Apricot Balls with Dates, Cashews, & Coconut
These apricot balls with cashews, dates, and coconut are a delicious no-bake treat! They’re super quick and easy to make with wholesome ingredients, including apricots, cashews, coconut, citrus zest, dates, and spices.
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Why you’ll love this recipe:
Recipe Inspiration
Last week, after our ski trip to Revelstoke, I needed groceries for my two starving teenagers (LOL!), so I headed to Trader Joe’s to stock up on pantry staples. While picking out the trail mix, I saw a bag of Cashew Apricot Date and Nut Bites with Coconut and citrus and knew I had to try them. It was a total impulse buy. Who can relate???
I tried them on a hike to the top of Cowles Mountain, and not only were they delicious and gave me the perfect boost of energy my weary body desperately needed.
After I tried the Trader Joe’s version, I knew I had to experiment with making my own apricot balls with dates, coconuts, and cashews at home, and you know what? I nailed the recipe on my first try!
Nutrition Notes!
- These apricot balls are a good source of plant-based iron, magnesium, heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, potassium, and vitamin A.
- These Apricot Energy Balls are gluten-free, vegan, paleo, MIND diet, Mediterranean diet, and DASH diet-friendly.
- Each ball (or bite) has 100 calories, 9 grams of carbohydrates (5 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber), and 6 grams of fat (only 1 gram of saturated fat).
Apricot Ball Ingredients
This recipe is SO easy to make! Check out the easy ingredient list below. And, be sure not to omit the citrus zest-it adds so much flavor!
- Cashew Nuts
- Dried Apricots.
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- Dates
- Orange Zest
- Lemon Zest
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Salt
How to Make Apricot Balls
- Combine cashew nuts, apricots, coconut, and dates in a food processor bowl and pulse the mixture until crumbly.
- Add citrus zest, spices, and salt. Pulse to combine ingredients well. Then process until the mixture starts to stick together and pulls away from the sides of the food processor bowl.
- Shape dough into ~ 20 1-inch apricot energy balls and place on a tray or plate lined with parchment paper.
- Enjoy right away, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or store in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list in the recipe card.
These Apricot Balls are a nourishing snack to pack on a hike. They’re also a perfect treat in the afternoon with a cup of tea or a healthy after-dinner dessert.
Healthy Apricot Balls with Dates, Cashews, and Coconut
Ingredients
- 2 cups cashew nuts, raw, unsalted
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup chopped dates
- Zest from 1 orange , ~ 1 teaspoon
- Zest from 1 lemon , ~ 1 teaspoon
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine cashew nuts, apricots, coconut, and dates in a food processor bowl. Pulse ingredients until mixture is crumbly.
- Add citrus zest, spices, and salt to mixture. Pulse ingredients to combine well, and process on high speed until mixture starts to stick together.
- Line a tray with parchment paper. With clean hands, shape mixture into ~ 20 1-inch balls.
- Store in refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Or, store in freezer for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Zest fresh citrus like a pro with a microplane grater~I use this all the time too add a burst of flavor to foods, without adding a lot of salt/sodium.
- This shredded coconut is a staple at our house. Not only is it perfect in these energy bites, I also love to sprinkle it on yogurt, add it to smoothies, and use it to make the most amazing raw coconut caramel pecan caramel frosting ~ SO good!
- I love these glass storage containers for storing my energy bites, plus, pretty much everything!
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
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I just made them today according to your recipe. I too love the Trader Joe’s version. I did buy the coconut nectar that was listed on Trader Joe’s ingredients for theirs, and I am glad I did because it added some sweetness needed, and I think it held them together nicely. I probably added 1/4 up the coconut nectar. I think next time I will reduce the amount of cashews and increase the amount of dates to achieve more what the Trader Joe’s consistency is. I may try soaking the cashews also a bit, so they are not as crunchy.
I can’t wait to try your recipe. I just had the trader joe’s ones for the first time and they were magical.
Also, I love Cowels Mountain! I’ve hiked two times in the last month. When it dries up from the rains, I’ll do it again!
Hi Ginger! I hope you love them as much as I do 🙂 I’m sure Cowles Mountain is dry now with the Santa Ana weather we’ve been having. Have you done any of the other peaks in Mission Trails Regional Park? This Kwaay Paay Peak trail is another one of my favorites. I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
I want to try these but I have a question. It’s my understanding that coconut isn’t allowed on the MD WOE for life. What would you suggest as a replacement for the coconut?
Hi Sandra! I’m not familiar with MD WOE for life. What is it? That being said, if you choose not to eat coconut, I would try adding an extra 1/3 cup of cashew nuts. If you give it a try, please let me know. Cheers!
I snag ideas from health food store finds, too. I’m always looking at the various pots of dips and their ginormous price tag, and think. “I’m going to make you”. Sometimes I do, but often times I don’t. I’m glad you did. These look fab. That citrus pulls it all together.
I’m so excited about making these soon! Cashews are one of my favorite nuts and I love the flavor of dried apricots so this just sounds perfect. Also starting to collect some healthy snacks to have near by when I’ll be spending a lot of time breastfeeding in a couple more months!
I bet the citrus zest adds so much flavor. I must try these!
Hi, I’ll take 12 please and thank you. Sign me up! I have to say, I have to be careful with energy bites because I can overdo it on snackables… but these look delicious!
This looks delicious ! I haven’t tried them just bc I’m not a huge coconut fan but I’m sure if I made them with something else in its place I’d be on board!! And I love cowles mnt! That’s one of my fav hikes! Can’t wait to see you soon!
These look great, EA!
Energy bites are my jam! I love this tropical combo – it sounds and looks delish!
Thanks so much Brittany! I usually go for chocolate, pb, or caramel energy bites, but this combo is one of my new favorites for sure!
These look delish!
Thanks Amy!