Chocolate Coconut Balls are easy, decadent and made in one bowl. They will be your new favorite guilt free treat!
To satisfy chocolate cravings, I also like to make these healthy zucchini brownies, date bark and coconut oil fudge.
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If you are a dark chocolate lover, these chocolate coconut balls are for you! And so is my latest creation – almond flour brownies!
Whenever I don’t have a 70-90% dark chocolate bar on hand, you can find me making these healthy treats. These chocolate balls are super easy to make and no food processor is required. One bowl and no bake!
If you would like something even healthier, check out these no bake protein balls and peanut butter protein balls.
I have heard from so many of you that this dessert recipe reminds you of haystacks, mounds bars and chocolate rice pop crackles. Whatever these chocolate coconut balls remind you of, they are healthy and satisfying.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe requires only one bowl and no turning on the oven!
- Healthy ingredients include whole foods and can even be made with superfood cacao powder.
- Dairy free and can be gluten free when using gluten free oats!
- Stores well for up to 3 months in the freezer which means you can always have chocolate coconut balls when the craving hits!
Ingredients and Notes
- Coconut oil: For this recipe, you cannot substitute with any other oil. It has to be coconut oil because it is the only oil that can solidify.
- Cacao or cocoa powder: I use cacao powder. It is less processed than cocoa powder. But you can use either. Some readers have had success using carob powder.
- Vanilla extract and maple syrup or honey: I prefer maple syrup to honey because it mixes and tastes better (my personal preference). You can also use brown rice syrup, agave or date syrup.
- Oats: Quick, rolled or quick cooking steel cut oats. Gluten free if needed.
- Coconut flakes: Use unsweetened coconut flakes. You can’t skip the coconut flakes because they make the balls. You can’t replace them with coconut flour either because the flour is too “thirsty” and the recipe will not work.
Fun fact: Combining coconut oil with cacao powder and maple syrup makes dark chocolate. Did you know?!
How to Make Healthy Chocolate Coconut Balls
Just 5 ingredients and 4 easy steps and you will have the most delicious chocolate coconut balls. Did I mention that everything is mixed in one bowl or even the pot you melt the coconut oil in?!
- Melt coconut oil: In a medium saucepan on low heat, melt the coconut oil. Once melted, remove from heat.
- Combine the ingredients: First, mix in the cacao powder and vanilla into the coconut oil. Next, whisk in the maple syrup/honey. Finally, stir in the coconut flakes and oats until well combined.
- Freeze the mixture: Just 10 minutes in the freezer! If using refrigerated maple syrup, chocolate mixture will harden while mixing. You might not need to place it in a freezer before rolling. Also honey might require extra time whisking as it is quite solid.
- Make the balls: Use a small scoop and form the balls. Place the balls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Then pop the baking sheet back into the freezer for another 30 minutes.
Optional Add-In’s
- Orange zest for an orange chocolate taste.
- Pinch of salt to enhance the chocolate profile.
- Dash of espresso powder for an even more intense chocolate taste.
- Pinch of cinnamon to add a warm spicy taste (like Mexican hot chocolate).
- Maca powder for an earthy taste.
- Dried sour cherry in the center for a ‘chocolate covered cherry’.
Tips for Best Results
- Use a round measuring spoon, cookie scoop or even melon baller to help shape your chocolate coconut balls.
- If you find your mixture too runny, add up to 3/4 cup of oats but note that the texture might change.
- Reduce cocoa powder if experiencing a bitter aftertaste.
- Remember to store these in the refrigerator or freezer – they are safe to place on a cookie platter for a few hours without worrying they will melt, though!
If using refrigerated maple syrup, you may need to skip freezing the mixture. The cold maple syrup with warm coconut oil will start to solidify immediately.
FAQs
Depending on what type of haystack you grew up eating, they might be! Some versions of haystacks use chow mein noodles (which would be very different than these chocolate coconut balls) other versions are just coconut with powdered sugar which these may be similar to.
A lot of readers have reported back that they think this tastes like a healthy version of the popular candy bar or like a healthy Almond Joy. With similar ingredients of coconut and chocolate – but no refined sugar or processed ingredients, enjoy these healthy ‘mounds’ bars guilt free.
Do not worry about runny consistency because it is just melted coconut oil – that will solidify in the fridge/freezer. However, adding extra oats are OK too, your chocolate balls might just be thicker.
Some readers have used this, I have not tested it. Carob powder does have a unique sweeter taste, your coconut ball might differ in taste.
A reader has reported back that they added a small amount of unflavored protein powder and these became chocolate coconut protein balls. I have not tested with protein powder, so proceed with caution and if you use a flavored protein powder, the taste will turn out much different.
Unfortunately, no. Balls have to be refrigerated in order to keep their shape otherwise they will melt (coconut oil problems).
Serving Recommendations
To enjoy the chocolate coconut balls, warm them up on a counter for 5 minutes. Hard chocolate can damage your teeth, so please be patient and careful. That’s why a few minutes to warm up is perfect.
- Enjoy with a cup of tea like Europeans do! Or love cake pops? Insert a cake pop stick in the center of a ball half way through before freezing the balls. Just make sure you have enough room in the freezer beforehand. Kids will love this treat!
- Place these treats on a healthy dessert platter with an assortment of healthy Christmas cookies during holidays.
Can I Make These in Advance?
Store: Best to keep these chocolate balls of goodness in an airtight container in the fridge. They will remain fresh for up to 7 days (if they last that long).
Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw on the counter for a an hour or so or in the fridge overnight before enjoying!
More Healthy Chocolate Desserts to Try
Healthy Chocolate Coconut Balls
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup cacao or cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 cup coconut flakes unsweetened
- 1/4 cup quick, rolled or quick cooking steel cut oats
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium pot, melt coconut oil on low heat.
- Remove from heat and whisk in cacao powder and vanilla extract. Whisk in maple syrup or honey.
- Add coconut flakes and oats; stir until well combined.
- Place mixture in a freezer for about 10 minutes.
- Line flat sheet or platter with parchment paper. Using small scoop, form and roll golf size chocolate coconut balls placing on a platter.
- Freeze for 30 minutes. Enjoy chilled straight from the freezer or fridge.
Notes
- Serve: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Warm up on a counter for 5 minutes.
- Freeze: For up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for an hour or so or in the fridge overnight before enjoying!
- Can I ship them? Unfortunately, no. Balls have to be refrigerated in order to keep their shape otherwise they will melt (coconut oil problems).
- Coconut oil substitute? For this recipe, you cannot substitute with any other oil. It has to be coconut oil because it is the only oil that can solidify.
- Maple syrup or honey: I prefer maple syrup to honey because it mixes and tastes better (my personal preference). You can also use brown rice syrup, agave or date syrup.
- Oats: Quick, rolled or quick cooking steel cut oats. You can use 1/2 cup of oats for more hearty balls.
- Coconut flakes: Use unsweetened coconut flakes. You can’t replace them with coconut flour because the flour is too “thirsty” and the recipe will not work. I like to use coarsely shredded organic coconut flakes.
So my Grandma used to always make these ‘snowball cookies’ for Christmas and she would put a candied cherry in the centre. Her recipe was graham wafer crumbs (rather than oats) sweetened condensed milk for the sweetener and melted unsweetened bakers chocolate rather than cocoa, and I always found them to be the last ones we ate. A few years ago I switched the awful candied cherry with a dried sour cherry which was great, but this recipe is going to be the new one to try today for the start of Christmas baking, but I’ll be leaving in the sour cherry centre! I’ll let you know how it goes!
The sour cherry would be great! A drunken cherry. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
WOW!!! First time making anything with cacao and I’m hooked! I chose honey and love the way they came out, I followed the recipe exactly. These are way better than mounds bar, thank you thank you thank you!
I just made these. Wow they are awesome! Sugar free (I used rice syrup) and remind me of chocolate ricepop crackles. Or maybe the best coconut rough I have ever eaten! I didn’t put 1/2 coconut oil as I find every recipe that uses a lot of coconut oil always uses way too much and I was right with this one too. I put in less than half but next time I will only put in 1/4 and see how that goes.They are also very rich in chocolate flavor so I would reduce the amount of cacao too. I really packed the oats into the measuring cup too so it was more like 1/2 cup of oats. Thank you so much for this recipe! It made 20 balls.
oh and i added about a tea spoon of salt (a bit too much) and cinnamon. 🙂
Glad to hear you liked them and made to suit your own tastebuds.:)
So true, these are just like haystacks!
Love these! Quick, easy, no hard to find ingredients.
Carob powder is so similar to chocolate and extremely healthy for you. You can order organic carob on Amazon and probably many other places too. It can be substituted using the same amounts with no changes although it is a bit sweeter than dark chocolate.
nut butters are an awesome substitue, and if you’re looking for an energy boost, try adding a little bit of maca powder. Try just a very small amount first, as the flavour takes some time to get used to and acquire a taste for. You might also be interested in incorporating other types of powder into your recipes, such as acai (Or jam, but you must cut down other liquids in the recipe, or increase the dry goods ratio). Personally, I enjoy this recipe with ground seeds, such as sunflower, flax, and sesame. 😉
These were very good. I had been wanting to make a snack to replace old fashioned haystacks like I have made since the 1950’s with no sugar and these are similar in taste to fill my need! Actually a bit better since they are more coconutty. I did find this recipe to be a bit runny and added more Oatmeal to use 3/4 cup. Thanks!
Hi Joyce. You are the second reader who says these chocolate balls are like healthy haystacks. I have no idea what haystacks are. I guess I wasn’t even born back then and born in a different part of the world, so I missed the haystacks lol. Anyways, do not worry about runny consistency because it is just melted coconut oil that will solidify in the fridge/freezer. However, extra oats are OK too. Glad you liked.
Thanks for the recipe.I love the balls and they remind me of my favorite Mounds bars so great that this recipe is healthier. I did use 3/4 cup of oats as it seemed too thin with only 1/4 cup. Next time I plan to substitute peanut butter for the coconut oil as I think that will taste like my old favorite Haystacks from childhood.
Hi Joyce. You can add more oats, the balls will be less sweet and different texture. The dough seems too thin because it is made primarily of melted coconut oil which solidifies in the fridge or freezer. I never tried Mounds or Haystacks but glad they resemble them to you.
LOL you crack me up!! Glad to hear your kids are both in school now. By the way, your picture of the green tea and those chocolate goodness filled treats made my mouth water. So with that said, tomorrow that’s what I’m having for a snack. I would make some today but being that it’s almost 6pm here, I’m not in the mood to make the kitchen a mess again.
That was 2.5 months of frustration spilled out on chocolate balls lol.
Great! You will be flying. I’m still sitting recovering from that snack before it is dinner time. Totally wired from that cacao.
Oh gosh, after dinner kitchen is closed. It takes forever to clean it after dinner. Still ahead for me tonight sigh. It never ends this mess. No way out of dinner unless Alex gets a travel job!!!
I hear you. The kitchen is one place that is ALWAYS messy, then clean then messy. lol yes…a traveling husband will make for a cleaner kitchen but then we would miss them too much.
Yes, I would miss mine dearly.:)