This week’s plant-powered treat is a delicious version of my favourite truffles, this time flavoured with tangy lemon, tropical coconut and a hint of vanilla. They make wonderful snacks that little ones will love too. These truffles are a refreshing alternative to many fruit and nut based bliss ball recipes, which often include cacao. They’re also super simple to make with only a few ingredients which you can put together in less than 10 minutes. They’re the perfect treat to make with young ones as there are only a few steps and they can roll them themselves. Baking with kiddies doesn’t have to be all chocolate chip cookies and pancakes!
I’ve long been a fan of lemony treats. In fact I recall the first ever extravagant restaurant dessert I had being lemon meringue pie – the delicious vanilla biscuity base was filled with tart tangy lemon curd and topped with light luscious meringue. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may have spotted a few of my other lemony sweet treats, including my Lemon Meringue Pie and Creamy Lemon Cheesecake. If you haven’t made either of these I would highly recommend. Although this easy truffle recipe is a great place to start your lemony escapades.
Lemon is a wonderful fruit to include in your diet, and something I always have in the fruit bowl. It grows readily in most temperate climates all year round, and can be used to add a delicious tart tangy element to sweet treats, as well as being an acidic base for your salad dressings (trying whisking in a jar with tahini, chia seed/sacha inchi/olive oil, Himalayan sea salt, black pepper and herbs if you like), or simply squeezed on top of vegetables and fritters such as my Spiced Cauliflower Fritters. Many recipes call for just lemon juice, but I love to use the whole lemon including the juice, flesh and zest. You get even more lemon flavour, and benefit from all of the vitamins, minerals and fibre in the natural lemon. So next time you’re asked for just lemon juice, try the triple combo instead.
Lemons have a sour, astringent flavour and cooling thermal nature. They are very alkaline and are therefore one of the most beneficial fruits to add to your diet to offset more acidic processed foods. They help the liver to function as well as cleanse the blood, especially the zest (all the more reason to use all three bits). Lemons are high in vitamin C with 53 mg per 100 grams, as much as an orange. They also have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, making them great for combating flus, colds, coughs and parasites – try a squeeze of juice and a little grated zest in a glass of hot water with a sliver of ginger and some honey or monkfruit to sweeten.
I like to keep these protein bliss balls in the freezer as it makes them extra chewy and delicious. Confused as to whether you should keep truffles and bliss balls in the fridge or freezer? For my recipes, if they include some sort of liquid such as water via soaked nuts or lemon juice, then keep them in the freezer for a nice firm texture. If they don’t contain any water-based liquid and are just pure dried nuts and fruit, you can happily keep them in the fridge.
Give them a go this weekend! And if you’d like to share your delicious lemon protein balls over on Instagram, tag me @begoodorganics and #begoodorganics so I can come say hello and check out your glorious creations. Have a great weekend.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c raw cashews
- ½ c desiccated coconut
- 1 c vanilla protein powder
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
- 2 lemons, zest & flesh
- 3 tbsp brown rice syrup
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (softened but cool)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- Blend the cashews in a food processor until you achieve a fine flour, then add the desiccated coconut, protein powder and salt, and blend until combined (if you like a bit of coconut texture blend less, if you prefer a fully smooth texture blend more).
- Add wet ingredients (lemon zest and flesh excluding any pith and pips, brown rice syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and lemon essential oil), and blend until a smooth dough forms then place in freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.
- Roll in balls, then roll in extra desiccated coconut if desired. Pop in freezer for at least an hour or overnight to set.
Recipe Notes
- Make it nut free: Use hemp seeds instead of cashews, or a combination of hemp seeds and oats/buckwheat.
- Make it lower calorie: Swap ¾ c cashews for ¾ c oats or buckwheat (add a dash of water with the wet ingredients to help them stick, as ground oats/buckwheat are drier than ground cashews).
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Nutrition Disclaimer
As a Registered Naturopath and Nutritionist, I create nutritionally-balanced recipes using whole food ingredients designed to support optimal health and wellbeing. While I encourage an intuitive approach to eating, I also recognise the value of understanding calories and macronutrients as tools to build awareness around your intake. This awareness can be helpful in aligning your nutrition with your personal health goals.
Please note: all nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Variations will occur depending on the specific brands used, recipe adjustments, and portion sizes consumed. If you have individual dietary needs or health conditions, I recommend booking a personalised consultation for tailored advice.
Nutrition
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Happy cooking. x Buffy