These Bliss Ball Bugs make a healthy Halloween treat or snack for kids. They are so easy to make so get the kids involved and have some Halloween fun.
The balls are made with cashew nuts and dates, sweetened with maple syrup and get their chocolate taste from cocoa. So these really are a treat you can eat at any time.
You could mix it up, add more legs to make spiders, or use chocolate buttons to make wings and turn these bliss ball bugs into flying bugs. These cute Halloween snacks are child-friendly and Mum friendly!
Kid-friendly Bliss Balls.
Halloween candy is awesome! For weeks after Halloween, there are buckets of lollies, hard candy, jellies and chocolate just waiting to be enjoyed!
But as part of our Halloween party this year, I am offering a healthier alternative with these Bliss Ball Bugs.
Whenever I make bliss balls my kids look at them and proclaim them to be "roo poo". Apparently, healthy bliss balls look like balls of kangaroo poop!
I did wonder if perhaps that was Halloweeny enough? But it wasn't going to entice them into trying them. So I turned the roo poo into bugs and both boys ate them! Winner.
Turning bliss balls into Halloween bugs.
Once you have rolled the bliss balls the possibilities here are so much fun. I went for 6 legged bugs - using pretzels as legs and some peanut butter chips for eyes.
But you could add more pretzel legs and turn these into spiders. Use white chocolate buttons to make wings for your bugs. Roll the balls into long thin worms. Or just serve them as bliss balls and call them roo poo.
How to make bliss balls
You will need a food processor, after that it is just a case of adding the ingredients and letting the blades do the work.
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It will quickly turn your ingredients into a slightly sticky mixture that can be rolled into balls.
I find it is best to add the nuts and dates first and give them a good whizz so they have already broken down before I add the cocoa powder and maple syrup.
Instead of maple syrup, you can use honey or rice malt syrup.
Once the mixture has combined use a tablespoon to scoop out some mixture, then roll the balls around in your palms to achieve the ball shape. It is handy to have slightly damp hands here as the mixture doesn't stick so much. Or you can lightly coat your palms in a little neutral-flavored oil.
Enjoy x
For more halloween food why not try:
- Mini Halloween Pies
- 'Snakes' Tongue Rolls – Halloween Hot Dogs
- Rice Krispies Treat Marshmallow Brains
- Witches Hat Cheese Ball
- Sweet and Sour ‘Bat’ Wings
- Witches Hair Pasta
Pin this recipe for these Halloween Bliss Ball Bugs. Pin it here.
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Bliss Ball Bugs Recipe
Ingredients
For the bliss balls
- 1 cup cashew nuts
- ¾ cup dried dates
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
To decorate (see note 1)
- pretzel sticks
- peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Place the cashew nuts and dates in the bowl of a food processor and whizz until lightly broken down.
- Remove the lid and add the cocoa powder and maple syrup.
- Whizz again until the mixture forms a rough ball.
- Dampen your hands and roll tablespoon amounts of the mixture into balls.
- Decorate with pretzel legs and peanut butter chips eyes.
Notes
- You can mix up the decoration here.
- Use more pretzel legs to turn the bugs into spiders
- Use chocolate chips or caramel chips for eyes
- Use chocolate buttons to add wings to your bugs.
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
hol84 says
Spiders=arachnids so they have 8 legs, not six!
Claire McEwen says
This is very true, however these are bugs not spiders, so they only need 6 legs.
Happy Halloween
Cx
Eva says
These are seriously so cute! I love the huge eyes, gives them so much personality.
Jenni says
These are so cute! I love that they are a treat for my kids, but aren't loaded with sugar and food coloring! My kids helped me make these and they couldn't stop talking about how much they loved them!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so pleased the kids loved making them and eating them. Isn't it great when they enjoy healthy treats as much as the sugar filled ones 😀 😀
Traci says
OMgosh...the cutest spiders on the planet! How fun and adorable for Halloween...no excuse to NOT make these. They're SO easy, delicious, and healthy! Thanks for another winner, Claire!
Debbie says
What an adorable idea and healthy!! This is easy enough the kids can help. Cute recipe, I love these Ball bugs.
Ben says
Those are cute and they look delicious. I'll have to make up a batch of these for the kids.