Apricot Coconut Cashew Balls
In short: Chewy dried apricots, cashews and coconut blitzed into bright, lightly sweet balls with a hint of lemon and ginger. No oven needed. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 165 kcal
Dried apricots bring a tart, jammy sweetness that makes these balls taste different from the usual date and chocolate version. Cashews make them creamy, coconut adds chew and a little lemon zest keeps them bright. They are vegan, need no oven and travel well in a small tin. A batch makes about sixteen, enough for a week of lunchboxes.
Instructions
- Soak the apricots in hot water for 10 minutes if they are firm, then drain well and pat dry.
- Process the cashews and the 40 g of coconut for about 15 seconds, until finely chopped.
- Add the apricots, lemon zest, ginger, maple syrup and salt. Process for 1 minute, scraping the bowl, until the dough sticks together when pinched.
- Roll level tablespoons of dough into balls, then roll each ball in the remaining coconut.
- Chill for 30 minutes so the balls firm up, then store in a lidded tin or container.
Tips
- Dried mango, peaches or figs work in place of apricots. Unsulfured apricots are darker and taste more of caramel, but both types work.
- For a nut-free batch, swap the cashews for the same weight of sunflower seeds and add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to keep the dough soft.
Questions and answers
Can I make apricot balls without a food processor?
A high-powered blender works for small batches. Otherwise soften the apricots in hot water, mash them with a fork and chop the nuts very finely by hand, though the texture will be rougher.
How long do apricot coconut balls keep?
In an airtight container in the fridge they last 10 days. They also freeze well for up to 3 months.
Are these balls vegan and gluten-free?
Yes, every ingredient is plant-based and naturally gluten-free. Dried apricots are often preserved with sulfites, so check the label if you avoid them.
How long does it take to make Apricot Coconut Cashew Balls?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Apricot Coconut Cashew Balls?
About 165 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 19 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 165 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 19 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 13 g |
| Sodium | 35 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
