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These carrot cake balls actually tastes like carrot cake but are way healthier, which makes them perfect for a snack or dessert.
I'll admit I'm lagging behind the energy ball game. I've been wanting to make some for a while, but just never got around to it. But with Easter around the corner, I figured why not use Easter's most popular dessert, carrot cake, and make it into an energy ball. I was actually inspired by Pinch of Yum, who posted raw vegan carrot cake bites a few weeks back.
What's great about these no bake carrot cake balls is that they are actually healthy for you! Most of the sweetness comes from the carrots that is then complemented by pecans and oats. Oh and it only takes 10 minutes to put together. I mean a recipe that can be done in under 10 minutes is pretty tough to beat.
They're also very versatile. You could have them for breakfast, dessert or a snack, which is how I've been eaten them. So if you're like Lauren and myself and love carrot cake, but want something that makes you feel less guilty, these carrot cake energy balls are great. Hope you give them a try.
What Ingredients are in these Carrot Cake Balls?
- Carrots
- Pecans
- Old-fashioned oats
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Golden raisins (can also use Medjool dates)
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Salt
How to Make Carrot Cake Balls:
- Shred carrots in food processor and remove.
- Add pecans, oats and coconut to food processor and pulse until it becomes fine meal.
- Add carrots, raisins, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt and pulse until mixture combines and comes together.
- Cover in fridge for 15-30 minutes and then use ice cream scoop to roll into balls. Keep in fridge for 1 week.
Can I Replace the Raisins?
Yes. Another great substitute for raisins is Medjool dates which adds a sweetness to the no bake energy balls. However I like to use raisins as you'll find that in many carrot cake recipes.
How Long Can You Keep Energy Balls?
You can store the energy balls in the fridge for 1 week or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Are Energy Balls Good for You?
Yes. Protein boosts your metabolism and increases fat burn, which helps if you're watching your way. The healthy fats that are in these balls make them filling, while also being good for your brain and heart healthy. And lastly they are loaded with fiber, which keeps you hunger-free longer.
Tips for Carrot Cake Balls
- Use old-fashioned oats as they are heartier than quick cooking oats.
- If you don’t want to use or have maple, replace it with honey.
- You can replace pecans with walnuts.
- If mixture is dry, stir in maple syrup or water 1 tbsp at a time until you can easily form balls without them falling apart.
- Use an ice cream scoop to have consistent size carrot cake balls.
- Place the energy balls in the fridge for at least 15 minutes so they can set up and stay firm.
Other Snack Recipes
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites
- Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
- Homemade Apple Chips
If you’ve tried these Carrot Cake Balls or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Carrot Cake Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- ½ cup pecans
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup golden raisins
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Add carrots to food processor and pulse until shredded. Remove carrots and set aside.
- Place the pecans, oats and coconut in the food processor and process until it becomes a fine meal.
- Add the carrots, raisins, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt and pulse until mixture combines and sticks together. If mixture is too dry, add more maple syrup and if too wet, add some more coconut or oats.
- Cover and place in fridge for 15-30 minutes.
- Roll into balls and store in fridge for a week.
Notes
- Use old-fashioned oats as they are heartier than quick cooking oats.
- If you don’t want to use or have maple, replace it with honey.
- You can replace pecans with walnuts.
- If mixture is dry, stir in maple syrup or water 1 tbsp at a time until you can easily form balls without them falling apart.
- Use an ice cream scoop to have consistent size carrot cake balls.
- Place the energy balls in the fridge for at least 15 minutes so they can set up and stay firm.
Karly says
Awesome! These look so good!