Carrot Cake Energy Bites

Whip up these no-bake Carrot Cake Energy Bites for a midday snack or healthy dessert. These are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and flourless, making for a healthy and easy treat!

Energy bites are my go-to treat to pair with a breakfast smoothie, a mid-day snack, or as a healthy dessert… really, just all hours of the day! They’re loaded with fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and combined with the flavors of carrot cake? Agh! I love them!

And what makes me love these energy bites even more is that they are naturally vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free. They also contain many healthy and filling ingredients to keep you full throughout the day, and enough sweetness to mimic a dessert.

I’m not lying when I say the flavor of these resembles carrot cake. It’s almost as if you’re eating little scoops of carrot cake batter… this is what heaven tastes like! I’m happy to report they are a close (and healthier!) alternative to the real deal!

Key Ingredients:

These are called energy bites because they are filled with good-for-you ingredients to help you power through the day. Let’s talk about the ingredients that help make this possible…

• Carrots: You can’t have carrot cake energy bites without, well, carrots! I peeled two large carrots for this recipe.
• Pitted Dates: These will act as both the binder and sweetener.
• Coconut: Adds sweetness and extra texture.
• Walnuts: Feel free to substitute with pecans, or leave them out entirely.
• Oats: These add fiber and gives you that energy boost. They also add texture.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Salt: Flavor, flavor, flavor!

How to make carrot cake energy bites:

• Soak the dates in a bowl of warm water for at least 5 minutes. Drain and reserve the water.
• Add the dates to a food processor and pulse until they are broken down. If the dates are too thick, add a teaspoon of the reserved warm water to help loosen them up.
• Add in the coconut, vanilla, carrots, oats, walnuts, salt, and all the spices. Pulse until the mixture is easily malleable.

• Roll the mixture into balls and set on a parchment paper-lined baking tray. You can choose to roll them in coconut for extra texture or leave them as is.
• Freeze for at least 1 hour.

Storage instructions:

I recommend keeping these in the freezer for best-tasting and long-lasting results (about 2 months if kept properly sealed in the freezer). However, they can also be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Can I make these into Granola Bars?

Yes! This recipe can be easily transformed into chewy granola bars. Instead of rolling into balls, simply spread the dough into an 8×8 pan and freeze for an hour. When they’re frozen, cut them into squares or rectangles.

Last Minute Tips:

• If making these specifically gluten-free, make sure the oats you use are labeled as such.
• If you don’t have a food processor, you can make these by blending the dates and mixing the remaining ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon. It takes a bit of muscle, but it can be done!
• Have a bowl of shredded coconut ready for rolling. You can also choose to omit this step. (I like a variety of energy bites with and without the extra shredded coconut.)

If you liked this snack, try my Coconut & Date Energy Bites!

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