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    You Are Here: Home → Healthy

    Carrot Cake Balls

    March 31, 2022 by Ryan 2 Comments

    525 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    These carrot cake balls actually tastes like carrot cake but are way healthier, which makes them perfect for a snack or dessert.

    carrot cake balls in white ramekin on dish towel

    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.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Ingredient Swaps
    • Step-by-Step Photos
    • FAQs
    • Health Benefits
    • Equipment
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Snack Recipes
    • Carrot Cake Balls
    overhead shot of carrot cake balls in white ramekin

    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.

    process shots of pulsing carrots and dry ingredients

    Shred carrots in a food processor and remove. Add the pecans, oats and coconut to the processor and pulse until it becomes fine meal.

    process shots of pulsing rest of ingredients and rolling into balls

    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

    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.

    Can I Use This Recipe to Make Energy Bars?

    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.

    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.

    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.
    carrot cake balls in white ramekin

    Other Snack Recipes

    • Pumpkin Granola
    • Pepper Jack Cheese Crackers
    • Chocolate Hazelnut Granola
    • Fuji 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 in white ramekin on dish towel
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Carrot Cake Balls

    With carrots, pecans, oats, coconut and raisins, these carrot cake energy balls are a great bite-sized snack that's actually healthy for you.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 179kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ball | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2150IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
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    Comments

    1. Karly says

      April 17, 2019 at 1:59 pm

      Awesome! These look so good!

      Reply

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    Hey there! Welcome to Chisel & Fork, a blog with tasty recipes and DIY projects. I'm Ryan and here you'll find hundreds of recipes ranging from true comfort food to vegan. Oh and if you like woodworking, you might just find your next inspiration. Read More About Chisel & Fork…

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