These healthy cookie dough bites taste just like balls of chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough. And aside from a small sprinkle of mini chocolate chips (3 tablespoons for an entire batch), they contain no refined sugar!
Have you ever seen a picture of food that looks delicious, become skeptical when you looked at the ingredient list and then decided to make it, anyway? That’s exactly what happened when I saw this recipe on the Kitchn, but I decided to make it anyway with a couple of small adaptations and I’m so glad I did.
They’re delicious and a really convenient snack to keep around, although I enjoyed them for dessert, too. I kid you not, a single-batch of a dozen of these vegan cookie dough bites vanished from my kitchen at home in less than 48 hours.
They have just 6 ingredients, not including salt, and I’m willing to bet you have almost all of the ingredients in your pantry right now. The base of the cookie dough bites is raw cashews and oats, and then they’re sweetened with a little splash of maple syrup for an unrefined sweetener.
Unlike my favorite coconut brownie energy bites, this recipe doesn’t call for dates, so it’s a little more convenient since I don’t always have those on hand.
Making these cookie cookie dough bites takes just about 5 minutes. First, add the raw cashews, oats, cinnamon, and salt to the bowl of a food processor. My food processor came with a mini bowl attachment, which is what I used since a single batch is pretty small.
Pulse the ingredients until they resemble coarse crumbs and then drizzle in the maple syrup and vanilla extract. Continue pulsing until the mixture comes together, and then form the dough into about one dozen balls.
I don’t happen to eat a vegan or gluten-free diet, but as an added bonus for some of you who do, these cookie dough bites happen to be both vegan friendly and gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats.
If you try out the recipe, I’d love for you to leave a comment or take a picture and tag me @livbane on Instagram. Hope you enjoy it!
Vegan Cookie Dough Bites
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pulse cashews, oats, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add maple syrup and vanilla extract and process until the mixture completely comes together in one large ball. Add mini chocolate chips and pulse several times to combine.
- Roll cookie dough into about 18 tablespoon-sized balls. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge or pantry for up to 2 weeks (I prefer them cold) or freezer for up to 2 months.
Notes
Use vegan chocolate chips to make the bites vegan.
Nutrition
Lightly adapted from this recipe
These are the perfect snack, Liv! I loveeeeeeeee a good no bake bite recipe – especially when chocolate chips are involved 😉
These definitely made me look forward to snack time (not that I usually don’t look forward to it haha). But it feels extra fun to get to eat cookie dough in the middle of the afternoon on a random weekday!
I made edible cookie dough with the kids I nanny (basically just cookies minus the eggs) and they loved them! Something about that batter-like taste makes it more desirable 🙂 These look great!
FUN! I’m sure they think you’re the coolest nanny ever!
Who doesn’t love cookie dough? These look awesome, Liv! Your pictures are so bright and pretty 🙂
Thanks, Ellen!
These easy-to-make cookies look like they are begging to be in our house today.
Want to make them while I’m at work today? 😉
Yummm these look so good! I LOVE cookie dough so much- seriously one of life’s greatest pleasure’s 🙂
AGREED! It’s impossible for me to make cookies without sampling some of the dough!
These look so good! I love baking bites like these and when they taste like cookie dough, that makes it even better 😉
Pinned SO fast- can’t wait to try!
xo, Ingrid
Thanks for pinning, Ingrid!
I love recipes that don’t have dates, not because I don’t like dates, but we don’t buy them a lot, so the simpler the better. I love the buttery taste of cashews in energy bites. And it’s great that you used gluten free oats. 🙂 I love that it’s becoming easier and easier to adapt recipes nowadays to gluten free.
Agreed! Until a year or so ago, I never had dates on hand. Now, I usually do because I love making homemade Larabars or energy bites that call for them and just snacking on them!
1. Your photography skills are AMAZING. 2. But what’s even more amazing is this recipe. Holy cow!!
You’re the sweetest, Julia! Thanks so much!
These look amazing! Do you think they’d be good with a little peanut butter added? 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
I bet they would! I also have a favorite peanut butter energy bite recipe that’s a bit simpler to make (no food processor and just 4 ingredients!) that tastes just like peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough.
Hi Liv,
I believe this is your first time on Real Food Fridays – just want to say welcome and glad to have – hope to see you each week. I love your recipe – it sounds so healthy, tasty and easy to make which makes it a perfect snack. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!
Thanks for the welcome and for pinning and tweeting, Marla!!
These look SO good! I just bookmarked the recipe so I can make these bites next week. Thank you for sharing this recipe 🙂
Awesome, hope you love them, Heidi!!
Ah, I just think raw cashews taste like dough as is! Haha (that’s why they are my favorite!) So yummy!
You know, I’ve never thought about that before but I think you’re right! Now I’ll always think of that when I eat raw cashews!
you see liv, this is why i need a food processor in my life. to be 5 minutes away from bite bliss.
(now if only my parents would understand! haha)
Haha yes, they’re so nice to have around! Have you looked into getting a mini one? They’re small so they’re easy to store and I think only run about $30!
Just tried the peanut butter & honey bites … amazing ! Thanks Liv! Do you think I could substitute the cashews for almonds in this recipe? I am allergic to cashews
I’m so glad you enjoyed the peanut butter & honey bites! I haven’t tried substituting almonds into this recipe, but I think it should work!