Have you heard of a landscape bubble? It’s a phenomenon that occurs every time we have major landscape work done. An invisible bubble surrounds our house and does two things; prevents rain and causes incredible heat. Guess what? We just had new sod laid. It’s been hot and dry. I needed a cool energy snack and so I made No-Bake Fruit Balls.
Doing my usual yard work has been a challenge. Normally I get it all done in the morning. I start with edging, then trimming, blowing, and finally cutting the grass. The past two weeks it’s been so hot I’ve had to stop and cool down. The heat sucked all my energy and strength right out.
No-Bake Fruit Balls to the rescue. They stay in the fridge so they are nice and cool. A mixture of dried fruit (prunes, dates, apricots, and raisins) along with honey provide natural sweetness and energy. There is another burst and crunch from almonds. Coconut surrounds it all with more goodness.
So are these fruit balls cookies or candy? The recipe is adapted from one in a Better Homes and Gardens cookie recipe booklet published in 1986 (no longer in print). I figure if BHG calls them cookies then I will too. I’ve seen similar ones lately called energy balls. So call them whatever you want. I’m sticking with cookies.
The Creative Cookie Exchange theme this month is No Bake. It’s the second time the group has had the theme. Last time I made No-Bake Bourbon Pecan Cookies. Scroll down below the recipe and long collage photo to see the list of ones made this time. Also look at my No-Bake Summer Fruit Cream Cheese Tarts for a cool and creamy dessert. Thanks to Karen of Karen’s Kitchen Stories for hosting this month.
No-Bake Fruit Balls
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pitted dried prunes
- 3/4 cup pitted whole dates
- 1/2 cup dried apricots or peaches
- 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 cup coconut flakes
Instructions
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Combine all ingredients except coconut in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a knife blade. Process until ground.
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Shape mixture into 24 balls. Roll balls in coconut flakes. Chill balls.
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Keep balls chilled in a sealed container when not serving.
Recipe Notes
No-Bake Fruit Balls are a chewy snack with natural sweetness from fruit and honey. Almonds are on the inside and coconut on the outside.
Too hot to turn on your oven? The theme this month for the Creative Cookie Exchange group is No Bake Cookies!
You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:
- Coconut Apricot Slice from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
- Energy Bars from Baking in Pyjamas
- No Bake Almond Joy Bars from 2 Cookin Mamas
- No Bake Apricot Coconut Oatmeal Cookies from A Shaggy Dough Story
- No Bake Cookie Butter S’mores Bites from Live…Bake…Love
- No-Bake Fruit Balls from Magnolia Days
- No Bake Nutella Cookies from flours and frostings
- Slow Cooker Cocoa Peanut Butter Oat Cookies from Food Lust People Love
- Sweet and Salty Popcorn Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura via email (thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com) and she will get you added to our Facebook group where discuss our cookies and share links.
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Medeja says
What a yummy snack! I love all the dried fruit, must taste amazing 🙂
Linda @ 2 Cookin Mamas says
Energy balls, cookies … whatever you call them they look like the perfect snack to me. I know what you mean about working outside in the heat, about 1-1/2 hours is about all I can take when it’s 95 degrees and 98% humidity. But it’s worth it when it’s done and I feel justified to have a few of your cookies.
Faye says
Everyone posted such pretty and delicious looking desserts! These look amazing. I love all of the flavors in them.
Stephanie | Worth Whisking says
Renee, these are perfect for someone like me who is fruit and vegetable challenged! The combination of all of those sweet fruits with almonds and coconut sounds wonderful! A great guilt-free snack!
Karen Kerr says
Thank YOU so much for the final html! These look amazing and the photos are gorgeous as always! You deserve an extra one after all of that yard work!
Robin @ A Shaggy Dough Story says
I’m getting tired and hungry just THINKING about doing yardwork in the heat and humidity. These look great and I’ll have to give them a try (minus the nuts for this nut hater.) Thanks for the recipe!
akshatha says
Lovely flavours here and the pictures are to die for!!
Laura@ Baking in Pyjamas says
These remind me of the filling of mince pies, they look lovely and I can imagine really yummy straight from the fridge.