Chickpea Bliss Balls

These chocolate peanut butter Chickpea Bliss Balls are a nutritious and delicious snack the whole family will love. Plus, they’ll give everyone an energy boost until the next mealtime. They are super simple to make, you’re going to let your food processor do most of the hard work.

Chickpea Bliss Balls Ingredients & Nutrition

Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)

Chickpeas are high in a variety of vitamins and minerals, and they are also a good source of fibre and protein. And please don’t be put off by the thought of chickpeas in a sweet scenario, you honestly cannot taste them. 

You’ll want a tin of chickpeas in water (400g / 14.11oz) and you’ll need to drain them well as you start getting all your ingredients ready.

Oats

Oats are a great source of fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They can help to lower blood sugar levels, as well as cholesterol. 

You’ll want to use rolled oats, regular or thick cut are both fine. You can use porridge oats too, just make sure there is nothing added to them and that they are 100% oats (and don’t use Ready Brek).

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a good source of protein, it’s low in carbs and high in healthy fats. It’s also high in antioxidants and a fairly good source of vitamins and minerals. 

Go for a jar of smooth peanut butter that is 100% peanuts, and with no added sugar, vegetable oils or trans fatty acids.

Seeds

Adding both chai seeds and flax seeds to these Chickpea Bliss Balls will give you yet another hit of fibre and protein, as well as plenty more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The are also a good source of omega-3s which provide support for healthy heart function. They are also important in children’s diets, as they support growth, development and brain function.

Any leftover chai or flax seeds you have after this recipe, can be added to your family’s porridge or overnight oats. I love the added texture that they give a usually soft bowl of oats. I always add 1 tablespoon of each, and thats a good amount to include in your daily diet for adult and children alike. You could also make a delicious chai seed pudding.

Cocoa Powder

To make these Chickpea Bliss Balls chocolatey, we are going to add cocoa powder. Cocoa powder itself also has nutritional properties, and may help to reduce inflammation, high blood pressure, risk of heart attack and stroke, blood sugar levels and cholesterol. 

If you want your bliss balls to have more of a milk chocolate flavour, add just two tablespoons of cocoa powder. For a more bitter, dark chocolate vibe, go for three. I recommend sticking with two tablespoons if you are sharing with younger kids. 

FAQ’s For My Chickpea Bliss Balls

Can I prepare these Chickpea Bliss Balls in advance?

Definitely! They do need to be chilled for 30 minutes once rolled into balls anyway.

Can I feed more people with this recipe?

This recipe will give you around 15 bliss balls, depending on the size you make them. We usually eat one to two in a go, so you may find that amount is enough, but of course the recipe can be scaled up 2 or 3 times using the scale up buttons within the recipe.

How can younger children help make it?

They can help measure out and add all the ingredients into the food processor. They will love to whizz it up and then help you roll the mixture into balls. Just ensure they don’t put their hands into the food processor and warn them about the danger of doing so.

Can I Store Chickpea Bliss Balls leftovers?

You can store any Chickpea Bliss Balls leftovers in an air-tight container or resealable food bag in the fridge for up to 4 days (make day + 3). 

For more on safe food storage and reheating read here >

What diets is this recipe suitable for?

My Chickpea Bliss Balls are suitable for egg and gluten-free diets as well as for vegetarians. They can be made suitable for vegan’s by using oat milk and agave instead of honey. It can also be made suitable for dairy-free diets by using oat milk instead of cow’s milk (and it actually adds more flavour anyway!). 

Making My Chickpea Bliss Balls Suitable for Baby Weaning  

My Chickpea Bliss Balls can be shared with babies from 12 months upwards. The ingredients are fine for under 1 year olds, but the texture of the bliss balls could cause a choking risk in younger babies.

I’ve also added these notes to the bottom of the recipe so you have them to hand when you come to cook. For more info on how I keep my family meals suitable for baby weaning, read here >

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