Cacao bliss balls with figs (nut free, vegan)

Most bliss ball recipes follow the same formula: dates, nut butter, cacao, coconut. This one doesn’t. We use dried figs instead of dates for a lower sugar, higher fibre base, as well as sunflower seeds instead of nuts, which makes these completely nut free without any swaps needed. 5 ingredients, no baking, naturally nut free, vegan and gluten free.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried figs

• 1 cup sunflower seeds

• ½ cup DUST cacao infusion of your choice OR replace with organic raw cacao powder

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

Optional soak:

• 120ml Energy Tea in place of plain water — adds a subtle earthy note and connects the soak liquid to the final flavour

Optional coatings and add-ins:

• Desiccated coconut or coconut flakes for rolling

• Rose-hip powder (our favourite finishing touch)

• Cacao nibs, sesame seeds or hemp protein powder for texture

• Goji berries or cinnamon — soak with the figs overnight if using berries

The base recipe is gluten-free.

How to make cacao bliss balls

The night before: Place the dried figs in a bowl and cover with water or Energy Tea. Leave to soak overnight. Don’t skip this step. The soaking softens the figs so they blend smoothly and creates the liquid you’ll use to adjust consistency if needed. If you’re adding goji berries, soak them with the figs.

Can I skip the overnight soak?
You can reduce it to 2–4 hours in warm water if needed, but overnight gives the best result. Insufficiently soaked figs will be harder to process, the mixture will be drier and you’ll need significantly more of the soaking liquid to bring it together.

 

The next day:

1. Strain the figs

   Drain the figs through a strainer, reserving the soaking liquid in a small bowl. The figs should feel plump and very soft. The liquid is your binder adjustment. Don’t throw it out.

2. Process until crumbly

   Add the sunflower seeds, soaked figs, DUST cacao infusion, vanilla extract and salt to a food processor. Pulse until combined and crumbly. It should look like coarse, dark crumbs. Don’t over-process to a smooth paste; a little texture gives the finished bliss balls a better bite.

3. Check the consistency

   Pinch a small amount of mixture between your fingers. It should hold together when pressed without being wet or sticky. If it’s too dry, add the reserved soaking liquid a small splash at a time, pulsing briefly after each addition. If it’s too sticky, add a tablespoon of sunflower seeds or a little extra cacao powder and pulse again.

4. Roll

   Dampen your hands slightly to stop the mixture sticking to your palms. Take a heaped teaspoon of mixture and roll into a ball. Aim for golf ball size or slightly smaller. This batch makes 15–20 depending on how large you roll them.

5. Coat and set

   Roll each bliss ball in desiccated coconut, rose-hip powder, cacao powder or sesame seeds if desired. Place on a plate or tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before eating. The cold firms them up and improves the texture significantly.

Troubleshooting

Why are my bliss balls falling apart? 

The mixture is too dry. Add the reserved soaking liquid a teaspoon at a time and pulse again. The figs carry most of the moisture in this recipe, so if they weren’t soaked long enough or were strained too dry, the mixture won’t hold. A short additional soak of 30 minutes in warm water can rescue under-soaked figs.

Why is my mixture too wet and sticky to roll? 

Add a tablespoon of sunflower seeds or extra cacao powder to the processor and pulse briefly. Chilling the mixture in the fridge for 15–20 minutes before rolling also makes it much more manageable.

Why aren’t my bliss balls sweet enough?

Figs are less sweet than dates by design. If you want more sweetness without changing the recipe, roll the balls in desiccated coconut or add a teaspoon of maple syrup to the processor with the other ingredients.

Storage

Fridge: Up to 1 week in an airtight container. Separate layers with baking paper if stacking.

Freezer: Up to 3 months. Freeze in a single layer on a tray first, then transfer to a sealed container or bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 20 minutes. These freeze exceptionally well — making a double batch and freezing half is worth the extra 10 minutes.

Why figs instead of dates?

Most chocolate bliss balls and protein balls use Medjool dates as the base — they’re soft, sticky and bind everything together well. Figs do the same job, but with a meaningfully different nutritional profile.

Source: USDA FoodData Central

Figs have a naturally high fibre content and are lower in sugar than dates, and contain more than twice the iron and calcium. They also carry a meaningful polyphenol and flavonoid load. A 2023 review published in Nutrients on the phytochemical composition of fresh and dried figs found figs to be one of the more polyphenol-dense dried fruits available. And a 2018 randomised trial found that dates produce a notably higher postprandial blood glucose response than other dried fruits, making figs a more considered choice if you’re mindful of sugar intake.

In flavour terms, figs are less intensely sweet than Medjool dates with a slightly more complex, almost jammy character that works beautifully against raw cacao.

Nut free and school lunchbox ready

Because this bliss ball recipe uses sunflower seeds rather than any form of nut or nut butter, it’s naturally compliant with school nut-free policies without any modifications. No almonds, cashews, peanuts or peanut butter, which rules out the majority of bliss ball and protein ball recipes online. No swaps needed.

If making specifically for younger children, roll them smaller and maybe skip the goji berry add-in. Otherwise the recipe is suitable as-is.

A tea to go with it

Energy Tea — the same tea used optionally in the soak, which creates a natural flavour thread from preparation to serving.

Chai + Spice teas — cinnamon and cardamom alongside cacao is a well-established combination. Our Masala Chai works particularly well.

Rooibos — caffeine free, naturally sweet and slightly nutty. A good afternoon option alongside a couple of bliss balls.

Frequently asked questions