Vegan Coconut Lime Balls (Printable Version)

Bright, zesty balls combining coconut, lime, dates, and cashews for a wholesome, easy snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup raw cashews
02 - 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, approximately 10 large dates
03 - ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, plus extra for rolling

→ Flavor

04 - Zest of 2 limes
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
06 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
07 - Pinch of sea salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Place raw cashews in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not ground into paste.
02 - Add pitted dates, shredded coconut, lime zest, lime juice, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the food processor. Process until the mixture holds together when pressed, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
03 - Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls using your hands.
04 - Roll each ball in additional shredded coconut to coat evenly.
05 - Place energy balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to achieve optimal texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No baking required, which means you can make these while your coffee brews on a lazy morning.
  • The lime and coconut combo tastes like a vacation in ball form, and guests always ask what's in them.
  • They last in the fridge for a week, so one batch covers your snack situation for days.
02 -
  • Don't overprocess the cashews at the start, or they'll turn into cashew butter and your balls will be greasy instead of perfectly dense.
  • The mixture should be slightly sticky to the touch when you're ready to roll; if it's too dry, you missed when to stop the processor, and you can save it by adding a teaspoon of maple syrup or lemon juice to bring it back.
03 -
  • If you want extra sweetness, add 1-2 teaspoons of maple syrup to the mixture during processing; it dissolves seamlessly and won't make the texture grainy.
  • Use a microplane zester for the lime zest rather than a box grater, because microplanes catch all the aromatic oils without including too much bitter white pith.
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