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A healthy, kid friendly snack that is easy to grab on the go. These carrot cake energy balls are filled with natural sweetness from the dates, lasting energy from the cashews and even a sneaky carrot vegetable! Make a double batch, they do not last long!
Carrot cake energy balls
Friends, I am SO excited to share today’s recipe with you all! Energy balls, or snack balls (whatever you like to call them) are a big deal in our house. They’re basically natures candy and never last for very long in the fridge. Everyone wants to get their hands on them!
I am happy to oblige and share these carrot cake energy balls. I know the good for you ingredients in them. I am also 100% against hangry kids, so snacks are life for us.
Energy balls for fuel
I’ll also grab a few of these carrot cake energy balls as a pick me up on the way to the gym before teaching a class. The combination of cashews and dates gives me a fantastic energy boost that doesn’t leave my energy level crashing 30 minutes later.
Sometimes I choose a snack of just dried fruit on the way to teach, and it just doesn’t have the same staying power as a combined snack filled with carbohydrates, protein and fat. The perfect combo for fuel!
Ingredients you’ll need
- raw cashews
- dates
- grated carrots
- shredded unsweetened coconut
- coconut oil
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon
- sea salt
- ground clove
- ground ginger
How to make carrot cake energy balls
- Add the cashews to a food processor and pulse 4-6 times to break into little pieces. Add the dates and continue to pulse until it turned into a sticky mixture.
- Add the carrots, shredded coconut, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, clove and ginger. Pulse until everything is evenly combined and a sticky mixture. You may have to scrape down the sides a couple times as you pulse the mixture.
- Either store in the fridge for 1 hour (this makes the batter easier to work with) or begin to form into balls right about, rolling a heaping tablespoonful at a time.
- You can roll the balls in extra shredded unsweetened coconut if you’d like, or serve as is!
- Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Want to watch how to make them? Here’s a how-to video for ya!
Looking for more healthy recipes? Try these:
- Freezer carrot cake bars
- No bake coconut balls
- Carrot cake with greek yogurt cream cheese frosting
- Banana carrot almond flour pancakes
Carrot cake energy ball recipe
I hope you enjoy the sweet and slightly spiced flavors in these carrot cake energy balls. Have your (carrot) CAKE and eat it too!
Carrot Cake Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups raw cashews
- 1 cup dates, soaked for 30-60 minutes (see note)
- 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground clove
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- optional: additional coconut
Instructions
- If you soaked the dates, drain the water.
- Add the cashews to a food processor and pulse 4-6 times to break into little pieces. Add the dates and continue to pulse until it turned into a sticky mixture.
- Add the carrots, shredded coconut, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, clove and ginger. Pulse until everything is evenly combined and a sticky mixture. You may have to scrape down the sides a couple times as you pulse the mixture.
- Either store in the fridge for 1 hour (this makes the batter easier to work with) or begin to form into balls right about, rolling a heaping tablespoonful at a time.
- You can roll the balls in extra shredded unsweetened coconut if you’d like, or serve as is!
- Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Notes
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to tag me @fitmamarealfood and use the hashtag #fitmamarealfood on Instagram so I can see what you’re making!
Love healthy snacks? Be sure to read 10 healthy snacks for on the go!
Are you a carrot cake fan? What are some of your favorite grab and go snack items?
If you try this recipe please leave a rating and comment below so other’s can see how they turn out for you!
Heather
*Originally published in January 2018. Updated June 2020.*
I love Carrot Cake, these look perfect as a snack!
Hope you enjoy them as much as we do Rebecca!
Should the coconut oil be liquid or solid?
I use solid when measuring for this recipe!
I am a carrot cake fan! Does this get baked at all ? I’m excited about the energy balls and wish to try them. Could you clarify this for me? Thank you so much
No baking. After everything is processed together you simply roll them out, and store in the fridge 🙂