These healthy carrot cake bites remind you of an indulgent slice of cake, but are actually good for you! They're vegan, no-bake and seriously delicious!
Wouldn't it be great to have all dessert in bite-sized form? Sure it's awesome to have a whole slice of cake sometimes, but most of the time I'm cool with just a bite or two. Which is exactly where energy bites come into play.
Energy bites, and other no-bake ball-shaped treats, are the ultimate way to get your dessert fix without having to a) bake and b) overstuff yourself. One bite, the craving is satisfied and you're feeling good.
We've got a few other dessert-inspired flavors on the blog already, but today it's all about carrot cake!
How to Make Carrot Cake Bites
Just like other energy ball recipes, these little carrot cake bites are made in your food processor. If you haven't read our Ultimate Guide for how to make energy balls, check it out because we outline it step-by-step BUT for all intents and purposes, let's peep the steps here:
- pulse your carrots
- remove carrots and pulse in your nuts and coconut
- add your oats and dates
- next, your carrots, nut butter and spices
- roll
- refrigerate
AND ENJOY!
No-Bake Carrot Cake Balls
I wanted to keep things as traditional as possible with the flavor combo which is why we're using pecans, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The coconut and oats are there mostly for texture, but they also add a little sweetness. The cashew butter and dates both help to bind everything together, but they're also awesome for flavor.
The dates add natural sweetness, but have caramel undertones which are so good. Cashew butter to me is like the ultimate treat. It's naturally sweet, it tastes kind of decadent and it's delicious in energy balls.
And finally, we're rolling these cuties in some coconut to make them look extra special!
An Easy Meal Prep Snack Idea
I'd say that these little carrot cake bites are the ultimate snack. They're great for a quick mid-morning nosh, but also can be enjoyed as an on-the-go brekkie (just grab like 3 – 4), or an after-dinner treat.
Those are just one of the many reasons why I love making energy balls at home. They're portable, they're easy, they're delicious and they're actually healthy!
Just look at these nutrition facts: around 100 calories, 2g of protein, 4g of sugar and 2g of fiber. That's better than most granola bars!
More No-Bake Energy Ball Recipes:
- PB+J Energy Bites
- No-Bake Gingerbread Energy Balls
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Balls
- Golden Milk Energy Balls
- Turtle Cookie Energy Bites
- Snickerdoodle Energy Bites
Vegan Carrot Cake Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped carrots (about 1 large)
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- 1 cup oats (rolled or quick)
- 1/2 cup medjool dates (about 5)
- 1/4 cup cashew butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup shredded coconut (for rolling)
Instructions
- Add the carrots into a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
- Return the bowl of the food processor back onto the base and add the pecans and coconut. Pulse to form a sandy texture. Add the oats and dates and process again until a sand texture has formed. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until a dough comes together.
- Shape the dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Repeat until all of the mixture has been used.
- Place the shredded coocnut in a shallow dish and roll each ball in the coconut to coat it. Place balls in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 1 - 2 weeks.
Video
Nutrition
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