10 minutes and 1 bowl are all you need to whip up these healthy No-Bake Carrot Cake Energy Bites! They’re nut-free, gluten-free, vegan, and taste like soft and doughy poppable bites of carrot cake!
Confession: I’m not really the biggest carrot cake fan.
In fact, it’s the only instance I can think of where I’d choose frosting over cake. Normally I’m a cake-over-frosting kind of girl, but carrot cake is one exception to that rule… which might have something to do with the fact that I kind of love cream cheese frosting and would happily just eat it by the spoonful. Who knows.
And it’s not even that I think carrot cake tastes bad — I just have some weird prejudice against putting vegetables in desserts.
The same goes for zucchini, although in that case it’s a strong prejudice against zucchini in general. So if you ever try feeding me some kind of chocolate zucchini loaf, just don’t tell me it’s in there… The list of veggies I don’t like isn’t overly long, but zucchini is definitely near the top. Along with eggplant. Nasty, squishy things.
But all prejudices aside, I do enjoy the occasional slice of carrot cake… when I actually get around to eating it. The problem is that if there’s chocolate and I see the chocolate, you better believe that I’m going straight for the chocolate. Which isn’t exactly a problem, per say, but you get what I’m saying. Chocolate trumps all, in my mind.
And while I’d be perfectly content with eating nothing but chocolate for the rest of my days, it never hurts to expand one’s horizons. I mean… how else would I have discovered that I adore these carrot cake energy bites?
They’re soft and doughy. They’re sweet and lightly spiced. And while I can’t claim that they taste exactly like a slice of carrot cake, neither do they contain all the added fats and refined sugars. They’re also vegan, nut free, and gluten-free as long as you use certified GF oats. Oh, and they only require 10 minutes and 1 bowl to clean up, as opposed to the 4+ hours and kitchen disaster zones that cakes involve. Just saying.
These balls are a lot lighter and fluffier than most of my other bites, probably because the base is made up of oats and coconut flour as opposed to the usual dates and nut butter — perfect for the warming temperatures and the coming of spring.
I didn’t include any protein powder in this recipe simply because I didn’t have any on hand, but you could probably get away with subbing out the coconut flour for a scoop of protein powder and calling it a day.
Happy eating!
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No-Bake Carrot Cake Energy Bites
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 12 balls 1x
Ingredients
- 3 large Medjool dates, pitted (~40g)
- 4 dried apricots (~26 g)
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) unsweetened applesauce
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (80 g) rolled oats
- 1/4 cup (28 g) coconut flour
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground cardamon
- 1/8 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup (115 g) shredded carrots
- unsweetened shredded coconut, for garnish
Instructions
- Into the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender, add dates, apricots, applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, processing until dates and apricots have broken down into smaller pieces and ingredients are well combined
- Add oats, coconut flour, spices, and shredded carrot, continuing to process until ingredients are well combined and the mixture sticks together easily.
- Add generous amount of shredded coconut to a shallow bowl. Using a heaping tablespoon, roll dough between your hands before rolling it in the coconut to coat. Set aside on a plate and repeat with remaining dough. Store balls in an airtight container in the fridge for best results, or freeze for longer periods of time.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
Looking for more healthy no-bake bites? Try one of these!
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough {Bites}
Chunky Monkey Snack Bites
Vegan Cookie Dough Truffles
Carrot cake wasn’t my favorite until I had a dense one FULL of raisins and whipped buttercream frosting. Oh my word. We would make a good duo, though, because I can’t stand cream cheese frosting. We could EASILY split a piece of carrot cake! Problems solved!!! :o)
And you put apricots in there! Now that is intriguing. Très intéressant. Speaking of accents, I absolutely pictured Gollom when you said, “Nasty, squishy things.” Not sure if that was the intent, but it’s where my mind went.
It doesn’t seem like we’re anywhere close to Spring around these parts although these certainly make me look forward to the idea of it. You put Spring in a ball, er I mean bite. Either way, nicely done.
Gollum, eh? Not the intent, but I can definitely see it! And I’ll try to send some sunshine your way when I actually see it. It’s been warm around these parts, but grey, grey, grey.
Carot cake balls that don’t require cooking?? Saaaay it ain’t so! It’s actually one of my favourite cake flavours so I am basically drooling throughout this whole post. I’m normally a cake girl too but carrot cake is an exception- I could eat that cream cheese frosting by the spoon! I’m pretty good with embracing most veggies but one which I just can’t seem to like is radish- far too bitter for me! Love me some eggplant & zucchini though ;)!
I love carrot cake! I am definitely a raisin in the cake type of girl! I feel like I want either cake or frosting, not both together…ok together is fine too as long as it’s there 😉 The one veggie I don’t like is okra. It tastes so bitter and leaves a horrid aftertaste. I also really only like kale if it’s in a smoothie. I’d choose spinach over it anyday!
LOVE carrot cake but moreso the frosting, unless it’s the one I make with Greek yogurt in which I purposely make extra to then make the truffles which then require the frosting.
…that probably made no sense.
I got kale stuck in my teeth on Monday so I dislike them today.
I dislike kale everyday and it has nothing to do with getting it stuck in my teeth 😛
I have yet to meet a veggie that I don’t like!
I like cake WAY better than frosting… unless it’s whipped frosting… then I like the frosting better… actually I like cake and frosting. No discrimination.
Oh how delicious does that look?!
I’ll eat all veggies. 😀
Ohhh man DO I WANT ONE OF THESE IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW. To be honest, I’m not usually the biiiigest fan of carrot cake for the same reasons you mentioned. Whenever I do have some, I always enjoy it though (you can’t really go wrong with any type of cake in my opinion haha). Did you get a new lens? These photos are gorgeous!
Thanks, lady! And nope! Same old lens! I think I just got lucky with the light that day 🙂
I am also a cream cheese icing kind of girl. Now you’ve got me craving it!
You had me at CARROT CAKE!! 🙂
i’m in ball envy. I’ve tried making these before. Oh how I need your skills! and I agree, veggies in desserts are not my thing, unless it’s this!
These look delicious! I know I can’t go wrong with one of your recipes so I’m sure it’s amazing! I’m not the biggest fan of mushrooms and because I’m a vegetarian/mostly vegan, people always assume that I love *all* vegetables and will substitute mushrooms. *shudder*
Your recipes always make me hungry Amanda! Seriously, I need to try these energy bites. Though I will neglect to put on the coconut.. don’t hate me! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Can’t hate ya, girl! I’m honestly not the biggest fan of shredded coconut either, but it makes the bites look prettier for pictures so on it went! And when everything was said and done, I honestly didn’t notice it on there at all.
Now those are some impressive balls…I mean bites. Carrot cake is in my top five and was actually #1 when I was a kid. I luuuurve it. I also love dates and I’m shocked at how much these look like actual cake, considering the ingredient list. They look amazing! Pinned!
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about one of your recipes!! I love that these are nut and seed free. It’s not often you find an energy ball that’s not chockfull of nuts! Thanks for sharing! Pinned and tweeted 🙂
These look amazing, and they’re already both GF and nut-free? Can’t wait to try!
Well, Amanda, I happen to LOVE carrot cake, and these sound awesome! 🙂
My husband might like these. He likes carrot cake…I am like you and not really a fan.
OMG these look AMAZING!!! I’m going to have to try these out ASAP. They seem perfect for a pre-workout treat! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m absolutely a “cake with frosting” type of girl. I can eat them separately, but prefer them together. And, I love carrot cake so these look delicious!
I like most veggies but I hate broccoli. Most people love it, so I know it’s weird 🙂
These look awesome. I definitely LOVE cream cheese icing and I think it is really the only frosting I enjoy aside from my mom’s homemade buttercream. MMM. I do like carrot cake as well, so I may have to check these out!
OMG carrot cake is one of my favourite cakes (our German version though), and zucchini and eggplant are two f my very favourite veggies! We’re never gonna be friends!! 🙁 On the other hand, we would complete each other – you take the chocolate cake, I the carrot cake. I eat zucchini – you eat…what veggies do you like? You get my point! 😉
I like the oats and coconut flour base of this recipe, as well as the dried apricot. I can imagine this to taste suuuper good! Definitively pinned it!
I think that would make us perfect friends since we’d never be fighting over food! 😛
I think I’m the exact opposite of you – if you tell me there are carrots in a dessert, I will probably love it more! But that’s just because I am weirdly obsessed with those lil orange things. Zucchini on the other hand…nope. I see all these “zucchini oatmeal” recipes and the like and it kinda makes me cringe. These look perfect!
Cake human over here! I am partial to carrot cake too, but yes – never chosen over chocolate. Gahh a sin of sins!
These look scrumptiously unusual. On the topic of cream cheese; no-bake cheesecake is that one dessert that is up on my favorites list without containing chocolate.
And totally irrelevant but perhaps you could help a desperate girl out: I’ve seen kasha pop up on Spoons at some time I’m fairly certain. How do you go about prepping it? I know I need to have it rinsed well right…but even doing the best I could considering they’re sneaky little buggers – after cooking I’m left with a slight covering of thickish grey-ish matter. Twice now *fail* . I am apprehensive about eating it and contracting some disease you know :p .
I get that grey coating on my kasha all the time as well, and I’m not entirely sure what it is, but I’m almost 100% sure that it’s harmless. At least… I’ve been eating it since I was a tiny little thing and never ran into any problems 🙂
YUM! I posted an energy bite recipe today too. It must be fate we eat #alltheballs.
Carrot cake makes me think of Spring which is certainly welcome right now.
I adore carrot cake and have loved it my entire life. It’s always baffled me that people don’t love this dessert! But to each their own. I think you’re about to convert quite a few carrot cake haters with this amazing recipe!
I was making some of these the other day – great minds:) My recipe was a tad different but similar and yours looks fab!! Balls of healthy tasty goodness!
‘Tis the season for ALL things carrot cake 😀
Confession: I AM the biggest carrot cake fan. I walk by a bakery every day and just stare at the carrot cake in the display until someone comes up behind me and tells me to “move it ot lose it”. (Ahh, Boston) However, I am soo with you on the eggplant thing. Can’t stand it. These look amazing. I’m normally all about the cake too, but when it comes to cream cheese frosting, all bets are off 😀
Like you, I’m not opposed to carrot cake, but I gravitate toward chocolate every time. I’m more of a cake person than a frosting person; frosting is often way too sweet. The exceptions? Really rich chocolate frosting or perfectly tangy cream cheese frosting. Can’t wait to give these a try!
I wish cardamon wasn’t like… $11 freaking dollars for a small container here. Wahhhhh. What’s like a good sub for that? Or maybe just omit? My parents let me get away with a lot of crazy things, but they might draw the line at $11 for a spice lol.
It’s crazy, eh?! But those jars tend to last forever since cardamon isn’t -that- common of a spice in recipes. There really is no sub for it either, so I’d just omit.
Mmmm, Ethan and I love carrot cake. Funny fact, I made him a healthy carrot cake for his first birthday. He loved it, but he hated the cream cheese icing. Kiddo’s nuts I tell ya.
That’s better than what I got for my first birthday! My parents got a cake that was covered in nuts so I couldn’t even eat it. Like.. whaaaaat?!
I love carrot cake! Can’t wait to try these (:
Being the chocoholic I am – I gotta agree “Chocolate trumps all”!!! But – wait – I think I need to black out that part where you refer to eggplant and zucchs as “Nasty, squishy things” befofe my daughter reads this! Though, I could be bribed with a dozen of these…. 😉
Loving those spices in these energy bites!
WOWW, loooove these! No-bake snacks are my favourite! I’ll definitely let you know when I whip these up 🙂
I usually pick chocolate too, but Riley loves carrot cake. And sad day you don’t like eggplant, cause I think it’s awesome.
These look delish, as usual!
These look awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve actually never had carrot cake and like you I’m sure I wouldn’t dislike it I usually just go for other (more chocolatey) things! 🙂 but these carrot cake energy balls look delicious and I love the ingredients! Definitely pinning!
Thanks so much, Jen!
As I’ve complained about, my oven is very annoying lately so a no bake treat makes me very happy! I used to be all about frosting but my tastes have definitely changed, and now I’d have to say cake. And carrot cake is really so so good!
I am SO with you on carrot cake! It’s not that I dislike it at all.
I just would rather swim in a bowl of cream cheese frosting, you know?
But these bites?! THEY LOOK LIKE CAKE, and the fact that they are not baked is blowing my MIIIIND. Need them. Want them. Pinning them!
Swimming in a bowl of cream cheese frosting… now there’s an awesome image <3 Thanks, lady!