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Lemon Balls

G - BOMBS

Category: Desserts

These delightful bite-size treats are perfect for sharing with friends and family.

  • Recipe
  • My Notes
  • Nutrition Facts
  • Ratings & Comments (33)
15

Ingredients

1 cup raw cashews
3/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
2 organic lemons, juiced and zested
1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut plus additional to roll balls in
1/2 cup dates, pitted

Instructions:

Place cashews and walnuts in a food processor and process to a fine powder.

Add ground flax seeds, lemon juice, lemon zest, coconut and dates and process until consistency is thick and moist, adding a bit of water if needed.

Using hands, roll into small bite size balls and then roll into some extra shredded coconut to coat the ball.

Refrigerate or freeze until firm.

This recipe makes approx. 30 balls

My Notes: (Click Edit to enter your notes about this recipe)

Serves 15

Per Serving:

Calories 174
Protein 4 g
Carbohydrates 11 g
Sugars 5 g
Total Fat 14.3 g
Saturated Fat 6.4 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 5 mg
Fiber 3.3 g
Beta-Carotene 1 ug
Vitamin C 4 mg
Calcium 20 mg
Iron 1.3 mg
Folate 12 ug
Magnesium 55 mg
Potassium 195 mg
Zinc 1 mg
Selenium 4.6 ug

My Rating: 
(click on a star to select your rating)

Elaine Garces

09/30/2013 07:25 PM

Rated this recipe:

Delicious! They looked like 'dunkin donuts munchkins' when I rolled them in coconut. That was funny to me ;) because are anything but. I will make these again.

ewperkins

12/15/2014 11:56 AM

Rated this recipe:

I made these for my Dad who has always loved anything lemon, but he is not ETL. I also added more lemon, and he loved them! We did too. Definitely a keeper!

SonjaD

12/15/2014 12:11 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Sorry for my ignorance, but ewperkins, what does ETL mean?

vsas

12/15/2014 12:21 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

SonjaD,

ETL stands for Dr. Fuhrman's book "Eat to Live" which describes the Nutritarian eating style.

42DM

12/15/2014 03:23 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

My problem is "Zested" The way I zest is to only take about an inch of peeling and shave the yellow top off. Are we supposed to do the entire lemon?

KMVR

12/15/2014 04:09 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

For family members who can't/won't eat coconut: what else could I use as substitute?
This comment was last edited on 12/15/2014 04:10 PM

kwilcox

12/15/2014 06:44 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Anyone know how many in a serving?

sierrael replies:

12/15/2018 07:58 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

2 balls per serving.  Makes 30, serves 15.  I think that is right...

SHERIE

12/15/2014 07:03 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

30 in a serving as indicated in the recipe.

CarolLynn

12/15/2014 07:34 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

kwilcox: The recipe says is serves 15 and makes 30 balls. That works out to 2 balls per serving.

Kathleen75

12/15/2014 09:37 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

KMVR, A coconut substitute is a good question with not many answers. I googled it and found that there are very few suggestions except finely chopped almonds, additional oats, or finely chopped dried fruits. I have no idea how well those substitutes would work. Good luck.

JaneF

12/17/2014 07:13 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

42DM, the word "zested" is unclear. When I am making smoothies in my Vitamix, I remove the zest (yellow part of the peel) using a potato peeler and discard the zest because it would make the smoothie too bitter. I do of course include the juice in the smoothie. But this recipe says "juiced & zested" as if both the juice & the zest should be treated the same. I think that what I would do is to remove the zest with a potato peeler, slice the lemon in half and remove the seeds, and then use the rest of the lemon (no zest, no seeds). HTH.

vbpets replies:

06/09/2019 03:53 PM

Rated this recipe:

The recipe calls for ADDING THE ZEST to the mixture with everything else. This must be a language problem. When you zest a citrus fruit, that means you grate the colored part off INTO THE FOOD, and not include the "pith" the white part. So no, zest your lemons, put it in a bowl, then juice your lemons and add the juice to the other ingredients with the zest. They sell a "rasp" or grater with small holes for zesting. 

NoraB

12/17/2014 12:15 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

On the "zesting" question. Take a lemon in one hand roll it around on the counter, pressing down slightly, that "loosens" the juice inside the lemon. then take a hand held rasp/grater hold the lemon over the Food Processor Bowl and grate all around the lemon, letting the zest fall in to the bowl. Done!

T.Knight

12/17/2014 10:53 PM

Rated this recipe:

I LOVED these!! My lemons were medium sized, & yes, I zested the entire yellow peel off both lemons with a very fine grater. Then juice them AFTER you've removed zest(not the other way around). They had the perfect amount of lemon flavoring, & the consistency for rolling was perfect too. If I had added any more lemon juice, like others had to, they would have been way too wet to roll, so I guess my lemons were the right size. I'm going to a girls night on Saturday, & I'll be making another batch of these for my contribution. Thank you Karen!!

pippen

12/18/2014 11:03 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

These were a hit! Don't skimp on the lemon zest. I wish I had added more. Since I do not have a vitamix, I used my coffee grinder instead to grind up the nuts and dates separately, to get that great super fine texture, then mixed everything together in my food processor.
This comment was last edited on 12/18/2014 11:03 AM

Lucy4

12/18/2014 02:31 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Re a substitute for cocoanut flakes, how about toasting some almonds or filberts and then finely chopping or grinding them? The toasting wold bring out the nutty flavour and be a nice complement to the lemon.

ShellyG1958

12/19/2014 02:50 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

I have ground cashew meal - does anyone know how much of the "fine powder" results from processing 2 cups of raw cashews?

Sue546

12/26/2014 10:06 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

These were delicious. I zested a third lemon and pressed pomegranate seeds into the mixture at the end. I took them to Christmas dinner and they were a hit. The combination of pomegranate, lemon, and coconut was amazing.

1sewslim

02/16/2015 12:04 AM

Rated this recipe:

I over packed the lemon zest when I measured but they were still amazing. I liked them best when frozen and enjoying just one a day kept me away from the Lemon Bars my daughter made.

Costas

03/18/2016 04:32 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

These sound great and I want to make them. But does anyone have a substitute for the cashews? I have a friend who is allergic to nuts. Any other options? Oats? Any ideas?

MoonMaize replies:

04/26/2023 12:25 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Any seeds like sunflower, seseme or pepita. 

Mom4Life

03/18/2016 05:44 PM

Rated this recipe:

I LOVE these! You definitely want the zest, which is the yellow part of the skin, very finely grated. It really adds to the lemon flavor. You do NOT want the white pith, as that would just add bitterness. Just use a fine grater/zester to remove the (washed) yellow part, and then juice the lemon, adding both the zest and the juice to the recipe.

I took these to a breakfast where the others in the group make fun of me for the way I eat, and to a mom's night out where there is a mix of healthy eaters and SAD eaters, and they were a huge hit both places. Unfortunately, I have one son who is allergic to cashews, but the rest of my family - who merely put up with my ETL foods - really enjoyed them, as well.

I did also make them with walnuts instead of the cashews, and they were good, too (and enjoyed by the aforementioned son). I did like them better with the cashews, though.

I would think you could substitute finely ground almond meal for the coconut. I can't imagine it being as good with oats, though!

123sabina123

03/19/2016 10:30 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Maybe you could roll them in unsweetened coco powder.

Srsprinkle replies:

03/06/2021 02:07 AM

Rated this recipe:

I'm going to try this! 

StephenA

03/19/2016 03:22 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

To improve the omega 3 profile of this treat, substitute macadamia nuts for cashews

rodney01

03/19/2016 11:43 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

can you use cashew butter?

KenBren07

08/23/2016 11:47 AM

Rated this recipe:

Wow! Amazing! We doubled the lemon. Used 8 medjool dates. The perfect treat.
This comment was last edited on 08/23/2016 11:48 AM

Anita Swift

12/31/2017 12:00 AM

Rated this recipe:

Oh yum! So simple, sooo delicious!

swenster

03/13/2018 03:27 PM

Rated this recipe:

These are sooo good!  I substitutded raw almonds, as I did not have cashews.  I used 1 3/4 large lemons, with the zest (adding a little water to the food processing).  They are very lemony!  If you've been on the fence about making these, I highly recommend them.  

This comment was last edited on 03/13/2018 03:27 PM

clt600

12/14/2018 08:53 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

these are high in calories.  

jzsusie replies:

12/14/2018 11:32 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

If following ETL no worry about calories ??

vbpets

06/09/2019 03:56 PM

Rated this recipe:

These turn out great. A nice break from all the other dessert type date balls with cacoa/chocolate. I'm not a big fan of coconut texture so I make it very fine.(but all that coconut isn't really compliant on a Nutritarian diet style)  You can also make bars out of them if you're not in the mood for rolling into balls or just throw together random shapes if you're not serving to anyone where it has to "look good".

Cassaba

10/09/2019 10:29 PM

Rated this recipe:

My 8-year old wanted ot make these. I'm not a lemon bar person, so it's not a recipe I would have picked. But WOW, I'm glad she did. These are terrific! I feel like they would be hit with SAD eaters. I'm going to give it a try at our next family get together!

Ju7ie

12/15/2019 06:34 PM

Rated this recipe:

Very Delicious, Great Dessert 

StefaniMonet

10/20/2020 10:53 PM

Rated this recipe:

Yummy and filling. Left out the zest. 

Srsprinkle

03/06/2021 01:54 AM

Rated this recipe:

So, so delicious! I was shocked at how delicious for the simplicity. Since I don't have a high powered blender I powdered the cashew first and set aside then blended the rest of the ingredients into a paste and mixed it into the cashew powder. Also added extra lemon. Very delish 

nbeaulie

06/28/2023 10:54 PM

Rated this recipe:

Been waiting to make these for a while.  Easy to make and resolves my cravings for unhealthier food items.  I used 3 smaller lemons and added a small amount of water.  Definately will be making these again.