Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and with it comes being bombarded by ALL THE SWEETS. I whole heartedly believe in enjoying a sweet treat with your sweetie on the holiday, but you can definitely do it in more healthful way with my naturally sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites. Not only do these 5 ingredient (plus salt) cookie “dough” balls taste like Chewy Chips Ahoy (YES,) but they’re naturally sweetened with dates!
Here’s the scoop: raw cashews are combined with sticky-sweet Medjool dates, vanilla extract, almond meal, and chocolate chips, then rolled into balls which not only look but taste like raw cookie dough. I mean it’s unreal, and they come together in just 10 minutes! Lincoln’s developed a taste for these “sweet meatballs” and I feel zero guilt about him occasionally eating one vs something that’s loaded with refined sugar. Healthier but still very decadent-tasting. I could not love them more.
How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites:
As I mentioned, these cookie dough bites are sweetened and held together with Medjool dates. Medjool dates are super sweet and sticky, and can usually be found in the produce section of the grocery store.
Medjool dates are occasionally sold in the bulk bins but if you’re gluten-free you’ll want to avoid those because of cross contamination issues, plus the dates can become dry and hard in the bins and they need to remain really soft to hold the bites together.
Add 6 Medjool dates to the bowl of a food processor along with 1 cup raw unsalted cashews, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt, then process until the mixture is smooth and starts to come together into a batter.
The mixture should hold its shape when squeezed, like this!
Dump the mixture into a big bowl then sprinkle in 1/4 cup finely ground almond meal and mix with your hands to combine.
Next add 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips and mix with your hands to combine.
Last step is to roll the mixture into 10 balls then enjoy right away (dare you not to!) or store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Let the bites sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes after being refrigerated to regain that chewy texture that you’re going to flip for!
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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
Description
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites are naturally sweetened, vegan, and gluten-free. These bites are the perfect cure for a sweet tooth!
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 6 Medjool dates
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup finely ground almond flour
- 1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Add cashews, dates, vanilla, and salt to the bowl of a food processor then process until smooth and mixture just starts to come together into a sticky batter. Pour into a large bowl then sprinkle in almond flour and mix with your hands to combine. If mixture is too sticky, add a little more almond flour. Add chocolate chips then mix until combined. Roll into 10 balls then store in the refrigerator.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I can’t wait for you to try these healthier sweet treats this Valentine’s Day, or any time of the year!
I will literally wet my pants if I win the Kitchen Aid Mixer! I never got one when I got married and would use it all the time =) Be back when the contest opens. Until then, I should whip up a batch of these c.c.b.’s. I think it’s the chocolate chips that just make me happy, they just bring out the kid in me and harken me back to happy baking memories. My daughter just turned 6 and I’ve never made cookies with her because I know the traditional ingredients are just so bad! (no one call c.p.s. on me, ok!!) But these I can feel good about making. And you’ve made them simple, not too many ingredients that I gotta run over the store to find with a cranky toddler in tow.
1. I cannot wait until our boys are old enough for an impromptu weekend trip to somewhere other than my parents’ house an hour away. Okay, I can because I want them to stay seven months old forever, and actually quite enjoy visits to my parents’ house, but you know what I mean. Your quick trip looked so fun!
2. These “sweet meatballs” are exactly what I needed on this Monday morning. Picking up dates after work tonight!
3. Dates kinda look like cockroaches, don’t they?!
These look great! They remind me of some homemade Lara bars I made awhile back, except these are cuter, more versatile, and seem quicker to whip up on a whim! There are few things I love more than raw cookie dough, so it is nice to have something to kick that craving without feeling guilty!
Yummo! Just what I need for my sweet tooth cravings!
Love this recipe
These bites look delicious- love small, easy to grab treats! Also- love brasa- One of our go-to restaurants !
These look delicious!
LOVE that you just literally left! I have such a hard time doing it but want to embrace the spontaneity more. Little man just turned one (sob!) so we’re escaping for a quick ski trip with friends but it can be hard with a little one. You’ve inspired me to keep trying to make those moments happen!
Thank you for this idea! I’ve recently had to make changes to my diet for some allergies and this will be perfect.
I need a spontaneous weekend trip!
Yummm! I was just going to make some like these today – only like mini brownies! :)
Looks like homemade Lara bars, but better because you can see the ingredients going in.
Yum! Those bites look delicious! Thanks for all the sweets recipes, gonna check them out :-)
What an awesome recipe…can’t wait to try! And thank you for the amazing kitchen aid give away.. I could cry just thinking about all the yummy food I would make ?
These look delicious. We used to drop everything and go for an impromptu weekend in Chicago occasionally, always fun. Thanks for the great giveaway!
these look delicious! i actually love dates on their own, but it’s fun to make a snack with them too :)
What a fun trip! I need to get to Minneapolis sometime :)
I have a massive sweet tooth and am trying desperately to lose weight and cut sugar from my diet, so this is just what I need!!
I’d love a quick getaway like that! With two big dogs and a son playing hockey we tend to plan ahead more than impromptu.
[…] Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites from Iowa Girl Eats […]
So sweet and so simple!
[…] Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites from Iowa Girl Eats […]
Thank you for hosting and for the chance to win :)
get aways are so fun! I would love to have this mixer!!! THANK YOU
I’ve heard awesome things about BatB! I think its time to talk the hubs into an impromptu trip of our own in the upcoming weeks!
I have been reading your blog for years, and your recipes are among my favorites. I used to live in Des Moines, and when you talk about local restaurants and parks, I just smile. I would love the Kitchen Aid Mixer to help me try out more new recipes. Thanks for your wonderful blog!
Diane
[…] Chew Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites from Iowa Girl Eats […]
[…] Chew Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites from Iowa Girl Eats […]
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Love that Kitchen Aid!
Great giveaway, thanks! I would love to win a mixer, it’s the one kitchen gadget I’ve been holding out on because of the price.
Awesome giveaway!
Would love the kitchen aide!! Love following you and your recipes!!Keep them coming:)
1. These look amazing – I love anything chocolate-y!!
2. I would love love love a kitchenaid – fingers crossed!
Great Giveaway!!Thanks:)
Looksa mazing! Can’t wait to try
Yum, these look incredible and a Kitchen Aid Mixer is the ultimate kitchen tool! I’d love to have one!
I’m wrapping up the Whole 30, so I love this idea as a way to gently reintroduce “sweets” into my diet <3
So exciting!! I just got married and this is the one thing I did not get and wanted so badly!
Um, yes please! I love sweet treats that are naturally sweetened with dates. I haven’t tried adding almond flour before, but what a great idea!
[…] Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites from Iowa Girl Eats […]
Love this! Definitely going to make some “cookie dough” tonight
Sounds like a great weekend. Thanks for the restaurant recommendations. We will have to try them next time we are in Minneapolis.
Remodeling my kitchen and would love a new mixer.. Love all your recipes and it is fun to watch Lincoln grow.
Oh I need I mixer for my best friend! This would be perfect for her.
I really, really hope I win this giveaway. The only kitchen appliance missing in my life is a RED Kitchen Aid mixer. I always lovingly stare at them each time I am in Williams Sonoma. Pick me!
what a wonderful recipe – i will be making this today!!
These look easy and delicious.
My friend was just diagnosed as Celiac and is having a tough time with it. I’ve already shared your blog with her so she won’t be surprised when I bring these over to cheer her up!
Yum! Larabars are my go-to dessert dupe – these look great too!