White Chocolate Bliss Balls

Hello LOOSE shoppers in and around Stroud,

Do you need a healthy sweet treat recipe that doesn't require any baking or cooking? Something deeply satisfying but good for your body and definitely better for the animals? How about some vegan and gluten-free (as well as refined sugar-free) White Chocolate Bliss Balls?

What are bliss balls? A mixture of raw or toasted nuts or seeds and dried fruit, with flavours like cacao, vanilla, orange, lemon or other interesting things like thyme or rosemary even. So you can see 'bliss balls' sounds much nicer. The options of  flavours and combinations are endless and it's quite a challenge to get the amounts right. Less is more in my humble opinion. Having said that this recipe is on the decadent side and was designed to be super rich and moreish.

Here is a recipe from my cookbook Lick Your Plate, along with a little story of how they came into existence. You can make them using lots of wonderful ingredients available at LOOSE.

If you like you can watch a live video of me and my sister making these White Choc Bliss Balls just yesterday. 

White Chocolate Vanilla Bliss Balls or Raffaelas

When I discovered Naam yoga in Sydney, led by the masterful Anastasia Williams, I fell in love. I loved the intensity, the painful challenge to go beyond my limits, the enchanting mantras and profound breath work, ancient wisdom and fierce love of the teacher. I always felt I was not the same person than when I entered the room. I was wondering how I’d survive a visit to my family in Germany without it; surprisingly I found a Naam yoga class in Freiburg! It was led by the sweet yet powerful teacher Regina Pfeifer-Muhler. I whipped up these Naam inspired bliss balls for them, which turned out to be deliciously decadent, and reminded me of the very addictive Raffaellos. So, we called these Raffaelas. I hope you try this recipe, as well as a Naam yoga class. I dare you— you won’t regret it.  

MAKES QUITE A FEW

Dry ingredients

1/3 cup raw cashews cashews

1/2 cup blanched almond meal

1 cup desiccated coconut
1 tbsp chia seeds

1 generous tsp vanilla extract

Pinch salt

Optional: 1 tsp maca powder for extra boost

Optional sweet addition: 1 tbsp coconut sugar

Wet ingredients

3 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil 2 tbsp cacao butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp maple syrup

More ingredients

Around 10 medjool dates
More desiccated coconut for rolling in

ACTION!

Firstly you’ll have to melt the coconut oil and cacao butter in a double-boiler (a bowl that’s sitting on top of a pot of hot water—make sure it's not boiling, and the bowl isn't touching the water).

Grind the cashews so they remain somewhat chunky.

Mix the dry ingredients well, then add the wet ones. Only then add the dates and massage lovingly with your hands.

Let heavenly energies flow through your heart, through your arms, into your hands, into the balls.

Chant 'Wahe Guru' while you roll.

Grind or blend the desiccated coconut to a fine powder for rolling in to create coconut snow.

Wet your hands and roll balls, toss through coconut snow and
chill.

Store in the fridge or freezer,

enjoy and Sat Nam!

If not
now, when? If not here, where? If not you, who? The moment is always now.

 

Maria-Carin Gala from Gala's Organic Kitchen,

on behalf of LOOSE — the plastic-free shop in Stroud, UK.