Apricot Cashew Bliss Balls with Maca, Matcha, and Orange

These Apricot Cashew Bliss Balls are a healthy snack and easy to make. Perfect for meal prepping on a Sunday (or any day), you can leave them in the fridge for up to 5 days! The great thing about this is, whenever you feel like having a treat, they are waiting for you and will surely give you an energy boost!

Let me give you just a brief summary of the most outstanding health benefits of the ingredients.

Health Benefits

While dried apricots are a source of complex carbs and very nutritive, cashews are a source of protein and high in copper. Copper aids in the formation of healthy bones, hair, red blood cells, and skin. Together with vitamin C and zinc, copper forms elastin which is also involved in healing processes. And last, but not least, copper takes part in the body’s energy production.

Maca is high in protein, minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium, antioxidants such as vitamin C and E and zinc, as well as vitamin B1, B2, and B12. The rain forest herb (which is actually a member of the potato family) has been used in the diet of Peruvians for over 2000 years and is known to increase energy and support the immune system. Maca is considered a remedy for chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, and fertility issues.

Matcha is really high in antioxidants, contains a bit of caffeine and is known to stimulate slightly. It enhances focus and mood and apart from its high fiber content, vitamin C, zinc, chromium, magnesium and selenium are all nutrients found in this green tea. Partly due to its chromium content, matcha supports blood sugar regulation.

Now that I mentioned antioxidants twice, you may wonder why are antioxidants so important? They are the answer to free radicals; they are what we need to protect ourselves from cellular damage caused by any stress - dietary, environmental, emotional, physical, to mention a few.

Orange peel contains more vitamin C than the fruit’s flesh itself. The peel (as well as the white pith) is high in flavonoids which can help in the prevention of chronic diseases. Due to its properties, orange peel is considered anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, and healthy for the heart.

Recipe

Ingredients

Makes about 28 bliss balls

200g dried apricots

1 cup cashews, raw

½ cup coconut shreds

1 teaspoon maca powder

1-1,5 teaspoons matcha powder

1/8 of orange peel, frozen or fresh (organic!)

You need a food processor to make this!

Instructions

1. Place apricots and cashews into your food processor and blend at high speed until you have an even mixture of little crumbles (see photo below).

2. Add coconut, maca, matcha and a piece of organic orange peel and blend on high speed again for a bit, until the orange peel blends with the crumbs.

3. To shape the balls, take about a heaped teaspoon of the dough. Press and shape it with your hands, then leave the bliss balls in the fridge to set.

Enjoy!