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!
Denise 02.07.2016
Love hearing about the places you visit in the cities! Also appreciate you mentioning that your Costco carries the almond flour. Maybe I’ll find dates there too!
Maria 02.06.2016
I made these today with my 3 year old. We waited until after dinner to eat them. So delicious and addicting! I just ate 3 of them…lol. I used mini chocolate chip.
Vicki 02.06.2016
I have followed your blog for several years and now that a granddaughter follows a glutin-free diet, love checking out your recipes.
Mary 02.06.2016
These look delicious! I have a 3-month-old and need easy, healthful, delicious pick-me-up snacks throughout the day. These are perfect!
Katelyn R 02.06.2016
I could use a bit more spontaneity! I like how these balls could be easily expanded upon with different flavors (fruit puree, spices, cocoa powder).
Marla Hernandez 02.05.2016
A mixer would be awesome! I mix all of my muffin recipes by hand;)
em@onwardsandupwards 02.05.2016
Those look so delicious and simple to make – mouth watering!
Jackie 02.05.2016
I need to try these asap
RaeAnne 02.05.2016
Love the colors of the mixers!
Julie 02.05.2016
I’ve tried making similar snacks with dates from the bulk food bins but the consistency often seems off…didn’t even think about them drying out. Of course! I’ll give them one more try with this recipe, using the packaged dates instead :)
bev smith 02.05.2016
would love to win a KitchenAide mixer… would be great for the Grandkids and I… , especially on Cookie Day in November for Christmas cookie bake our family does…. Thank you for the opportunity to win <3
Brooke 02.05.2016
I’d love to win- this recipe looks like it would be a great treat for my toddler!
Ashley 02.05.2016
I’ve made Copycat Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabars in the past, but never with almond meal! I’m anxious to give these a try!
Kari 02.05.2016
These look great.
Janet 02.04.2016
Yum! Off to the grocery store!
Mackenzie H 02.04.2016
The bites look delicious! Do you do anything special to get the dates to blend so smoothly? Mine never get blended well, I don’t know if it’s lack of quality kitchen appliance power or impatience.
Kristin 02.05.2016
I used my high powered food processor, but if yours is a little less high powered, I’d chop the dates into chunks before adding them!
Rosie 02.04.2016
these are so great!
Ashley 02.03.2016
Yummmmm!! Can’t wait to try these
abby 02.03.2016
Love! Thanks for this giveaway :)
Elizabeth Potter 02.03.2016
I love the ideas of the 15 sweets for your sweetie! I will try making some for my Galentines Weekend with friends!