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Home » Recipes

Bliss Balls! 3 Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Recipes (Vegan & Oil-Free)

Published: 16 Apr 2021 · Updated: 20 Apr 2021 by Julianne Lynch · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 6 Comments

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Girl Scout Cookie Bliss Balls pin.
Girl Scout Cookie Bliss Balls pin.

These Bliss Balls are inspired by three of my favorite Girl Scout Cookies: Caramel deLites, Lemonades, and Thin Mints. You just need a food processor and a handful of simple ingredients for a delicious, vegan, WFPB version of these nostalgic treats!

Vegan bliss balls in three bowls with a hand picking up one.
Choose your favorite Girl Scout Cookie inspired flavor: Samoas, Thin Mints, or Lemonades!

As a former Girl Scout, I spent a lot of time selling boxes of cookies to my neighbors and parents' coworkers. These cookies represent something special to so many people, and I wanted to replicate the flavors in a way that was easy, vegan, and WFPB. There are plenty of healthy Girl Scout Cookie Recipes online, but they tend to be a bit more complicated. However, these Bliss Balls are super simple, require no oven, and can be made in about 15 minutes. Plus they make an absolutely delicious snack, dessert, or even an on-the-go breakfast!

Jump to:
  • What are Bliss Balls?
  • Can these be nut-free?
  • Caramel deLites Bliss Balls
  • Lemon Bliss Balls
  • Thin Mint Bliss Balls
  • Instructions
  • Tips for Making Perfect Bliss Balls
  • How to serve
  • How to store
  • More no-bake vegan dessert recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

You'll love these Bliss Ball recipes because they're:

  • Inspired by your favorite Girl Scout Cookies
  • Quick & Easy
  • No-bake/Oven-free!
  • Vegan/Dairy-Free/Egg-Free
  • Refined Sugar-Free
  • WFPB (Whole Foods Plant Based)
  • Gluten-Free
  • Raw
  • Healthy
  • High Protein
  • Kid-friendly
  • Perfect for a make-ahead dessert or snack
  • Absolutely Delicious!

Bliss Balls 3 Ways: Caramel Delight, Lemon, and Thin Mint.
Store these Girl Scout Cookie Bliss Balls in the fridge for quick, healthy snacks throughout the week!

What are Bliss Balls?

Bliss balls generally consist of some kind of dried fruit (most often dates or apricots) and nuts (or sometimes oats). These are blended together with other ingredients to create different flavor variations. They're also sometimes called protein balls, protein bites, energy balls, energy bites, raw bites--okay they go by a lot of names.... But for this recipe, I choose Bliss Balls because that's exactly what they are: little balls of bliss!

Can these be nut-free?

While I haven't tested these as nut-free, most recipes like this will work with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. I also think hemp seeds (hemp hearts) would make a good substitute.

Caramel deLites Bliss Balls

Sometimes called Samoas (or Caramel Delights), Caramel DeLites have long been my favorite type of Girl Scout Cookie, and therefore my favorite of this bunch. The combination of sweet dates, buttery cashews, rich cocoa powder, and coconut just brings these Bliss Balls together for a perfect treat!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp desiccated coconut (plus about ⅓ cup for rolling)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Substitutions & Variations

  • Just about any nut (almonds, walnuts, pecans) could be substituted for the cashews. Each will offer a slightly different flavor profile, and while I think cashews work best here, the others would still be tasty.
  • If you don't have pitted dates, you could try raisins.
  • If you can only find coconut shreds, try blitzing them in the food processor or a spice grinder first for a finer consistency.
  • For an even closer replication of Caramel deLites, melt some dark vegan chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler and drizzle over each bliss ball!
Carmel Delight Bliss Balls on plate.
Samoa Bliss Balls combine all the delicious flavors of salted caramel, chocolate, and coconut!

Lemon Bliss Balls

There have been a few different lemon-flavored Girl Scout Cookies over the years and my favorites were the Lemon Sandwich Cookies--aka Lemonades. For this recipe, I think blanched almonds work best (though cashews would also be great). I decided to add a little coconut to this recipe and found that it gives just the right amount of creaminess without overpowering. My favorite ingredient for rolling is hemp seeds because they add a little crunch, but the coconut is also great.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • ¼ cup almond flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp desiccated coconut
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ⅓ cup desiccated coconut or hemp seeds (optional for rolling)

Substitutions

  • Oat flour or coconut flour could be substituted for the almond flour. Do not use wheat flour!
  • Cashews or macadamia nuts could be substituted for the almonds. I would not use pecans or walnuts.
  • My favorite way to roll these was in the hemp seeds but you could roll them in whatever you like or nothing at all!
Lemon Bliss Balls on plate.
Lemon Bliss Balls taste great rolled in hemp seeds, desiccated coconut, or nothing at all!

Thin Mint Bliss Balls

There is something so cool and refreshing about the combination of mint and chocolate! When I created this recipe I was a little nervous that the walnuts wouldn't pair right, but I was wrong! They add just the right kind of rich cookie feel. These Thin Mint Bliss Balls bring all the flavor of the classic treat!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (taste to adjust--see not below)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Substitutions & Variations

  • Cashews would make a fine substitute for the walnuts. I'm not sure how the almond flavor and mint would play together. I would avoid strongly flavored nuts like pecans.
  • I prefer these "naked" (aka, not rolled in anything), but you could roll them in more cocoa powder or mini vegan chocolate chips. For color, mint powder (if you can find it) would look really striking, though I would be concerned about how overpowering the mint flavor would be.
Thin Mint Bliss Balls on plate with mint leaves.
The classic flavor of Thin Mints reimagined as Bliss Balls!

Instructions

Each of these Bliss Ball Recipes follows the same basic steps. The main variation is in the ingredients and whether or not you choose to roll them in the something at the end. For these photos, I'll show you how to make Caramel deLite Bliss Balls. You can also check out this video for No-Bake Brownie Bites, which is basically the same process.

  1. Whichever recipe you choose, start by blending 1 cup of the main nut ingredient (cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc.) in the food processor until a coarse meal forms.
  • Cashews in food processor.
  • Cashews processed into a coarse meal.
  1. Next, add 1 cup of dried, pitted dates. (Be sure that none of the dates have pits because they can ruin your food processor blade.)
  2. After the dates and cashews are incorporated, add the other ingredients (except the optional rolling ingredient) and blend until a loose dough forms. (In the case of the lemon bliss balls, a slightly denser dough will form.)
  • Processed cashews and dates.
  • Bliss ball dough blended.
  1. Pour the dough into a bowl. Take about 1.5 tablespoons of the dough into your hands, pressing and rolling it between your palms to form a ball. Place the finished ball on a plate and repeat until all of the dough is used up. You'll have 12 to 16 balls, all just a little smaller than a pingpong ball.
  • Two hands rolling the dough into small balls.
  • Hand holding bliss ball.
  1. If you choose to roll the balls in an outer layer, place about ⅓ cup of the rolling ingredient on a plate. Lightly roll the bliss ball around in the ingredient until the entire exterior is fully coated.
  • Hand rolling the bliss ball in desiccated coconut.
  • Samoa bliss balls on a plate.
  1. For best flavor and texture, store the bliss balls in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before eating.
  2. Check out this video for No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites to watch the blending and rolling in action! Even though it's a different recipe, the process is very similar.

Tips for Making Perfect Bliss Balls

  • Start by blending the nuts first. Then add the dates and blend again before adding the other ingredients. In my experience, this results in a better, more even result.
  • Be sure to remove the pits from the dates! If you have pitted dates, give each date a quick check before adding it to the food processor. There's usually 1 date per pack that somehow didn't get properly de-pitted. Trust me--the pits will destroy your food processor blade, so it's worth a quick check.
  • The softer your dates, the easier they are to blend. Some brands are quite soft to begin with. However, if your dates feel hard on the outside, you can easily soften them by letting them soak in hot water for ten minutes. Just be sure to thoroughly drain them before adding them to the food processor or else the dough will become too wet.

How to serve

  • I love keeping protein balls in a container in the refrigerator for a quick snack or sweet treat throughout the day.
  • Both kids and adults love them for a healthy lunchbox dessert.
  • They're also perfect for a high-protein post-workout snack.
  • A platter of bliss balls is also impressive on a dessert buffet or holiday.

How to store

  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
  • You can also store bliss balls in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just transfer the bliss balls to the refrigerator a few hours before you want to eat them.

More no-bake vegan dessert recipes

  • No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
  • No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites
  • Mango Lassi Popsicles
  • Strawberry Citrus Popsicles

📖 Recipe

Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Bliss Balls in three bowls: Thin Mint, Lemon, and Samoas.

Bliss Balls! 3 Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Recipes (Vegan & Oil-free)

These Bliss Balls are inspired by three of my favorite Girl Scout Cookies: Caramel deLites, Lemonades, and Thin Mints. You just need a food processor and a handful of simple ingredients for a delicious, vegan, WFPB version of these nostalgic treats!
4.84 from 12 votes
Print Recipe Share on Facebook Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Rolling time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 42 (12 to 16 per recipe)
Calories 92 kcal

Equipment

Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Proces...Shop on Amazon
Food Processor
Microplane Premium Classic ...Shop on Amazon
microplane

Ingredients
 
 

Caramel deLite Bliss Balls

  • 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoon desiccated coconut (plus about ⅓ cup for rolling)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Lemon Bliss Balls

  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • ¼ cup almond flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest (see additional note below)
  • 3 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon desiccated coconut
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ⅓ cup desiccated coconut or hemp seeds (optional for rolling)

Thin Mint Bliss Balls

  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (taste to adjust--see not below)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Choose 1 of the recipe variations above.
  • Add the first ingredient (1 cup of walnuts, cashews, or almonds) to the food processor. Blend until a coarse meal forms. (10 to 30 seconds).
  • Add 1 cup of pitted dates. Blend 30 to 60 seconds, until the dates are evenly chopped and loosely incorporated with the nuts.
  • Add all of the other ingredients for that bliss ball flavor *except optional ingredients for rolling.* Blend until everything is loosely incorporated. (In the case of the lemon bliss balls, a more solid dough will form.)
  • Take about 1.5 teaspoons of the dough in your hands and roll it between your palms until a smooth ball forms (see video above as reference.) Repeat until all of the dough has been used. You will have 12 to 16 bliss balls.
  • Optional step: Add ⅓ cup desiccated coconut, hemp seeds, or crushed nuts to a plate. Lightly roll each ball in the rolling ingredient until the bliss ball is covered.
  • You can serve right away, but the flavor and denisty improves after 1 hour in the refrigerator.
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Notes

  • For the Thin Mint Bliss Balls, each brand of peppermint extract will have a different level of intensity. The first time you make them, start with a few drops and then add a few more as needed. I use about 7 drops, or a little over ¼ teaspoon. Keep in mind that the flavor will deepen somewhat after the bliss balls have been in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • For the Lemon Bliss Balls, I use a Microplane to grate the lemon zest, but you can also use a regular box grater. The trick to grating lemon zest is that you just want to lightly grate off the yellow outer layer of the peel. 1 large lemon will give you the right amount of zest for this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 84mgPotassium: 137mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bliss balls, energy balls, protein balls
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Comments

    4.84 from 12 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Lauren says

    April 21, 2021 at 12:37 am

    are the calories for one ball? or what is a serving size?

    Reply
    • Julianne Lynch says

      April 21, 2021 at 6:55 am

      Hi Lauren, The nutritional info shows an estimate of the nutritional info for 1 bliss ball. This is only an estimate though because it's an average of all three varieties/flavors. You also have to take into account that each person will make their bliss balls a slightly different size. So this nutritional info basically takes all of the ingredients listed in total and divides it by 42 (3 variations with an average of 14 balls per recipe). Unfortunately, this is not very exact, but it's the best I can do with the tools available. I hope that helps a little.

      Reply
  2. Mary Anne Kiel says

    April 16, 2025 at 10:15 pm

    5 stars
    these are AMAZING :)! I served them at a recent party and everyone devoured them!

    Reply
    • Julianne Lynch says

      April 28, 2025 at 7:10 am

      Thanks! I'm so glad you liked them!

      Reply
  3. Lori says

    May 17, 2025 at 7:10 pm

    5 stars
    The lemon bliss balls are delish! Came together quickly. I did need to add about a 1/3 c of oats as my dough was too soft/sticky to roll. Refrigerated dough about 30 min then rolled into balls. I keep them in my freezer or I might eat them all in one day!!!

    Reply
    • Julianne Lynch says

      May 20, 2025 at 8:52 am

      Great! I'm so glad you liked them!

      Reply
Julianne, founder of No Sweat Vegan.

Hi, I'm Julianne! A dedicated home chef for over 20 years and a vegan recipe developer since 2020. I love creating simple and comforting vegan food for the whole family. Most of my recipes are quick, Whole-Foods Plant-Based, and easy on the budget. Thanks for stopping by!

You can also find me at AirFryerVeg.com.

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