I love a good bliss ball moment. It’s my ultimate 3:30pm situation—warm herbal tea in hand, and a freshly made bliss ball on the side … sigh. Now that’s a little slice of heaven for me. Recently, I was on the hunt for more variety in my bliss ball life, all while my partner was dealing with some pretty bad shoulder pain. Now if you didn’t know, turmeric has many benefits and is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and so I thought I might try and hit a two for one; creating a delicious gluten free vegan snack for me, and something that could help naturally reduce his shoulder inflammation (yup, best partner award right here!). And that’s how this lil golden turmeric ball recipe was created!
I must warn you, there are a few essential tips to follow to get these balls just right. You don’t want crumbly dough or turmeric stains on your good white tablecloths. But don’t worry, I’ve made these gluten-free vegan snacks over and over, so you don’t have to, and I’ll share just how to get it right! While there are many turmeric ball recipes out there, I haven’t come across any that use the complementary flavor of orange and this is where these little beauties shine! The orange adds a slight sweet tart flavor, perfectly tying together the warm spices and sweet dates. So grab your blender, and let’s get started on this delightful Turmeric Balls journey!
Why Choose This Recipe – Discover Hidden Benefits of Turmeric Balls
This Turmeric Balls recipe is a must-try for several reasons:
- Zesty Citrus Flavor Explosion: The combination of turmeric and orange creates a vibrant, zesty flavor that’s irresistible in this bliss ball recipe.
- Health Boost: Packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with the wide variety of spices, these balls are a great way to boost your health.
- Eco-Friendly: No baking required means you’re saving energy and keeping your kitchen cool.
- Quick & Easy: Simple ingredients and minimal preparation make this a perfect Bliss Ball Recipe for busy days.
Star Ingredients for Zesty Orange Turmeric Balls
Turmeric
Turmeric is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can help reduce inflammation, improve brain function, and even lower the risk of heart disease. Pro tip… combining turmeric with black pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric (and guess what, we’ll be adding that to enhance the benefits of our turmeric balls in this recipe for this exact reason!).
Ginger
Ginger aids digestion, reduces nausea, and fights the flu and common cold. Fresh ginger provides a more robust flavor, while ground ginger offers convenience.
Almonds
Almonds are a great source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. They can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce hunger, making them a perfect addition to any Healthy Turmeric Snacks.
Dates
Dates are a natural sweetener packed with fiber and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. They add sweetness to this bliss ball recipe without the need for refined sugar. Now for the recipe, I’ve used just your standard run-of-the-mill pitted dates, but you can get fancy here and use medjool dates. If you choose this option you don’t need to soak them as they often are much juicer, and you’ll find you’ll get more of a caramel taste.
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Freshly squeezed orange juice adds a burst of citrus flavor and a dose of vitamin C, which is excellent for your immune system. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system and improves the absorption of non-heme iron from plant sources, which is beneficial in a plant-based diet.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil provides healthy fats and even more benefits of our turmeric balls that help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and antioxidants in turmeric, fats and turmeric are like two peas in a pod! It also adds that rich texture to these Gluten-Free Turmeric Balls.
What do we need?
To get started, gather the following ingredients for our zesty bliss ball recipe:
- 1/2 cup / 80 grams Raw Almonds
- 1 cup / 80 grams Rolled Oats (blended)
- 1/2 cup / 70 grams Dates, pits removed (soak in hot water for 10 minutes)
- 1 cup / 60 grams Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 2 teaspoons/ 2 grams Grated Fresh Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon / 1 grams Cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons / 3g Grated Fresh Turmeric (or 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder)
- 1/8 teaspoon (a pinch) of Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1 teaspoon of Coconut Syrup (or maple syrup)
- 2 tablespoons / 5g of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon of water (if necessary if texture is too crumbly)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Turmeric Balls
First prepare your Ingredients, make sure your dates are pitted and soak them in hot water and put aside. Blend your oats until they resemble a flour like consistency.
Next add your coconut and almonds, I like to add these and and blend now as I find if I blend with the oats, the oats won’t be a fine.
Now add in your remaining ingredients and spices, add the dates, coconut oil, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and freshly squeezed orange juice to the blender.
Blend until a thick, sticky paste forms. If the mixture is too crumbly, add 1-2 more dates or 1 teaspoon of water to the mix. Remember don’t over blend!
Get rolling! Roll each ball with slightly wet hands. You can opt to roll in powdered turmeric, in shredded coconut shavings or any other toppings you please! Transfer the turmeric balls to the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up before eating if you’re going to down them straight away, then enjoy and share away!
Pro Tip! Avoid those Turmeric Stains – Turmeric is notorious for staining everything it touches (trust me I know! You should have seen my shirt after shooting these little beauties!). I would strongly suggest to either 1) Use gloves when rolling the balls to keep your hands stain-free or 2) If you don’t have gloves handy and do get turmeric on your hands, try scrubbing with baking soda and lemon juice.
More Expert Tips – take note!
- Fresh vs. Ground Turmeric/Ginger: Fresh turmeric and ginger offer a more potent flavor and added health benefits, but ground versions are convenient and still effective. If you have both on hand, I would suggest adding in a 1/2 teaspoon of extra powdered turmeric if you really want to bring out that orange colour in your balls.
- Balancing Flavors: If you find the turmeric flavor too strong, add a bit more orange juice to balance it out.
- Texture Control: If the balls fall apart easily, you have a few options. I would suggest first to add in a teaspoon of water or a teaspoon extra of coconut oil and pulse and see how your bliss ball recipe looks. If it’s still crumbly add in another teaspoon and pulse. You can also add in 1-2 more dates however this will adjust the sweetness.
- Don’t over blend – I’ve done this time and time again, and learnt my lesson the hard way. If you over blend your mixture, you’ll find that your mixture actually ‘splits’. The dough will become rubbery and your oil will separate out and away from your dough. If this happens you can save your mixture by adding in more dry ingredients (oats/almonds etc), but blend separately before adding them in, and remember just to pulse them through.
- Keep rollin’ rollin’: Ever tried to roll bliss balls but they don’t look quite right? Wet your hands slightly first before rolling, you’ll achieve a much more even surface on the outside and avoid more cracking and crumbling.
Subs and Variations for Turmeric Bliss Ball Recipe
- Nut-Free Option: Replace almonds with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for another type of gluten-free vegan snack.
- Sweetness Level: Adjust the number of dates to control the sweetness.
- Flavor Twist: Add a pinch of cardamom for an extra layer of flavor.
- Jaffa Balls : Drizzle with some melted chocolate – orange and chocolate is never a bad idea!
Frequently Asked Questions about Turmeric Bliss Balls:
Yes, you can substitute almonds with cashews, walnuts, or any other nut of your choice.
These turmeric balls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or even better, freeze them baby! They’ll keep well up to 3-4 weeks after freezing. Just thaw at room temperature before eating if doing this.
No dramas! You can use ground ginger and turmeric as substitutes, you’ll still receive great benefits of these turmeric balls however the flavor will be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.
Yes, as long as you use certified gluten-free oats, these turmeric balls are gluten-free.
Yes, you can use other natural sweeteners like maple syrup. Adjust the quantity to taste.
Turmeric Balls with Orange
Equipment
- 1 Blender/Food processor If you use a blender I suggest 'nutri bullet' style with a smaller cup. Otherwise a standard food processor will work well.
- 1 Medium mixing bowl
- 1 spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup dates (pitted)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon fresh ginger (peeled and grated)
- 3 tablespoons fresh turmeric (peeled and grated)
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon coconut syrup
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon water (if needed)
Instructions
Prepare your ingredients
- Ensure your dates are pitted and soak them in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Blend your oats until they resemble a flour-like consistency. Set aside.
Blend the Base
- Add the shredded coconut and almonds to the blender. Blend until the nuts and coconut are blended through well. Blending these separately ensures the oats remain fine.
- Now add the soaked dates (drained), coconut oil, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and freshly squeezed orange juice to the blender. Blend until a thick, sticky paste forms. (If the mixture is too crumbly, add 1-2 more dates or 1 teaspoon of water). Avoid over-blending to maintain a good texture.
Form the Balls
- Scoop out approximately 45g or 1 heaped tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball with slightly wet hands. This helps prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands. Optionally, roll each ball in powdered turmeric, shredded coconut shavings, or any other toppings you prefer.
Chill and Enjoy
- Transfer the turmeric balls to the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up. Enjoy your delicious, healthy, and vibrant Turmeric Balls immediately or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Avoiding Turmeric Stains: Use gloves when rolling the balls to prevent turmeric stains on your hands. If you do get stains, scrubbing with baking soda and lemon juice can help.
- Texture Control: If the balls fall apart easily, blending in 1-2 more dates or a small amount of water can help bind the mixture.
- Balancing Flavors: If the turmeric flavor is too strong, add a bit more orange juice to balance it out.
Did you try this recipe?
Drop a comment below to share how it turned out! Tag @onecupofkindness on Instagram and use the hashtag #onecupofkindness.
