Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites are naturally sweetened, vegan, and gluten free. Each protein-packed bite is the perfect cure for a cookie craving!
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!
What’s Inside
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.
Did I mention they come together in just 10 minutes?
My kids love these “sweet meatballs”, as they call them, and I feel good about giving them a naturally sweetened treat that just so happens to be filled with protein.
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 pitted 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!
I can’t wait for you to try these healthier sweet treats this Valentine’s Day, or any time of the year!
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 6 pitted 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 the mixture starts to come together into a sticky batter.
- Pour the mixture 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.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
These look really good and your impromptu trip looked like so much fun. My mouth is watering looking at all those food pictures. Glad you had a fun weekend.
Oh yum! I’m a huge fan of cashews in recipes. I have all these ingredients in my pantry. These are calling my name!
I have developed digestion issues in the last ten years, and while I know I do better if I avoid wheat and dairy, 99% of the replacement recipes I’ve taste like I’m eating sand. You give me hope that perhaps life as I know it, is not over. ;-)
I’m not great with spontaneity but that trip sounds incredible! I did take a nice break this weekend from work, though, so I can relate to the “good for the soul” aspect a bit.
(Also, these cookie dough bites sound delicious!)
Amazing! I would loveeeee a mixer :)
Yummy!
My will power against sweets is my downfall. After a couple of your posts related to the Go Sugar Free course, I keep debating if it is something I can be successful at. Cookies have been my latest temptation- perhaps this recipe will help me beat it without actually making cookies!
Yum!
Yum! Larabars are my go-to dessert dupe – these look great too!
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!
These look easy and delicious.
what a wonderful recipe – i will be making this today!!
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!