Name: Carrot Cake Energy Balls
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dates; 1/2 cup walnuts; 1/2 cup pecans; 3/4 cup large flake oats (use gluten-free, if necessary); 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; Pinch of salt; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup grated carrot; Unsweetened coconut for rolling

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These raw carrot cake energy balls make a healthy and delicious little snack or treat that contains no added sugar! Make up a batch and store them in the freezer for a quick and nutritious snack that tastes just like carrot cake! They can be made in less than 20 minutes! {vegan, gluten-free & no sugar added}

If you’re a fan of carrot cake, you will love these carrot cake energy balls!

They’re basically like raw carrot cake in the form of a delicious little bite. The best part is, they contain absolutely no added sugar and since no baking is required, they come together in a matter of minutes!

Prepare a batch at the beginning of the week for healthy ready-made snacks to take with you on the go. They’re also the perfect healthier treat to bring along to those Spring and Easter celebrations!

And while you’re at it, check out these gluten-free carrot cake muffins.

Why Make this Recipe

Easy – These bites come together in less than 20 minutes with minimal ingredients required!

Nutritious – With no added sugar and plenty of fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, this is a snack you can feel good about eating!

Portable – Don’t you just love those grab and go snack options? These carrot balls are perfect for packing as an on the go snack and are great for those lunch boxes.

Kid-friendly – These are especially great for little ones when they want a sweet bite to eat without all of the added sugar. They are also great if you don’t want to create a crazy mess. They’re easy enough that little ones can help make them too!

Great for picky eaters – With their fruit and veggie content and lots of other nutritious ingredients, they’re a great way to incorporate some extra nutrients in a fun and tasty way, especially for those picky eaters!

Ingredient Notes

One of my favourite parts about energy balls, beyond the fact that they taste amazing, is that you can load them up with so many good-for-you ingredients.

Dates – provide natural sweetness so no added sugar is required. Dates are a good source of vitamin B6 and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and manganese. They’re also jam-packed with fibre, as one-half cup of dates provides 6 grams of fiber. Be sure to use pitted regular or Medjool dates.

Carrots – are especially rich in beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K, potassium and antioxidants. Carrot consumption has been linked with benefits for heart and eye health, improved digestion, as well as reduced risk of cancer. Use raw shredded carrot for best results.

Nuts – are a good source of healthy fats, which are good for the heart and overall brain development. We used a mixture of walnuts and pecans, but you can sub in whatever nuts you have on hand. Almonds or cashews would work well too.

Oats – are a source of soluble fibre which can help you feeling full for longer and keep that blood sugar level stable. We used rolled oats, but you could also try subbing in quick oats.

Step by Step Instructions

The first thing that you’ll want to do is soak the dates in some boiling water for about 5 minutes.

While you’re waiting for the dates to soak, blend the walnuts, pecans, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in the food processor until they’re finely ground.

Next, add in the soaked dates and shredded carrots and process until well combined. This is where you’ll need to play around a bit. With your hands, feel the consistency of the mixture.

If it seems too wet and sticky, add a bit more of the oats. If it seems too dry, add a bit of water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. It should be sticky enough to roll into balls.

Roll into 1-inch balls.

Next, roll in some unsweetened coconut.

Recipe Tips

If your dates feel too hard to blend, be sure to soak them for about 5 minutes in boiling hot water before blending to soften them up.
I also recommend blending up the nuts first so that they are finely ground. This is especially important if you’re giving these bites to babies or toddlers since you don’t want them to have large chunks of nuts in their energy bites.
You can shred the carrot yourself, or you can also blend it in the food processor if you’re not in the mood for shredding.
You may need to play around with the consistency of the raw carrot cake mixture. Once you’ve blended it all together, feel the consistency of the mixture. If it seems too wet and sticky, add a bit more of the oats. If it seems too dry, add a bit of water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. It should be sticky enough to roll into balls.

Recipe FAQ

How to Store

You can store these bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Are these balls freezer-friendly?

Definitely! They freeze really well. You can store them in an air-tight container and freeze them for up to three months.

Eat them straight out of the freezer or allow them to thaw at room temperature for about a half and hour or so.

Are these balls good for babies and toddlers?

You can certainly serve them up to babies and toddlers! Just be sure to grind up the nuts finely so that there are no large chunks present.

You may also wish to cut the energy balls into small bite-sized pieces before serving to little ones so that they are easier to chew and don’t pose as a choking hazard.

Recipe variations

These bites can be easily adapted to suit your dietary needs!

To make nut-free – Instead of nuts, you can swap in sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
To make gluten-free – Use certified gluten-free oats.
Spices – Feel free to add more cinnamon and nutmeg according to taste. You can also add some dried ginger to provide even more of that classic carrot cake flavour.
To add more texture – Add some raisins or white or dark chocolate chips to the mixture before rolling into balls.
To boost the protein – You can try adding in a scoop of protein powder or add some Hemp hearts to increase the protein content. If you opt for protein powder, you may need to add a bit of water if the mixture feels too dry.

Looking for other no-bake recipes? Check out these:

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This recipe was originally posted April 2019 and was updated March 2021 to include better tips and photos.

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Carrot Cake Energy Balls