Coconut Lemon Balls
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These lemon balls are a burst of sunshine in every bite! Crafted from raw cashews, coconut, and lemon zest and juice, they’re a delicious pick-me-up that will brighten your day. The zesty tartness of lemon takes center stage, balanced by the naturally sweet and creamy undertone of coconut. These no-bake coconut energy balls are also super easy to roll together!
I keep a batch of these lemon bliss balls in my fridge for the days when life feels a little too full and I need something quick and cheerful to grab on the way out the door. They’re the kind of snack that’s easy to make ahead and even easier to be happy about when that afternoon slump hits.
What I love most is the bright pop of lemon. The citrus keeps everything feeling fresh and lively, turning a simple snack into something that actually feels like a treat. They’re zippy, satisfying, and just the thing to nibble on when you want something delicious without any fuss.
Ingredients needed
Snacking is easy thanks to these lemon balls, made with just a few simple ingredients. This is what you need:
- Raw cashews
- Shredded coconut: Adds a tropical undertone and texture, and balances the sweetness out.
- Lemon: Zest and juice makes these lemon balls refreshing and bright!
- Melted coconut oil: The creamy richness of coconut melds with the bright citrus.
- Turmeric: You won’t be able to taste even a hint of the turmeric, but it provides such a beautiful, bright yellow!
- Optional toppings: Roll the balls in shredded coconut or poppy seeds for added texture and flavor.
Tips for making the best lemon balls
These bright, citrusy babies couldn’t be easier to make! It’s a no-bake recipe that’s as easy as pushing the button on your blender, but here are some tips to make it as breezy as possible:
- Fresh lemon: Concentrated lemon juice won’t have the same lemon flavor as the zest and juice from a fresh lemon, so opt for fresh!
- Chill time: Make sure the lemon ball mixture hangs out in the fridge for at least an hour – chilled dough is easier to mold and helps the balls maintain their shape and texture.
- Coconut oil: Melt it gently to avoid overheating.
- Cashews: We don’t recommend substituting for other nuts as cashews have a creamy and soft texture with a neutral flavor. You don’t even need to soak them for this recipe.
- Blender time: Be mindful not to whizz the ingredients for too lon, as an overworked dough can be harder to work with.
Recipe FAQs
Do you need to soak the cashews?
No, you don’t need to soak the cashews for this recipe – raw cashews work perfectly!
How do I store lemon bliss balls?
Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Eat them cold, or if you prefer them at room temperature, simply take them out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for a few minutes before digging in. These bites also freeze well, so make a double batch and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, just thaw them at room temperature.
Coconut Lemon Energy Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- Zest from 2 lemons
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup honey (use rice syrup for vegan)
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric (see notes)
- Optional: shredded coconut and poppy seeds (to garnish)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to your food processor and pulse until combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.1 ½ cups raw cashews, 1 cup shredded coconut, Zest from 2 lemons, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- Roll into 24 balls. Either sprinkle or roll the balls in shredded coconut or poppy seeds. Store in the fridge, covered, for up to 1 week.Optional: shredded coconut and poppy seeds
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
what if I don’t have coconut oil
I haven’t tried making this without the coconut oil so I’m not 100% sure that they will hold together if you omit it. If you decide to give it a try, I’d love to know how it turns out!
I haven’t tested this recipe without coconut, and it’s a big part of it. If you’re up for experimenting, you can try replacing the coconut with extra cashews or other nuts. Hope that helps!
Hello I’ve just made these but I was a little let down as mine didn’t turn out the yellow colour like yours look like in the photograph. I even added extra turmeric to see if that helped but it didn’t. Any idea of what went wrong with the colour? Besides that, they taste sooo good. Almost fizzy because the zingy yum yum! I didn’t have enough cashews so used walnuts and almonds to make up the measurement needed.
Hi Joanna! I suspect it was because you switched some of the nuts. Both almonds and walnuts are darker in color and so they would mute the bright yellow color. 🙂
Blended Color Nature Food Colors with coconut in a Magic Bullet to dip lemon energy balls in, shaping them like Easter eggs and dipping them in the colored coconut.
What a great idea!
Can I use caramel or thick sugar syrup instead of honey?
I haven’t tried either but they would likely work.
Hi, should the cashew be soaked in water or not? Thank you
Nope! For this recipe, you don’t need to soak the cashews.
Mine did not “set” firm enough to roll into balls. Might be something to do with American vs Metric measurements. We will just have to eat it by the spoonful 😉
Love all things lemon. My husband has nut allergies, is there anything I can substitute? Also trying to work more turmeric into my recipes. Can’t wait to try.
While I haven’t tried it, it may work with sunflower seeds. I’d suggest only a half batch to see if it works. 🙂
Tiger nuts might work. They are not nuts actually, but crunchy tubers that have their own sweetness, so less honey is needed. Cashews are not true nuts btw. Not tree nuts. They are “drupes”.
These are yummy! Quite soft so make sure to harden them up in the fridge.
I’ve also tried them with lime instead and it’s good that way too!
I’ve added 2 Tbsp of hemp hearts and 1 Tbsp of chia seeds.
I added some oats one time too.
I think next time I’ll try to lower the coconut oil to 1 Tbsp.
One more thing – I don’t measure the lemon or lime juice. I just use 2 (grate the zest then cut in half and juice)
I’m so happy to hear you like the recipe!
Fantastic recipe! I love these!
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit!
I am in the midst of making the lemon balls with my daughters. They are 3 and 5 years old and love helping me in the kitchen. They have been loving all things lemon lately, and my littlest daughter loves coconut. We just put the mix in the fridge and licking the spoon–yum! How big should we roll the balls–a teaspoon, a tablespoon? Thank you for the yummy recipe!
I’m so happy your daughters are enjoying them! I make them a little smaller than a ping pong ball, but you can make them as big or small as you’d like. 🙂
Do you think these would freeze well?
I haven’t tried freezing them before, but my hunch is that they would freeze well. 🙂
Did you try freezing them? I am travelling over the holidays and wanted to freeze these to bring with me. I am curious
as to how they turned out after being frozen.
I find that all raw treats freeze well and in fact, you can eat most of them directly from the freezer, they are not rock hard, kind of like freezing cookies.
I can’t wait to try this recipe – looks delish!
can i use agave in this recipe rather than honey?
Agave would definitely work!
They totally are! They’re super handy to have around when you get hungry. 🙂
Hi Kristen-These look delicious!! Can’t wait to make them! Could I substitute almonds in for the cashews?
Thank you 🙂
-Ruth
You can, but they will turn out a little different as almonds are not as creamy as cashews. I would use blanched almonds and soak them in water for at least 4 hours to help soften them first. 🙂