No Bake Lemon Coconut Balls

My sister and I are always on the hunt for healthier snacks to indulge in. When I was over at her place at the weekend, she had made these No Bake Lemon Coconut Balls. For me it was love at first bite!
Two of my favorite things are lemon and coconut! To have them both combined in one delicious snack is just great. For them to be as quick and easy to make as these are is just the icing on the cake!
No bake. No fuss. No muss. Fairly healthy, and using only a few simple ingredients? Where do I sign up!!!!

My sister has been making these for years apparently. They are so delicious, I just had to have the recipe so that I could make some for myself!
They were really simple to make. If you can use an electric mixer and beat things together and a cookie scoop, then you can make these no bake lemon coconut balls!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE NO BAKE LEMON COCONUT BALLS
Just a few simple ingredients makes these very affordable.

1 cup coconut cream
1/2 cup raw honey
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
the juice of one lemon
1/2 tsp of vanilla
unsweetened coconut flakes to roll the balls in

WHAT IS COCONUT CREAM?
Thick, creamy and filled with rich coconut flavor, coconut cream is something you will want to keep in your store-cupboard, as it is a really useful ingredient. I always have a couple of cans of it in mine.
Its great in curries and stir fries and in tasty snacks and desserts such as this recipe I am sharing today. You can also whip it just like real cream.
Coconut cream is a type of thick cream made from coconut milk. Although canned versions are widely available, you can also make your own coconut cream at home. Simply refrigerate good quality, full fat, coconut milk for a few hours. A thick layer of cream should float to the top and separates from the thin, watery liquid below.
This very versatile ingredient has a distinct, coconut-like flavor with a rich, creamy texture that makes it a great addition to a range of recipes, including soups, smoothies, and desserts. It’s also widely used in many types of cuisine.
Because it’s unsweetened, low in carbs, and also dairy-free, it’s also frequently featured in many vegan and ketogenic recipes. Do let it be noted that this recipe I am sharing today is neither vegan or ketogenic due to the use of honey.
No Bake Lemon Coconut Balls

The use of lemon zest gives these a lovely lemon flavor, along with the lemon juice. The lemon juice also serves to help thicken the cream even further so that you can roll the mixture into balls.
The coconut for rolling the finished balls in is un-sweetened. These are plenty sweet enough with the honey!

HOW TO MAKE NO BAKE LEMON COCONUT BALLS
Nothing could be easier to make than these delicious no bake treats. Just mix, shape, roll and chill. Easy peasy!

Mix the coconut cream together in a bowl with the honey, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla until well combined.Have ready a bowl of coconut flakes.Using a small cookie scoop scoop out balls and drop them into the coconut flakes, rolling the balls into the flakes to coat them completely. Place into a small paper cups and then into a covered container for storage. Store covered in the refrigerator.

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT CREAM FROM CANNED COCONUT MILK
Chill full fat canned coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. This will make the milk fat separate and solidify on top.
Use a spoon to skim the solidified coconut cream from the top of the can and put it in a glass bowl. (You can reserve the liquid coconut milk for other uses. It makes excellent ice cubes.)
Whisk the solidified cream in a circular motion until it develops a cream-like consistency.
It does have a relatively short shelf life, so you need to keep it refrigerated and use it up within five days. You can however freeze it for much longer, up to two months.
No Bake Lemon Coconut Balls

Just look at how rich and creamy these are. They fairly melt in the mouth. They are not low in calories as coconut cream is relatively calorie dense as is honey, but you will find that eating one of these or even just half of one of these really satisfies that sweet tooth of yours!
And its nice to know that when you are satisfying it, you are eating healthy, natural ingredients. These make great snacks for the children as well. Must healthier than a candy bar!
No Bake Lemon Coconut Balls

Some other healthy snacks that you might enjoy from my recipe catalog are:
ALL DRESSED HUMMUS - Smooth, rich and creamy and topped with all sorts of crunchy bits. Chopped fresh veggies and toasted chick peas. Yummy!
GINGERBREAD ROASTED CHICKPEAS - Crisp and crunchy and sweetly spiced with all of the spices that make gingerbread such a wonderful treat! Deliciously moreish!
GARDEN HERB DIP - I am betting you have everything in your house right now to make it also . . . cream cheese, thick plain yogurt, mayonnaise, a bit of Dijon mustard and a splash of hot sauce, along with some chopped spring onions (scallions), chives and seasonings.