Almond and Orange Balls

Name: Almond and Orange Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: Peeled almonds 1.4 cups; Sugar 1 cup; Oranges untreated 1; Rum 1 tsp; Sugar to taste

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Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Vegetarian
Vegan

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 10 min
Makes: 12 pieces
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Rossella Cosentino

Almond and orange balls—what a treat, straight from Sicily! You know, sweet oranges and rich almonds are everywhere there. These little bites, also called almond orange energy balls or almond orange bliss balls, are super easy. Just mix and you’re done. No baking at all. Sicilian cooks, they love their fresh local oranges. The tangy brightness really stands out. It is really something.

Chopped almonds get blended with aromatic liqueur—moist texture, unmistakably Sicilian twist. So, folks serve these in colorful paper cases—so festive. Perfect for family gatherings or chilled evenings with friends. And you gotta try them with limoncello. The tender inside paired with that citrus kick makes them really really different from other desserts. It's special.

And here's the thing, plenty of Sicilian sweets use oranges and almonds, but these almond orange protein balls? Quick and easy. That's why they’re a favorite. So eye-catching—golden color from the oranges. You can almost smell the fresh citrus. Seriously good.

Compared to other regions' heavier cakes, these almond orange snack balls are light, almost refreshing. Eat more than one. Pretty much. People snack on them during holidays or whenever they crave something sweet and easy. No baking means juicy orange flavor stays. Natural crunch, too.

For anyone who loves crispy edges in cookies, these balls have that vibe but stay moist inside. Really, sharing a batch with friends, with a splash of limoncello, is a classic Sicilian move. Good food, good company, and those sunny island flavors in every bite. Can't go wrong.

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for about 12 pieces: Peeled almonds 1.4 cups (200 g); Sugar 1 cup (200 g); Oranges 1 - untreated; Rum 1 tsp

for coating: Sugar to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Almond and Orange Balls

To make the almond and orange balls, first wash the orange and take a quarter 1. Meanwhile, place the blanched almonds in a blender 2 and blend them until they are powdered 3 by operating the blender in bursts so as not to overheat the almonds too much.

Add the sugar 4, the orange segment, and the liquor 5, give another spin of the blades to mix the mixture, and if it turns out to be too dry, add a little more orange juice 6.

Once the dough is ready 7, transfer it to a larger bowl 8 and with moistened hands, take about 1-1.25 oz of dough and form balls the size of a walnut 9.

At this point, roll each ball in sugar 10 so that the sugar adheres well to the entire surface 11. As you form the balls, place them on a tray and if you prefer, put them in some pretty colored wrappers, let the almond and orange balls rest for 2-3 hours at room temperature before serving them 12!