Carrot Cake Energy Balls
In short: Grated carrot, walnuts, dates and warm spices rolled into bite-size balls that taste like carrot cake. No baking, and they freeze well. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 9 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 9
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 160 kcal
These balls borrow everything people like about carrot cake: grated carrot, walnuts, cinnamon and a hint of ginger. Dates and a spoonful of maple syrup hold them together, and oats give a soft, cakey bite. Squeeze the grated carrot dry before you add it, or the mixture turns damp and sticky. They taste best after a night in the fridge.
Instructions
- Wrap the grated carrot in a clean tea towel and squeeze hard over the sink until it stops dripping. You should have about 80 g (1/2 cup) of dry carrot.
- Process the walnuts and oats in a food processor for 15 to 20 seconds into coarse crumbs.
- Add the dates, carrot, the 20 g of coconut, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Process for about 1 minute until the mixture forms a sticky, speckled dough.
- Chill the dough for 15 minutes so it is easier to handle.
- Roll level tablespoons of dough into balls and coat each one in the remaining coconut.
- Store in a lidded container in the fridge and eat within 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Tips
- Pecans or almonds work in place of walnuts. A spoonful of raisins can replace one of the dates for a fruitier bite.
- For a nut-free school lunch, use raw sunflower seeds in place of the walnuts and add an extra 1/2 tsp of cinnamon.
Questions and answers
Do carrot cake energy balls need to be refrigerated?
Yes. The raw carrot adds moisture, so keep them chilled in a lidded container and eat them within 5 days. A lunch bag with a cold pack keeps them fine for a few hours.
Can I freeze energy balls?
Yes. Freeze them in a single layer on a tray for 1 hour, then bag them for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter for 15 minutes.
Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?
A blender struggles with the sticky dough. Chop the nuts and oats in the blender first, then mash the dates with a fork and knead everything together in a bowl.
How long does it take to make Carrot Cake Energy Balls?
About 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Carrot Cake Energy Balls?
About 160 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 16 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 160 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 35 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
