Lemon Coconut Chia Balls

Name: Lemon Coconut Chia Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons lemon or lime juice ((2 lemons should do it, but measure)); 2 tablespoons chia seeds; 1 1/2 cups gluten free quick oatmeal; 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut; 4 tablespoons raw honey; 1/2 cup extra coconut (for rolling)

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Lemon Coconut Chia Balls are nutritious morsels that taste both refreshing and sweet at the same time. With only five ingredients, no nuts, and no baking, they're a cinch to make! These are an alternate variation to my Coconut Protein Balls, Healthy Apricot Balls, and Peanut Butter Energy Balls with Chocolate Chips.

coconut-coated balls arranged on square gray plate with lemon behind

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Nutrition Packed Ingredients
How to Make Chia Balls
Storage
Recipe FAQ's
Recipe

Winter is the season for citrus, and we can enjoy it in all sorts of different forms. My daughter and I came up with this recipe while her father and I were staying at their house over the Christmas holiday.

She had in mind some “power bites” that she had made before. I wanted to change a few things to my liking. In the end, we came up with something entirely different!

I know they were a hit, because after sampling them, our then-four-year-old grandson came back later and asked for them again! On subsequent visits, he has put in special requests for our lemon balls!

banner with blueberry muffins to the left and text in remaining white space

My daughter later made the breakfast bites with lime juice instead of lemon, also with very good results.

Nutrition Packed Ingredients

lemons, honey, flaked coconut, chia seeds, and oats in small bowls, with labels

Fresh lemon juice helps to get your digestion off to a good start in the morning.

The anti-inflammatory effects of raw honey can soothe coughs and may reduce seasonal allergy symptoms.

Chia seeds are densely packed with nutrients. They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids something we almost always need more of.

Oats are a good source of healthy fibre. Use gluten free oatmeal if necessary. Read more about gluten in oats here. If you don't have quick oats, you have two options: either simply use regular GF oats as they are or give them a quick pulse or two in the food processor before combining them with the other ingredients. I don't recommend steel cut oats for this recipe, because they are not soft enough to form a sticky dough.

Coconut combines with the lemon to impart a lovely hit of the tropics! I tested this recipe with unsweetened coconut, so as not to add any extra sugars.

How to Make Chia Balls

You have several options when it comes to making this recipe. These chia balls are a snap to make in the stand mixer or food processor, but you could easily stir them together by hand.

Food Processor Directions

Using the food processor, I was able to simply add the ingredients in the order given and pulse a couple of times until everything was combined.

looking down from above into bowl of food processor containing dough of oats, coconut, and chia seeds starting to ball up and look sticky

Stand Mixer Directions

With the stand mixer, I let it run on a low-medium speed until the ingredients are evenly combined. You want the dough to ball up as it begins to stick together.

Hand Mixing Directions

If you’re mixing by hand, I would recommend stirring each item in as you add it.

Whichever method you use, ...

Remember to save the second amount of coconut for rolling the balls.

After letting your mixture sit for 10 minutes to thicken up, form it into balls with wet hands. I found that rewetting my hands after every couple of balls added just the right amount of moisture. Then roll the balls in the extra coconut and enjoy them.

a hand holding an energy ball rolls it in a bowl of coconut to be placed with others on a black plate

Because there’s no baking involved, it’s not important to make the balls all the same size. If you’d like to make some little, child-sized ones and also some larger, adult-sized ones, go ahead!

oat balls covered in flaked coconut sit randomly on a black plate

Hint: If you forget the batter and leave it sitting longer than 10 minutes, it might become rather dry and be difficult to form into balls. Ten minutes seems to be the optimal time for the chia and oats to absorb moisture before the mixture becomes too dry.

Storage

Store any leftover chia balls that don't get eaten within the day, covered in an airtight container, in the refrigerator.

Recipe FAQ's

Are energy balls actually healthy?

Energy balls are good for your health when they contain whole food ingredients. These ones have chia seeds, which are a great source of much-needed omega-3 fatty acids. The oats supply fiber, and raw honey is a good source of antioxidants.

Recipe