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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. While I have a couple like peanut butter energy balls and chocolate peanut butter energy balls, I need to step my game up.
I've been wanting to make a new version 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 love carrot cake, but want something that makes you feel less guilty, these carrot cake energy balls are a great option.
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Ingredient Notes
- Carrots - adds some sweetness and nutrients.
- Pecans - adds some protein and helps make the energy galls more filling.
- Old-fashioned oats - the base for the bites.
- Coconut/raisins - gives some texture and sweetness to the carrot cake balls.
- Maple syrup - adds sweetness and helps bind everything together.
Ingredient Swaps
Like any recipe you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:
- While I'm a fan of pecans as they complement the carrot flavor, you can use other nuts like almonds or walnuts or even sunflower seeds if you need it to be nut-free.
- Golden raisins are my go-to to enhance the flavor, but Medjool dates are a good substitute.
- I'm a fan of maple syrup with carrots, but honey can be used as well.
Step-by-Step Photos
Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.
Shred carrots in a food processor and remove. Add the pecans, oats and coconut to the processor and pulse until it becomes fine meal.
Add in the rest of the ingredients as well as the carrots and pulse until the mixture comes together. Cover in the fridge for at least 15 minutes and then use an cookie scoop to roll into balls.
FAQs
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.
Yes. Just line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Press the dough into a pan and then place in freezer for an hour. Cut into bars when ready.
You can store the energy balls in the fridge for 1 week or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Health Benefits
Eating anything with oats is a great way to start the day or have as a snack. There are a ton of benefits, including:
- High in fiber, which keeps you full long
- Contain more protein than most grains
- Rich in antioxidants, which can help lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Help lose weight
Equipment
The equipment you use is important to how the recipe turns out. What is needed is the following:
- Food processor - used to pulse and mix all of the ingredients together.
- Cookie scoop - you want to use a 2 tablespoon size scoop to get the same size ball every time.
- Baking sheet - used to place the carrot cake balls on while they harden slightly.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Use old-fashioned oats as they are heartier than quick cooking oats.
- 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 a cookie 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
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 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon 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 a cookie scoop to have consistent size energy 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!