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    Home >> Breakfast

    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (Keto, Paleo, Vegan)

    Published: May 1, 2019 · Modified: Apr 19, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

    Bliss Balls made low-carb! These no-bake bites are nutty and chewy with hints of vanilla, maple, and coconut (No gluten/grains, dairy, or sugar, with options for Keto, Paleo & Vegan) You can even bake them into healthy cookies! A delightful bite-size snack or treat for any occassion.
    Jump to Recipe
    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    Low-Carb Bliss Balls

    Bliss balls are the perfect little bite to have ANY time:
    • a companion to your coffee
    • breakfast on the go
    • a post-workout refueling
    • an afternoon pick-me-up
    • an after-dinner treat
    • ALL DAY BLISS 🙂

    With plenty of fiber and healthy fats, these delicious bliss balls keep you satisfied and feelin' BLISSFUL. They make me happy with each sweet little bite! But that's not all.. you can also bake them into COOKIES! See below for all the deets.

    Disclosure: As an affiliate I earn commission from qualifying purchases made through referral links in this post.

    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    The Blissful Ingredients

    Just 5 main ingredients you can feel good about:

    • Almonds for a neutral and nutty flavor and texture base
    • Flaxseed for a boost of fiber
    • Maple Syrup sweetened with monkfruit for a delicious sugar-free treat
    • "Butter" aka buttery coconut oil for dairy-free healthy fats and amazing flavor
    • Coconut shreds which make these taste sorta like oatmeal cookies - YUM

    I always add these for complexity and intensity of flavor

    • High quality vanilla extract (get some REAL good stuff)
    • Healthy salt - pink Himalayan! (once you try it you'll NEVER buy cheap bleached salt again)

    These are wholesome ingredients you can feel "blissful" about putting in your body and your taste buds feel total BLISS when you take a bite! I concocted this particular combination of ingredients for the flavor profile I was going for, but YES, you can sub different nuts and seeds, different sweeteners and different oils if that's your jam.

    Substitutions

    Yes, there are a million ways you can customize these balls to your preference. Just keep in mind the flavor will change slightly with each swap. But definitely make them you own 🙂 You can use ANY nut or seed you like in place of almonds and coconut.

    Don't have monkfruit maple syrup? You can use "real" maple syrup instead. If you're keto, you can use monkfruit granules + about 2 Tbs water. Plus maple extract if you like!

    To replace buttery flavor coconut oil, the ideal sub is another solid oil for the same consistency, but here are some other options:

    • Regular virgin or refined coconut oil
    • Palm oil
    • Butter
    • Coconut butter (aka manna)
    • Nut butter (maybe! with a few tweaks)

    Remember, you can always add a little more dry ingredients if your dough is too sticky, or more syrup/water/oil if it's too crumbly. Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    The Easy Method

    Pulse pulse pulse, 1 2 3. That's about it! These were SO quick and easy to make. Once you add in all the ingredients, the actual blending only takes SECONDS. YEP, seconds thanks to my trusty food processor. It does all the work for me at the push of a button. I'M OBSESSED. And after you make the dough, you get to EAT the dough. It's ready with NO WAITING. Woohoo!

    Snack Attack

    Chewy, nutty, happy bites. With a medley of complementary flavors, there's so much to love about these bliss balls. So satisfying. And with just over ONE carb each, you can totally enjoy these on a low-carb/keto diet. They make a great snack, breakfast or dessert. It's up to you!

    If you're into bliss balls - and I know you are - be sure to check out my Pecan Sandy Bliss Balls and 5-Minute Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes! 2 of my all time favorites! Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    How to Bake them into Cookies

    My original plan was to make this dough into breakfast cookies, but once I tasted the raw dough, I was SO in love with the taste that I couldn't keep from sharing.

    But I found out that you CAN bake these into cookies with just a couple of slight modifications to the dough.

    1. Add a little dry sweetener (since baking dissipates some of the sweetness)
    2. Add some delish toppings (to amplify the flavor)

    See, wasn't that easy? I've been having 2 cookies for breakfast and a bliss ball post-workout most days. AND... this is classified information, but I have a new ice cream flavor in development that has THESE cookies crumbled in it! Oh.my.word. 

    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    Size Matters

    I've always liked making my cookies small -- a standard 1 Tbs cookie. Maybe because psychologically I like being "allowed" to eat more than one, haha. But when I asked my Insta followers what size cookies they prefer, the overwhelming response was the bigger 4" size. So I tested both. And ate both 🙂 so.. many.. cookies, haha.

     
    Maybe it was my impatience to dig into this mega cookie before it had cooled enough, but it wasn't as "sturdy" as my standard cookies. So if you wanna make 'em big, here's my advice:

    • Let them cool first (I know it's hard to wait!)
    • And handle with care! They're more fragile.
    • or just make 'em petite! 🙂 Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    Healthy Cookies for Breakfast

    Can you really eat cookies for breakfast? I call these breakfast cookies for several reasons:

    1. Because they're not as sweet and rich as conventional cookies. They're lightly sweetened
    2. They have a hearty texture--  similar to an oatmeal cookie.  A little chewy, a little soft inside. Nice and filling.
    3. They're made with wholesome ingredients so they're totally acceptable to eat for breakfast! 😀

    Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, soy-free, the list goes on! Full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and super low in sugar. That's my kind of breakfast. (See the macros at the bottom of the post for the stats)

     
    ps I definitely recommend some mini dark chocolate chips on top! A little chocolate for breakfast is always a good idea 😉
     
    pps Want more healthy breakfast sweets? Check out my collection of keto breakfast recipes including sugar-free donuts, scones and more!Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    Are you ready for some vanilla bliss? And cookies for breakfast?? Yes and YES.

    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies

    Nutty, chewy bliss balls flavored with vanilla, maple and coconut (or hearty breakfast cookies) -- sugar-free! A wholesome treat you can feel good about.
    4.50 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 2 minutes
    Servings: 10 balls
    Author: Emily

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric

    Bliss Balls

    • ¾ cup almonds
    • 3 Tbs ground flaxseed
    • 2 Tbs buttery coconut oil
    • 2 Tbs unsweetened coconut shreds
    • 2.5 - 3 Tbs maple syrup - sugar-free for keto
    • ½ Tbs Mexican vanilla
    • pinch of pink salt

    Additional ingredients for cookies:

    • 2-4 teaspoon dry sweetener - monkfruit or coconut sugar
    • 2-4 Tbs toppings - dark chocolate chips, seeds, dried fruit, etc

    Instructions

    To make the bliss balls:

    • Add all ingredients together in a food processor
      Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com
    • Pulse a few times until the nuts are ground and the mixture sticks together. (Leave coarse for a crunchy texture, blend longer for a smoother texture) 
      If too wet, add a little more flax,. If too dry, add a splash of syrup.
      Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com
    •  Use a cookie scoop to form balls. 
      Roll smooth using your hands. Enjoy!
      Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    For the cookies:

    • Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
    • Make the dough as directed above, and add 2-4 teaspoon monkfruit granules, depending on how sweet you want them. 
    • Use a standard size cookie scoop to form 2" cookies. Flatten cookies with a spaulta (they will not spread) 
      Vanilla Nut Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com
    • Top with dark chocolate chips or your favorite crunchy/sweet topping, such as pepitas, coconut, dried fruit, or cinnamon "sugar" (using monkfruit or coconut sugar). 
    • Bake for about 10-12 minutes until the edges are firm and slightly golden. 
      Allow to cool slightly before removing. Enjoy!
      Vanilla Nut Breakfast Cookies (keto, paleo, vegan) PrettyPies.com

    Notes

    Balls and cookies stays fresh at room temp for about 3 days in an airtight container. Refrigerate 1-2 weeks, or freeze tightly wrapped for 2 months.
    Nutrition Facts
    Vanilla Nut Bliss Balls & Breakfast Cookies
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    104
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    9
    g
    14
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    4.5
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    2.4
    g
    10
    %
    Sugar Alcohol
     
    0.8
    g
    Net Carbs
     
    1.3
    g
    Protein
     
    2.6
    g
    5
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Tag @emily.likes.food #prettypies!

     

     

     

     
     
    « Berry Blender Mini Cheesecakes (Dairy-Free, Keto, Paleo)
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    Filed Under: Breakfast, Low-Carb Tagged With: almonds, bites, breakfast, coconut, cookies, monkfruit, no-bake

    About Emily

    Emily is the creative force behind the food blog, Pretty Pies, a destination for people interested in healthier eating, and for those with dietary restrictions and preferences, such as dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free.

    Emily specializes in healthy desserts that are low-carb, keto, and made with plant-based natural ingredients. She is the author of two cookbooks in the low-carb sweets niche, "PS It's Healthy," and "Yay It' Sugar-Free!"

    Her recipes have reached millions of people across the globe over a 7-year time span, and helped countless readers enjoy delicious desserts without detriment to their health.

    When she's not creating in the kitchen, she loves spending time with her family and petite Goldendoodle, Eevee, spending time in nature, and eating Tex-Mex.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beki Sciacca

      May 01, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      Hi, these sound great! My question: can I make this recipe if I don't have a food processor? How would I go about it? (I do have a decent blender, although kind of small, as well as an immersion blender. ) Thanks for your help!

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 01, 2019 at 12:34 pm

        Thanks! Yes a blender should work too. I would just blend it for about 10 seconds and check if the almonds are ground enough. Alternatively, you can sub almond flour, which gives a smooth texture like cookie dough balls!

        Reply
      • Emily

        May 01, 2019 at 4:55 pm

        After thinking some more, I would just blend/pulse the almonds by themself for a few seconds to grind them, then add the rest of the ingredients. Hope that helps 🙂

        Reply
    2. Lidija

      May 01, 2019 at 2:28 pm

      Hi there, do you have a sub for the maple syrup?

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 01, 2019 at 2:32 pm

        Yes, you can use a powdered sweetener like coconut sugar, monkfruit or swerve. I would try 2 Tbs and adjust to taste. Also add about 2 Tbs of water to help it hold together 🙂

        Reply
    3. Ashley

      May 14, 2019 at 7:30 pm

      Hi Emily,
      I just stumbled upon this recipe and I just wanted to say not only do the balls/cookies look amazing, but your photos are beautiful!!!
      I will definitely have to try these 🙂

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 14, 2019 at 7:34 pm

        Thanks so much, Ashley! Hope you enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Debbie

      May 17, 2019 at 7:43 am

      How much almond flour would you sub if you don't havecwhole almonds?

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 17, 2019 at 10:10 am

        It’s roughly the same amount. If your dough is too wet, add a little more flour. Or too dry, more liquid 🙂 it’s flexible.

        Reply
    5. Sara Rigsby

      June 08, 2020 at 10:52 pm

      5 stars
      Right now I'm making my second batch. My kids were thrilled to have cookies for breakfast. I didn't need to add extra sweetener to the cookies. They were sweet enough with the maple syrup.

      Reply
      • Emily

        June 08, 2020 at 11:15 pm

        Yay! So glad your kids were thrilled!

        Reply
    6. Jennifer Anderson

      November 30, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      Love your recipes, and just made your purple sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving. Yum! I had a question about the vanilla you recommend. I'm having a hard time finding information on the ingredients. Is there no alcohol and sugar in it? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily

        November 30, 2020 at 2:10 pm

        Oh yay! I’m glad you love the recipes!
        I do use an alcohol based vanilla but I don’t think it has any sugar added

        Reply
    7. Stacie

      April 14, 2023 at 8:43 am

      4 stars
      Delicious, they never made it to the 'ball' step, I did not have syrup, so just used alittle banana.

      Reply

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