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!
Dana s 02.02.2016
these look awesome to make!
amber 02.02.2016
I love giveaways!! Thank you!
Julia 02.02.2016
Love making “lara bars” at home – so much cheaper, and really easy with a good food processor.
MaryB 02.02.2016
I love this idea. I will be making these for our gluten free family members and I know they will love them! What a special treat.
Kellie, Kellie For Ag 02.02.2016
I can’t wait to try these recipes! Great for my lifestyle change, but still allows me to get my sweet cravings in! All of you ladies have such great blogs and recipes! Can’t wait to start ‘pinning’ my new treats! :)
Alex 02.02.2016
Now I’m hungry!
Tara 02.02.2016
These look delicious (& would love to win the mixer!)
Hailey 02.02.2016
Can’t wait to try these treats!
Kelly 02.02.2016
I’ve never eaten a date but am excited to make these and give them a try. If I won the KitchenAid mixer, I love that azure blue color. Honestly, they’re all pretty great though.
Hope 02.02.2016
Yum! Can’t wait to try these!
Natalie 02.02.2016
I made these last night after seeing your post. I LOVE cookie dough. These are delicious!!!
Dani 02.02.2016
These look so delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Darbi 02.02.2016
What a great giveaway! Ive been wanting a mixer forever and just havent bit the bullet to buy one:(
Christie 02.02.2016
Awesome Giveaway! I’ve been wanting this mixer FOREVER!
Karen 02.02.2016
I love the teal mixer and would love to try this recipe! I have a sweet tooth for sure and always looking for a healthier option!
Hope 02.02.2016
these look so good! I love using dates as a binder in treats like these.
Meaghan Lewis 02.02.2016
These look amazing! Thanks for sharing all these awesome recipes and chances to win fun kitchen stuff!
Lisa E 02.02.2016
Love the impromptu road trip! What great memories!! :) We did the Minn State Fair on an impromptu road trip this year. SMORES BEER! I still dream about it. Kitchen Aid Mixer would be fabulous!! That TEAL color!!! thank you :)
Wendy Brunell 02.02.2016
Those bites look awesome! I have a hard time mixing right now, so the mixer is a must!
Kaitlyn 02.02.2016
I would absolutely love to win the Kitchen Aid Mixer! My absolute favorite kitchen appliance!