We love snacking on these 7-ingredient carrot energy balls. They taste just like carrot cake, but they're nut-free, vegan, gluten-free, and easy to make!
It’s April which means – time for carrot desserts! Or, well, in this case, carrot snacks. These lightly sweetened carrot bites are great for 3pm snacktime or an on-the-go breakfast. They’re more carroty than cakey – and by that I mean that they’re not cake-like at all and there’s no baking required (if you’re really craving cake click here or here). They’re chewy little balls made from a mix of carrots, sunflower seeds, dates, coconut, and cinnamon.
By popular request, I made these nut free (as long as coconut is ok) – I was very tempted to try an almond version, but I held back because sunflower seeds hold these together quite nicely. For an almond-carrot recipe, remember these cookies?
These are super simple to put together. Just pulse all of the ingredients in the food processor and roll into balls. If you like, you can roll them into some shredded coconut – they’re delicious with or without the extra coconut. Pop them in the fridge for a convenient snack all week!
If you love these bliss balls, check out these energy balls, my homemade granola bars, or any of these 47 Best Healthy Snacks next!
Almost-Raw Carrot Cake Bliss Balls
- 1 cup raw hulled sunflower seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut + â…“ cup for rolling
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 12 soft Medjool dates, pitted and soaked if they’re very dry
- â…” cup chopped carrots
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup, more to taste
- In a food processor, combine the sunflower seeds, 1 cup shredded coconut, cinnamon and salt and pulse until it becomes a fine meal.
- Add the dates and carrots and pulse until the mixture combines and sticks together. Taste and add more maple syrup if you would like your bites sweeter. If the mixture is too dry, add more maple syrup; if it’s too moist, add more coconut and/or let the mix chill in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop the mixture, then use your hands to roll it into approximately 1-inch balls.
- Roll in the remaining coconut to coat the outside, if desired. Store in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.
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this looks really good and it caught my eye since I eat plain-old carrot sticks as a snack, so would love to have something more interesting and tasty, thank you for this!
I am about to make these for a second time. I didn’t have any maple syrup so I just added a couple tablespoons of water to make this stick together, which worked well. They were a hit. I can see playing with the nut/seed and spice combination to make a variety of flavors based on this fantastic recipe. Thank you!!
Hi Rachel – yay, I’m so happy you’re enjoying these! Let me know what other flavor combos you come up with!
These look amazing! Also I’m a new proud owner of your cookbook!!!! I can’t wait to dig in! I love how it’s laid out! So beautiful and inspiring!!!! Can’t wait to get cooking! Your style is just perfect!
xo
Ashley
Made these and highly recommend! I also added a handful of buckwheat groats for crunch. Perfect for an afternoon sweet snack and taste very much like carrot cake. As these balls are softer than others I make, I put them in the freezer for a firmer texture and prefer them from the freezer than the refrigerator (they don’t freeze rock hard at all–still soft).
This sounds great. Any way I can make them without dates?
The dates are necessary to hold these together.
If you don’t like dates, try this other recipe where I used maple syrup (the few dates in there aren’t necessary to bind): https://www.loveandlemons.com/bake-almond-oatmeal-cookies/
Thanks! Would apricots work or would that be gross, do you think?
I’m really not sure without trying 🙂 Dates have a pretty neutral taste though so I’m not sure if apricots would be too sweet.
Would raisins work?
Wow, that looks so yummy!!! Love all those healthy ingredients. The perfect snack. Have to try making it:)
Sounds amazing. Do you use fresh coconut or can you use the dry flakes?
dried shredded coconut (not the flakes). Hope that helps!
are carrots raw? They seem to be, but I just could not figure out what is not raw since you titled it almost raw… I will make these for my daughter as soon as I figure out 🙂
Yes the carrots are raw… Sorry the title is confusing. Some people follow a raw diet and *technically* maple syrup is not a raw ingredient since it gets heated at some point during it’s making.
MMMmmm! These sound delicious and I love that you used sunflower seeds rather than nuts. I bet the flavor is every bit as good.
Carrots? Wow, it’s original!
Any idea if these will freeze well, with the carrots in them? Thanks!
Hi Angela – I haven’t tried freezing them so I’m not sure how they’ll thaw. Next time I make them I’ll give it a try though!
If I wanted to try a version with almonds or walnuts instead of sunflower seeds, would I just keep the 1 cup quantity the same? I just usually have nuts on hand rather than the sunflower seeds. We are addicted to your no-bake almond butter oatmeal bites– I have some in the fridge right now. Actually, I’ve had a constant supply in the fridge this past month. This recipe seems like a delicious variation on that staple– snack, healthy dessert, deliciousness.
Hi Amy, I’m thinking walnuts will work the same (or pecans). I’ll give it a try and let you know. Glad you like the oatmeal bites so much!
these worked great for me with walnuts 🙂
Thank you, Jeanine! I’m making these this weekend. We love all the recipes and the cookbook. My friends ask me how I get my husband to eat vegetarian and I challenge them to just try one of your recipes. In fact, he says whenever we have something healthy and delicious (which is basically all the time now because no sacrifice in flavor), this has to be a Love & Lemons! Just want you to know how much we appreciate you! 😊
aww, I love hearing this! Thank you!!!
Wow! Those look so good!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/organic-roasted-cauliflower-grocery-outlet/
Wow! This looks absolutely amazing! And perfect for people like me who don’t eat sugar 😀 Thank you for sharing!
As someone with a tree nut allergy you have no idea how appreciated it is to have a healthy snack recipe (especially energy ‘bites or balls’), that has easy,simple ingredients in them – Thank you!!!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy!
I am obsessed with anything carrot-cake related and can’t wait to try out your recipe. These sound absolutely delicious!
Just made these. Very easy and absolutely delicious. I added a few pistachio nuts as well as I had some in my cupboard.
I’m so happy you loved them!
Oh my gosh…these sound amazing! I love coconut date balls and the addition of carrots and maple syrup is genius 🙂
It doesn’t matter to me that they are more carrot in the flavour! That just sounds really delicious and would love to try them!
These look really yummy! I’m always looking for snack ideas for my kiddo’s daycare, since it is a nut-free facility. Awesome! Thanks for posting this!
You’re welcome, I hope you and your little one enjoy these!