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!
Brandon Landes 02.02.2016
I love to follow Iowa Girl Eats! I have made many of her recipes and have never been disappointed. Would be so fun to have a new mixer to use with her awesome recipes!
Andrea 02.02.2016
These look so yummy!!! I’d love to win the mixer to use to make healthier snacks :)
Karla 02.02.2016
We love to take impromptu weekend trips away and don’t do it nearly enough. Minneapolis is a bit far but that cheddarwurst looks SO GOOD I’m tempted try their mail order! And… these bites look awesome. It’s so nice to have a healthy snack option. Thanks, Kristin!
Robin 02.02.2016
Looks delicious!
Megan M. 02.02.2016
I’m intrigued by the cookie dough bites–I’ve never made anything using dates. I’ll have to give them a try. And I’d love a new mixer. I got my Kitchen Aid as a wedding present almost nine years ago, and I dread the day it quits working!
Julie 02.02.2016
This recipe looks great! I have all the stuff I need to make it so plan to very soon! And great giveaway too. Thanks! Absolutely love your blog and all the gluten free recipes.
Teal 02.02.2016
Your impromptu trip sounds awesome! What a great idea!
Caitlin 02.02.2016
These look good and so simple to make! Been wanting to make something with dates!
diann 02.02.2016
I would LOVE a beautiful, bright mixer to proudly display on my kitchen counter top. I know it would get lots and lots of attention, starting with the some yummy treats for my Valentine’s sweeties!
ErikaMC 02.02.2016
These will be a greatsnack to have on hand. I’ve never used cashews in making bites before – usually almonds.
Tonya 02.02.2016
These look like delicious little treats!
Trisha 02.02.2016
Omg! Those all look amazing! Think I’m going to try the choc pb sands!!
H.C 02.02.2016
would love to win the kitchen aid mixer!
Katie C 02.02.2016
This recipe looks tasty, thanks!
Jackie kenneally 02.02.2016
These sound delish! I can’t wait to try them!
Kristin K 02.02.2016
These look so good! Cannot wait to try them!
Kimberli Bean 02.02.2016
Those look delicious, can’t wait to make them!! Your weekend getaway looks like so much fun!!
Stephanie 02.02.2016
Looking for more sugar-free recipes! My doctor put me on a low-carb diet and I’ve been craving sweets. Those date-sweetened cookie dough bites look delicious!
Wendy 02.01.2016
These look amazing! Thanks for the recipe and for the chance to win!
jeanie 02.01.2016
Looks delicious! Wanting a kitchen aid mixer so bad!