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!
Shoshana 02.03.2016
Great giveaway! If I win, I would save the mixer for a friend who will hopefully be getting engaged/married soon!
Jen 02.03.2016
Love how appealing these look for the kiddos!
Tara 02.03.2016
Ahhh! I need a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I’ve gone without a mixer of any kind for over a year.
Good arm workout, but it definitely deters me from whipping up yummies more often than not.
Valerie B. 02.03.2016
These cookie bites look great, and quick to make too!
Kat 02.03.2016
Been meaning to try dates in sweets -may have to finally give it a try with these!
Amy 02.03.2016
I would love to win this and give it to my sister!
Theresa 02.03.2016
These cookie bites sound so yummy! Would love to win the mixer!
Anne 02.02.2016
Love your blog!
Haley 02.02.2016
Can’t wait to try these!
Rebecca bishop 02.02.2016
I would love to win; love your blog – awsome recipes!!
Janelle 02.02.2016
Eeek! This looks amazing…the recipe AND the kitchenaid!!!
Karen V 02.02.2016
These look delish!
Emma Myrick 02.02.2016
This looks delicious!! I love the way you incorporated the dates!
Ellen 02.02.2016
Those look delicious! I have been loving dates lately. I found a big block of Medjool date paste (the only ingredient is dates, just already pitted and pureed) at a local Tunisian grocery for waaaay cheaper than I’ve ever found whole dates so I’ve been subbing that into my favorite homemade Larabars. Can’t wait to try these next.
Liz 02.02.2016
Yum, these look great and I would LOVE to own a Kitchen Aid!
Emily Calderin 02.02.2016
I would die if I won this Kitchen Aid Mixer!! I have been eyeing one for years but something more important always needs to be purchased.
Vicki 02.02.2016
I enjoy the new recipes coming out these days that highlight using natural ingredients and emphasize healthy eating. These sweet treats will definitely be on my “must try” list. Thanks for sharing your recipes as you branch out in this field and thanks for a terrific contest!
Caroline R. 02.02.2016
Would love to win! And I’m going to make these for my grandkids.
Kimberly 02.02.2016
We just went to Minneapolis for the first time in September. It was amazing and the food was awesome!
Darcy 02.02.2016
Such a pretty mixer