7 Ingredient Vegan Cookie Dough Bites! these chocolate chip cookie dough balls have no grain, gluten and no added oil. Can be made without the sugar. Vegan Paleo Gluten-free Grain-free Recipe. Jump to Recipe
Its summer, long days, that means longer times outside. And between all the activity, we need fun snacks that taste like cookie dough (right!) and are energy bites as well.
These nutty fudgy balls are just that. Full of all the good stuff, just a few ingredients and taste like healthy chocolate chip cookie dough! Cashews and coconut are processed to make a nice neutral base. Then dates, flavors are added in. and some chocolate chips of course! You can drizzle some melted chocolate on them for additional chocolate or roll in seeds.
Ingredients for Vegan Cookie Dough Bites and substitution options
- Raw cashews and coconut make up a hearty neutral base. Coconut + dates add a light caramel like flavor.
- Almond flour adds a bit more bulk
- Dates are the sweetener as well as binder. If the dates are not as soft, sprinkle in some water or oil to help bind. You can use 3-4 tbsp maple syrup instead of dates, you might need to add 1-2 tbsp more almond flour or other flour of choice.
- vanilla extract adds flavor
- a good pinch of salt balances out the sweet
- a small amount of brown sugar for texture and sweet. it’s optional.
- chocolate chips of course are a must for chocolate chip cookie dough. I like mini chocolate chips. You can add other additions like dried fruits of choice.
How to make Vegan Cookie Dough bites with step pictures
Assemble the ingredients, so you have them all ready to process as needed. Process cashews, coconut and salt until fine even meal. Process for 2-3 minutes so the cashews break down well and start to get buttery.
Add dates, sugar if using, vanilla and process until dates have broken down evenly. Depending on the dates, this may take 1-2 mins.
Add almond flour and process until the mixture is fat doughy crumbs or somewhat doughy. Transfer to a bowl, add chocolate chips and mix.
Use a scoop or hands to shape into balls. If the dates were dry, add sprinkles of oil or non dairy milk/water and mix in. Then press between your hands to check if a ball forms. Then use scoop to make scoops or roll between your hands.
More Snack Bites from the blog
- Carrot Cake Bites – GF They taste like Carrot Cake! you all have been loving them.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls with Rice Krispies– GF Cannot get any better than pb and choc
- Blueberry Muffin bites. GF Blueberry muffins in snack form!
- Seedy Chocolate Snack Bars – GF no dates!
- Golden Sesame Balls – GF Because turmeric
- Mojito Energy Balls – GF so fresh and zesty!
Vegan Cookie Dough Bites (No Bake Gluten-free)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (43 g) raw cashews
- 1/4 cup (20 g) shredded coconut
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 12 dates
- 1 tbsp brown sugar for sweeter and texture , optional
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (56 g) almond flour
- 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Process cashews, coconut and salt until fine even meal. Process for 2-3 minutes so the cashews break down well and start to get buttery.
- Add dates, sugar, vanilla and process until dates have broken down evenly. Depending on the dates, this may take 1-2 mins.
- Add almond flour and process until the mixture is fat doughy crumbs or somewhat doughy. Transfer to a bowl, add chocolate chips and mix
- Use a scoop or hands to shape into balls. If the dates were dry, add sprinkles of oil or non dairy milk/water and mix in. Then press between your hands to check if a ball forms. Then use scoop to make scoops or roll between your hands.Store: On the counter for 2 days, refrigerated for upto 2 weeks.
Notes
- You can use 3-4 tbsp maple syrup instead of dates, you might need to add 1-2 tbsp more almond flour or other flour of choice.
- You can use dried fruits such as raisins, cherry, blueberry etc instead of chocolate chips.
Nutrition
Rachel says
August 5, 2019 at 11:57 amHi! These sound yummy but wondering if you can substitute the seeds for cashews or something else that is nut free? My sons daycare is nut free and I like making him little energy snack balls but need to find a nut free recipe with no added sugar too since he is only 17 months old.
Richa says
August 5, 2019 at 1:40 pmyou can. Use a mix of sunflower seeds and flour such as oat flour. you wont need the sugar as there is plenty sweetness from dates. i added it for a more sweet caramelly cookie dough like flavor
Rachel says
August 5, 2019 at 5:51 pmOkay thank you!
Nancy says
August 7, 2019 at 9:04 amDo you know these freeze well?
Darlene says
August 8, 2019 at 4:58 amI made these last night & they were delicious! We found them to be the perfect sweet treat, loved the texture & of course the taste, thanks for this recipe 🙂
Richa says
August 8, 2019 at 10:31 amyay!!
Cathy says
August 24, 2019 at 5:54 pmMade these with the tbsp of brown sugar for texture and they were scrumptious! I didn’t believe they could taste like actual cookie dough, but they do! Down to the raw vanilla extract taste and all. I also appreciate that your recipe is simple and requires so few ingredients- great for whipping up in a jiffy for vegan friends! Thank you for the great recipe!
Some additional notes from my batch:
– Used 200g of dates in case anyone likes to make by weight. The number comes from another recipe I recently made that called for “12 dates/200g dates”
– Used a #50 cookie scoop and got exactly 13 cookie dough balls
Richa says
August 24, 2019 at 10:37 pmaweesome!
Tori says
September 4, 2019 at 11:28 pmHi! Can you use coconut butter instead of cashews?
Richa says
September 23, 2019 at 3:43 pmnope
Emily says
September 23, 2019 at 10:02 pmI make these every few weeks. The kids love them! I add dried blueberries, cranberries, apricots to change it up!
Richa says
September 24, 2019 at 12:09 amAwesome!
Liz says
September 26, 2019 at 9:49 amCan you use oats instead of almond flour?
Richa says
September 26, 2019 at 10:09 amyes powder them in a blender or processsor and use
Susan says
October 16, 2019 at 7:59 pmBeautiful recipe. Is there anything that you could suggest as a substitute for the coconut?
Richa says
October 16, 2019 at 10:34 pmuse more almond flour
Susan says
October 17, 2019 at 5:33 amReally?!? Thank you! Can’t wait to try it!! Love your Web site and recipes.
Sandra says
December 12, 2019 at 3:29 pmI made these with oat flour. They are wonderful! Don’t make them if you have a problem with cookie dough (like I do). You just may eat the whole batch.
Thanks Richa!
Jyoti says
July 17, 2020 at 5:39 pmDo you have any recommendations on how to store them?
Richa says
July 18, 2020 at 10:19 amRefrigerate for upto 3 weeks
Jyoti says
July 18, 2020 at 10:43 amThank you so much for sharing this recipe! Loved making this