My Liar Balls—delicious and healthy paleo energy balls—are the perfect on-the-go snack! You can make these no-cook vegan treats with your kids and customize the flavor with your favorite nuts or seeds!
Copycat Lara Bars in Energy Ball Form!
Those of you who have thumbed all the way to page 252 of our first cookbook, Nom Nom Paleo: Food For Humans, may remember our Liar Bars. These bars are my affectionate riff on a certain addictive brand-name snack bar that starts with the letter “L” and made with dates and nuts. My boys constantly remind me that although my tropical version is delicious, it’s still a knock-off. “Yours aren’t Lara Bars, Mommy. They’re Liar Bars.”
Sigh.
Liar Bars are insanely easy to make, but over the years, I’ve gotten even lazier. These days, I don’t even bother forming the no-cook dough into bars; instead, I roll the sticky mixture into little orbs, and coat them in toasted, unsweetened shredded coconut.
Interchangeable ingredients!
I love making Liar balls with coconut flakes, salted macadamia nuts, and Medjool dates because that salty-sweet combination reminds me of my favorite tropical treats. But feel free to substitute your favorite toasted nuts and seeds in place of the macadamia or coconut flakes or add other dried fruit to customize the balls. I love making “PB&J” energy balls, too! Many Nomsters have suggested other fab Liar Ball flavor combinations in the comments section!
Time to make Liar Balls!
Makes 15 (1-inch diameter) balls
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted
- ⅓ cup dry-roasted and salted macadamia nuts
- 10 large dried Medjool dates
Equipment
- All of my other recommended kitchen tools are listed here.
Method
Toast the shredded coconut (if you haven’t already) in a 300°F oven (or toaster oven) on a parchment lined baking sheet. It should only take 3 to 5 minutes, but keep an eye on the coconut and make sure it doesn’t burn!
Set the shredded coconut aside to cool. Now, go toast the coconut flakes the same way as the shredded coconut. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes, I skip this step and use Dang coconut chips (the lightly salted and unsweetened variety). I told you I’m getting lazy.
Remove the pit from each date, and roughly chop up the flesh. You should end up with about 1¼ cups of chopped dates.
Let’s pause and admire my mise en place!
Toss the macadamia nuts in a food processor, and pulse until the pieces are the size of rice grains. Don’t go too crazy, though. Remember: we’re not making nut butter today.
Transfer the chopped nuts to a large bowl and set aside.
Throw the dates into the now-empty food processor bowl, and pulse a few times to roughly chop up the pieces. Then, hold down the “On” button until the pulverized dates form a sticky ball that thwacks against the side of the work bowl.
Add the toasted coconut flakes and pulse until the coconut flakes are incorporated and still chunky.
Scrape the mixture into the bowl with the macadamia nuts, and thoroughly combine the ingredients.
The result should be a sticky, nutty mass.
Pinch off about a tablespoon of the mixture, and rub it between your palms to form a ball. Repeat until you have about 15 balls.
Roll the balls in the toasted shredded coconut.
Voilà! Sticky, sweet, and slightly salty balls! <giggle>
Leftovers? You can store your balls in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week, but I bet they won’t last more than a couple of days!
[Originally posted on July 6, 2016. Updated with new details and photos on May 25, 2020.]
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
Liar Balls (Paleo Energy Balls)
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut toasted
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes toasted
- ⅓ cup dry-roasted and salted macadamia nuts
- 10 large dried Medjool dates
Instructions
- Toast the shredded coconut (if you haven’t already) in a 300°F oven (or toaster oven) on a parchment lined baking sheet. It should only take 3 to 5 minutes, but keep an eye on the coconut and make sure it doesn’t burn!
- Set the shredded coconut aside to cool. Now, go toast the coconut flakes the same way as the shredded coconut. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes, I skip this step and use Dang coconut chips (the lightly salted and unsweetened variety). I told you I’m getting lazy.
- Remove the pit from each date, and roughly chop up the flesh.
- Toss the macadamia nuts in a food processor, and pulse until the pieces are the size of rice grains. Don’t go too crazy, though. Remember: we’re not making nut butter today.
- Transfer the chopped nuts to a large bowl and set aside.
- Throw the dates into the now-empty food processor bowl, and pulse a few times to roughly chop up the pieces. Then, hold down the “On” button until the pulverized dates form a sticky ball that thwacks against the side of the work bowl.
- Add the toasted coconut flakes and pulse until the coconut flakes are incorporated and still chunky.
- Scrape the mixture into the bowl with the macadamia nuts, and thoroughly combine the ingredients. The result should be a sticky, nutty mass.
- Pinch off about a tablespoon of the mixture, and rub it between your palms to form a ball. Repeat until you have about 15 balls.
- Roll the balls in the toasted shredded coconut.
Kate Van says
Hmm this one wasn’t a winner for us which is made more disappointing by the fact that ingredients are crazy expensive. I think I got about 8 tiny balls and despite following directions to the t-they didn’t stick enough. Maybe my dates are the wrong kind? I know they would taste great if the mechanics had come together.
Michelle Tam says
Oh no! Did you use Medjool dates? Those ones are bigger than Neglet so you have more sticky matrix for the balls. Also, if your dates are old they won’t be sticky enough and you may need to add a few drops of water when you blend them.
Kate says
Yep we figured out I had the Neglet. I doubled the recipe and had better luck with the next batch. 😋
Janna Dailey says
My kids love these! Great to have on hand for quick snack between school and sports!