Inspired by the Starbucks bliss bars these orange cranberry bliss balls are full of goodness like cashew butter, oats and fruit. An awesome healthy snack to fuel your afternoons and beat the 3pm energy slump!

Anyone else obsessed with the cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks? I know there’s a fan club out there, they are ridiculously good.  If you are a cranberry bliss bar virgin this is what you have been missing out on…a blondie cake base topped with cream cheese icing, dried cranberries and white orange drizzle.

Yeah, they SO good but NOT so good for your waistline.

Guess what??? I’ve created my own healthy version and rolled them up into cute little balls.  I do love anything rolled up into a ball so I am adding this orange cranberry protein snack ball recipe to the top of my heathy snack ball list!

I used rolled oats, almonds, cashew butter and coconut as the base ingredients then added fresh orange juice and zest and mixed them together by hand.

Lastly I added dried tart cranberries, protein powder and drizzled them with white chocolate. I eliminated refined sugars, made the balls gluten free and somehow achieved a super decadent copycat Starbuck orange-cranberry bliss BALL!

Not sure about you, but I rarely make it from lunch to dinner without at least a little snacking. That’s why I always make sure to have a healthy (and sweet) snack on hand, so when hunger pangs strike, I can calm them almost instantly. This most definitely saves me from much bigger snacking (uncontrollably) later on.

I’m all about no-bake snacks lately. There’s just a laziness in my bones that knows no bounds. Sometimes laziness must be forgiven though. Especially when the results are like this.

Namely, sweet, crunchy balls of healthy bliss, studded with cranberries, flavoured with orange, loaded with good stuff like nuts, oats, coconut  and drizzled in white chocolate.

Recipe highlights:

Ready in 10 minutes. Like protein balls and peanut butter oatmeal balls, you can have these babies ready in 10 minutes or less.

Healthy and nutritious. Almonds offer healthy fats and protein, dates have plenty of potassium, and cranberries are packed with antioxidants.

What I love most about these protein snack balls is how versatile they are! They make the perfect pre-or post-workout snack and pack easily into lunch boxes. I find even the pickiest of kiddos really love them, which makes me feel good since they are made with only wholesome ingredients.

First of all you can definitely reason with yourself that one or several of these would make a semi-healthy breakfast or snack. I mean, oats? Fruit? Hello! This is health.

Secondly, the texture here wins. It’s pretty much oatmeal cookie dough meets coconutty treats. Also they are small enough that you are allowed to eat at least 2 or 3 or even 4 at one go.

So, just do as I suggest and make a batch of these quick to keep in the fridge for whenever you are starving for something awesome. You can thank me later. 🙂

Orange Cranberry Protein Snack Balls

These orange-cranberry protein balls are the perfect combination of sweet, tangy and nutty flavors, with a refreshing hint of citrus. These bite-size snack balls are perfect for on the go, pre- or post-workout fuel or a healthy pick-me-up any time of day.

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword clean eating dessert or snack, no bake orange cranberry energy balls, orange cranberry protein bliss balls, orange cranberry protein snack balls, orange cranberry snack balls no bake

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup cashew (or any other nut) butter
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
• 1 orange, juice and zest

Chocolate Drizzle

• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Instructions

• In a medium mixing bowl, mix together cashew butter, honey, orange juice and zest.

  Add oats, chopped almonds, desiccated coconut, protein powder and dried cranberries. Stir to combine.

  Roll into 12 equal sized snack balls (about 2 tablespoons each).

White Chocolate Drizzle

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 20 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Drizzle chocolate over the tops of the bliss balls using a spoon. Place in the freezer until the chocolate has set (about 5 minutes).

  Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months.

  I like to store them in between sheets of parchment paper so they don’t stick together. If fully frozen let sit out for a few minutes for better texture.  

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites