EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP
THEME: #276 KIDS TREATS
RECIPE: CARROT BLISS BALLS
Carrot Bliss Balls
Carrot Bliss Balls with flavors from ginger and cinnamon. Nuts, seeds, coconut, turmeric powder, oats, dates, carrots are added. These balls are not only nutritious but are healthy, full of fiber and free from processed sugar. The natural sweetness comes from the dates.
What are Bliss Balls?
Also known as energy balls or protein balls, these balls are made with ingredients that provide energy. Most ingredients like dates, nuts, other dried fruits are used. Sometimes other ingredients like seeds, oats, healthy flour, protein powder, healthy powders like maca, spirulina, baobab, ashwagandha, etc are added. It all depends on what one requires from the energy balls. They make ideal snack option, perfect for kids lunch boxes and also great as an energy booster after a workout.
Some more Bliss Balls/ Energy Balls you may want to check out
- Beetroot Energy Balls – made from cooked beetroot and other energy providing ingredients.
- Date Coconut Energy Balls – easy to make using dates, coconut and nuts.
- Batheeth – I like to use this traditional Emirati Sweet as energy balls. With roasted wheat flour and dates, they are energy boosting balls.
- Almond, Coconut and Cacao Nib Bites – loaded with nuts and coconut.
- Swaty’s Apricot Fig and Nut Energy Bites are a must checkout. I can imagine how flavorful they must be with fennel seeds added to them.
FoodieMonday/ Bloghop Group
When Swaty who blogs at Food Trails 25, suggested any Kids Treats for a Kids Party. It got me thinking as to when did I last prepare food for a kiddie’s party. Its been ages. Since the kids went off to high school, kids parties at home stopped. It got me thinking of the food we use to prepare for their birthday parties and realized that mostly it was all Indian snacks like kachori, samosa, pattis, etc along with dry snacks like cookies, chakri, farsi puri, sev, etc. Once in a while it would be cucumber tomato sandwiches or jam sandwiches. And of course a cake has to be there and that was dessert. Gulab jamun use to be the other dessert favorite.
Modern Time Kids Parties
However, I hear nowadays kids parties are totally different. One has to take into consideration allergies, food has to be low in sugar, must be nutritious and healthy. More attention is paid for use of fresh vegetables, fruits in whatever is prepared. I believe that if kids are exposed to healthier eating habits from a very young age, they really don’t choose sugary unhealthy foods. Can’t believe when my 4 year old nephew opted for yogurt instead of cake as his choice of dessert.
Here are some Ideas for Kids Party:
- Witches’ Finger Breadsticks – if you’re hosting a Halloween Party. If not just roll the breadsticks into normal sticks. Kids love them with tomato sauce.
- Baked Farsi Puri – can omit green chilis.
- Chikoo/ Sapodilla Kulfi – a perfect dessert option as its contains only a small amount of brown sugar.
- Sev Mumra – most kids love this snack, I know my kids did.
- Beetroot Blueberry Pops – colorful, healthy with no added sugar.
- Mini Vada Pav – is an excellent dish to serve at parties. I prefer using brown bread.
- Moong Paniyaram – healthy and delicious as party bites or starters.
- Beetroot Ammini Kozhukattai – naturally colorful savory party bites.
- Paneer Naan Bites – every kid’s favorite paneer.
- Jaggery Banana Bread – a healthy quick tea bread option
- Mango Yogurt Smoothie – serve healthy fruity and filling drinks
- Banana Frozen Yogurt – perfect dessert option as its sugar free
- Mini Pancake Stacks – kids love these tiny pancakes on a stick
- Chocolate Dipped Frozen Banana – make it more delicious by coating them with nuts, coconut or sprinkles.
- Chocolate Coated Strawberries – absolutely delicious
- Breakfast Muffins – don’t be deceived by the name, these sugar free, healthy muffins can be enjoyed any time of the day. Perfect option for kids parties.
- Banana Peanut Butter and Oats Smoothie – most kids love peanut butter.
My Kids Party Treat – Carrot Bliss Balls
For this theme, I didn’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen because of my severe lower backache and also because it really hot. I opted for Carrot Bliss Balls, as my contribution for kids party. Easy to make and flavorful. With Christmas in mind, can put these out for the Reindeer Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, Donner instead of plain carrots. Did I mention that they taste like a carrot cake?
Ingredients required for Carrot Bliss Balls
- Fresh Carrots – peeled and chopped into chunks. I used 250g of carrots.
- Dates – Any soft dates of your choice. Measure 200g of pitted dates, i.e. without the seeds. Can also add other dried fruits like apricots, raisins, figs. Measure to make it up to 200g.
- Pumpkin Seeds – or any seeds of your choice
- Cashew Nuts – or any nuts of your choice. Lightly roast them. If kids have nut allergies, replace it with seeds.
- Oats – I used normal quick oats.
- Desiccated Coconut – unsweetened
- Cinnamon Powder
- Ginger Powder – according to your taste
- Turmeric Powder – an excellent immunity booster
Dietary Tips:
- Gluten Free
- Vegan
- Kids Friendly
- Diabetic Friendly
CARROT BLISS BALLS
Ingredients
- 250 g carrots
- 200 g pitted dates (1 cup tightly packed)
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup cashew nuts (approx. 150g)
- ½ cup oats
- ½ cup desiccated coconut unsweetened
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- ½ - 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
COATING OPTIONS
- some desiccated coconut
- some cocoa powder
- some grated dark chocolate
- some sesame seeds roasted
Instructions
- Wash, peel and chop the carrots into chunks.
- Add the chopped carrots to the food processor.
- Process till you get finely minced carrots.
- Add dates, desiccated coconut, nuts, pumpkin seeds, oats, cinnamon powder, ginger powder and turmeric powder.
- Process the mixture till it becomes like a paste.
- Take about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball.
- Repeat the above step with the remaining carrot date mixture.
- Add the coating of your choice into a small plate or saucer.
- Roll the balls in the coating.
- Arrange the carrot bliss balls on a tray and allow them to chill in the fridge for one hour or so.
- Serve when required.
Notes
- Can leave the carrot bliss balls uncoated if you wish.
- Use a coating of your choice.
- Add ginger powder according to your taste.
- Store the bliss balls in an airtight container in the fridge till required.
- These carrot bliss balls will stay fresh in the fridge for at least a week.
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A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962