Looking for an easy, healthy holiday snack? These No Bake Cranberry Bliss Balls are a delightful 15-minute treat packed with dates, nuts, cranberries, and festive spices. This cranberry snack is a perfect grab-and-go option that’s vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free!
What Does the Holiday Taste Like?
Have you ever wondered what a perfect bite of the Holiday tastes like? I think for each of us, the holiday has a unique memory. Maybe it is the taste of peppermint candy canes, spiked eggnog or grandmas' Panettone French Toast in the morning.
We were sitting down with a snuggly cup of fragrant Christmas Tea Organic Black Tea from Fraser Tea. I closed my eyes and thought to myself this does tastes just like the perfect cup of Christmas. I can almost hear Santa and his sleigh landing on the roof. You can smell the essence of citrus, cinnamon and cranberries rising from my steamy cup of tea. This sip of tea was the inspiration for our little no bake teatime treats.
Healthy Snack on the Go
You are going to love these No Bake Cranberry Bliss Balls as they are chewy, aromatic, taste just like the holiday. They take only 20 minutes to whip up. You got to love that!
These little vegan energy balls are an easy healthy snack for on the go. Right now final exam time is in full swing and these make great treats for those "HANGRY" students. Hangry is partly hungry and angry at the same time. Gosh we can't have that! Feed those hungry students a few No Bake Cranberry Bliss Balls.
We originally posted this recipe in December 2013 but wanted to let your eyes set on a new set of photos and updated recipe.
Easy Cranberry Snack
With just a handful of ingredients, these bliss balls are so delightful you may feel like you have sugar plums dance in your head.
- pecans and walnuts
- pitted dates
- dried cranberries
- spices
- orange zest
These little holiday wonders are chewy, sweet, a bit tart, fragrant and full of wholesome goodness and Christmas spices. No Bake Holiday Bliss Balls are rolled in a little ground almonds that makes it look like fresh snow.
No Oven
These little Cranberry spiced holiday balls are gluten-free, lactose free, egg free, vegan, and even can work in small portions on a paleo diet. We used no sugar added dried cranberries to keep is refined sugar free but feel free to use sweetened dried cranberries if you wish.
In addition, no oven is required to make these little delicious bites just like our Chocolate Espresso Fig Balls . They are great as gifts and store easily in the freezer until you are ready to serve. You can even feel like you are being a little bit naughty but still be true to your diet. Give yourself a little treat this holiday season.
Tools Required
We used a food processor to grind up the pecan and walnuts. If you do not own a food processor, you may be able to use a blender, mortar and pestle and chop fruits with knife. However, it takes much longer.
If you decide to put your nuts in the food processor, don't over process them or you will end up with a nut butter like our pumpkin seed butter . The consistency of nuts you are looking for is a rough crumble.
Ingredients
Orange Zest - A bit of fresh citrus zest adds a vibrant flavor to these little Holiday Balls.
Dates - We used naturally sweet dried Medjool dates. You can use any dates you prefer but Medjool dates are really the best. They act as a binding agent to hold these no bake cookies together. Pre-soaking the dates in with a few teaspoons of hot water first works like a charm to make a soft date paste.
Almond Meal (ground almonds) - to roll the balls in. This prevents them from sticking to each other or other cookies from around the world on the platter. Doesn't it look like snow?
Gluten-Free & Vegan Treats
If you are looking for more gluten free and vegan cookies to enjoy this holiday season, be sure to try our Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies and our Chewy Mandarin Orange Cookies. Served along side a spot of tea or a cup of coffee are sure to please.
Matcha chocolate crispy truffles and mint Oreo balls add a little green to the holiday tray of goodies.
Are You Ready for the Holidays?
If it makes you feel any better we have not even started. We have made a couple of batches of cookies and that is about it.
We have just bought a 12 foot tree. Yes, 12 feet. Do you remember the line from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation? "Rusty this tree is not going into our yard, it is going in our living room."
Oh my word, we are going to have to do lots of decking out to do. We need all of our tall friends to please come over and visit. We have lots of holiday treats and Fraser Tea to share if you can just put that Star up on the top of the tree.
Wishing Everyone a Super Holiday Season!
Go ahead and whip up a batch of No Bake Cranberry Bliss Balls this weekend and you can have something a little naughty and nice to keep you feeling satisfied over the holiday season without blowing your diet.
More Delicious Holiday Cookies
60 Cookie Recipes from around the World
Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Did You Like Our Recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. Your feedback is always appreciated! Follow us for more delicious recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for our email list for more free recipes.
No Bake Cranberry Bliss Balls
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts
- ½ cup pecans
- 1 cup dates
pitted - ½ cup cranberries
dried unsweetened - ¼ cup hot water
to soften dates and cranberries - 1 teaspoon ginger
dried ground - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
dried ground - 1 teaspoon allspice
dried ground - ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ cup almond meal (finely ground raw almonds)
Instructions
- Place hot water in dates and cranberries to soften for about 30 minutes.
- Place walnuts and pecans in food processor to crush until a coarse meal. If you like your bars more crunchy do it less and if you like your bars more chewy pulse more but not so long that you make nut butter.
- Drain dates and cranberries of extra water and place in food processor to chop and mix until you have a date paste. Mix cranberries in food processor until a coarse meal.
- Mix the date paste, cranberries, ground pecans and walnuts together.
- Add ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, salt and orange zest to mixture and mix well.
- Form into 1.5 inch balls and roll into ground almond meal and place into Christmas paper cups.
- Place Cranberry Spiced Holiday Bars in freezer for at least 6 hours or overnight and serve. You may just want to keep them stored in the freezer as they are really nice cold and chewy.
- Wrap up and give away for gifts or simply enjoy as a healthy snack anytime you need a little energy.
Notes
Nutrition
Coffee and Crumpets says
Gorgeous and festive! Lovely and healthy too!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
These holiday balls came out so well, little pretty things! Also love how they have a healthy approach because I really need that around the holidays!
Fine Dining at Home (@fdathome) says
Oh Bam, you're teenagers are certainly setting you some challenges. Are these ok for the hungry man diet? I love these sort of things over chocolate any day. I often by a fig ball for my cheese board, I'll make some if these and see how they go down.
Fingers crossed for some snow in HK this Xmas 😉
The Foodie Affair says
Oh yes! Some healthy treats! Looks yummy.
Balvinder says
These are wonderful, healthy and so festive!
Healthy World Cuisine says
And something you can eat as they are gluten free. Wishing you a super holiday season. Take Care, BAM
Eha says
Oh Bobbi ~ As I just told someone a moment ago, I am getting thru' pre-Yule hurry-scurry by reading only 'my' kind of posts - savoury, savoury, savoury till after Yule! Am laughing at my own presumptiousness - I thought these were 'sweet' instead of absolutely 'gorgeous' 🙂 ! Shopping coming in on Thursday - everything for these will be included! Rather lovely gift for a couple of neighbours also . . .thank you!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Eha, I know how you feel it feels like a sugar rush out there. I think these little cranberry spiced holiday balls are a nice healthier alternative. Wishing you a warm and safe holiday. Take Care, BAM
yummychunklet says
These look sweet!
Jo (http://blog-diggidy.com) says
Mmmm... These look tasty!! And they fit right into my new diet, assuming I can use almonds and pecans... I'm drooling already! 😉
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hi there Jo, I do not know much about the blood type diet but I am sure there are some recipes on my site that work out. take care
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
These do sound festive! Lots of things say Christmas to me but I'll admit most of them are northern type (winter) things. One day I might get used to Christmas in the middle of summer but it's not going to be this year. 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
But Santa looks so hot in Burmuda shorts! Enjoy decorating the palm trees and writing your name in the sand instead of the snow. Wishing you a super weekend. BAM
Yi @ Yi Reservation says
these are some true holiday wonders! I was a little surprised to see dried dates in the recipes as I don't normally see them in Western creations. The use of nuts and fried fruits just sounds so delicious and inviting. Great post BAM!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Yi! I am drinking dried chinese date and goji berry tea as I respond to you. I love dates and other warming fruits that give a light delicate sweetness. Take Care, BAM
nancyc says
What a nice festive, healthy and yummy treat for the holidays!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.
Robyn says
These are fantastic, Bam! It's the perfect gift during the holidays when everyone is trying to eat right despite all the unhealthy temptations. Have a Merry Christmas!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Robyn, I think there is no better gift then the gift of health and this one is really tasty too! Wishing you a happy holiday!
Dawn says
You are so creative - happy holidays!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Happy Holidays to you Dawn!
Kumar's Kitchen says
such adorable little precious treats...loved the fact that they get made quickly but taste absolutely delectable,thanks so much 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
You have to love these 15 minute little wonders that you do not even turn the oven on for. Around this time of the year, time savers are so welcome. Take Care, BAM
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Christmas takes of memories, don't you think? You've created some great ones here.Such a fun post - thanks.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hi there John, indeed the holidays has such a unique experience for everyone. I think I am ready to try some of your wonderful holiday cocktails.