water for 10 mins to help re hydrate them & bring them back to life. Then just drain & proceed with the recipe as written.

*** I ♥ before you speak coffees chocolate collagen complex – EMS10 = 10% off if you want to give it a try. I guarantee it will change your life!

**** I use Macro Mike’s clean treats vanilla almond protein  but, the white chocolate would work great here too you could also just leave it out but, the extra flavour, hit of protein + pre & pro biotics really do take these bites (& your life by extension) to a whole new level!

All of Macro Mike’s products are plant based, gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, boosted with pre & probiotics & truly tastes all kinds of incredible. Its hands down without question the smoothest, most delicious, elite tasting protein power (plant based/dairy free or otherwise!!) I have ever tried. And I have tried A LOT!  Use AMB-EM to get an extra cheeky discount of you want to try it & believe me, you do!

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Question of the day –

Are you a fellow bliss bite lover? What’s your favorite flavor combination?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make these bliss bites (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to ox

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