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!
Nancy 02.01.2016
These look amazing! I am sure my kids and hubby will love them if I don’t eat them all first. I tend to do that kind of thing.
And I totally love a last minute, get out of town trip! They are so exciting because there are really no big expectations, so everything is a bonus. I was just in Minneapolis last weekend. It is such a fun city. And now I know what restaurants to hit up for next time!
lynsey 02.01.2016
Step aside ladies. I’m winning this one!
rose cox 02.01.2016
Would love to win! Is this the way to enter? Hope…hope?
rose cox 02.01.2016
Would LOVE to win the Kitchen Aid mixer IF I could figure out how to enter.HELP!
Dana 02.01.2016
I’ve never used cashews for anything, but this looks too good not to try!
S 02.01.2016
“Sweets for Your Sweeties” I would love to make a sweet for my sweetie with a new mixer.
S 02.01.2016
“Sweets for Your Sweeties” I would love to make a sweet for my sweetie with a new mixer
Katelyn Rose 02.01.2016
Those look amazing! I definitely need to try those, since I have a HUGE sweet tooth but am trying realllllly hard to stay healthy :)
Summer 02.01.2016
I just told my husband yesterday that I want a kitchen aid mixer. Then, this pops up! Yay!
Tami 02.01.2016
Can’t wait to try these!
Tracy 02.01.2016
Great giveaway and yummy recipes!
Susan the Farm Quilter 02.01.2016
Thank you for the great recipe and for the contest!
Deann Tomlinson 02.01.2016
Can’t wait to make these! Will be perfect snack when I need to put my sweet tooth craving in check! :)
Megan King 02.01.2016
Kitchen aid makes everything sweeter!
Rhonda 02.01.2016
These treats look tasty.
Tarah 02.01.2016
Those look so yummy! Also, thanks for the heads up on the almond flour at Costco!! I had no idea!
Emily 02.01.2016
Ahhhh!!! I LOVE the glass bowl on the kitchen aid! I’m kind of a glass fanatic, but I’ve only ever seen the steel bowls!. Is it awesome to use?
Ashley 02.01.2016
I LOVE these mixers! Such fun colors. Teal is my favorite
Holly 02.01.2016
These look delicious! I’m on board with anything that tastes like cookie dough!
Katie Giorgio 02.01.2016
What a great post…recipe looks yummy!