I adore anything with a carrot cake flavor, and these Carrot Cake Bliss Balls are no exception. They embody my perfect idea of a snack. Initially, their taste is incredible; the spices of carrot cake, blended with carrots and naturally sweetened with dates, are divine in every bite. You could easily forget they contain veggies. They offer a convenient energy boost when needed and are crafted with nutrient-dense ingredients that focus on healthy fats, including omega-3s and minerals. Each ball provides 2 g of fiber and 3 g of protein. Perhaps the best part is their preparation time: they take less than 15 minutes to make. With all ingredients combined in a food processor, they are the most delicious and fuss-free snack to include in your meal prep. For more wholesome snacks and treats, try my healthy seeded crackers or my 1-ingredient gluten-free buckwheat bread.
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and easy to make with pantry ingredients, and just 15 minutes from start to finish.
- Nutritious ingredients that offer both flavor and nourishment.
- Perfect for a snack on the go, providing a good energy boost.
- Nut-free option available for those with allergies. They are also gluten-free and vegan.
- They’re delicious and the perfect sweet snack to meal prep ahead of time!
Ingredient Notes
- Rolled Oats: A great source of complex carbohydrates and fiber, perfect for energy. If necessary, use gluten-free oats.
- Medjool dates: Naturally sweet and sticky, they help to bind the balls.
- Hemp seeds: Packed with protein and omega 3’s, they add a nutritional punch.
- Carrots: Delicious and budget-friendly, carrots provide vitamins A and C to support the immune system and are also great for eye health.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger offer the classic carrot cake flavor, and antioxidant properties.
Step-By-Step Instructions
To a food processor, add the oats, carrots, hemp seeds, Medjool dates, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and almond butter. Process until everything is finely chopped. Divide the mixture into portions and roll each into a ball. If using, roll each ball in desiccated coconut. Allow the bliss balls to set in the fridge for a couple of hours to firm up, and enjoy!
Variations and Tips
- For a nut-free version, replace almond butter with sunflower seed butter.
- Replace ¼ cup of oats with protein powder for a protein boost.
- Sesame seeds can be used instead of hemp seeds.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them fresh for five days.
- For balls that are all the same size, the trick is to weigh them before rolling.
- If you love carrot cake flavor as much as I do, you’ll also love my Carrot Cake Baked Oats, Carrot Cake Overnight Oats, or Carrot Cake Sheet Pan Pancakes; they are all delicious and made to meal-prep!
Why You’ll Love These Carrot Cake Bliss Balls
- Yummy
- Nutritious
- Easy
- Quick
- Healthy
Carrot Cake Bliss Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup (120 g) rolled oats
- 2 (250 g) raw carrots- about 9 oz - peeled, and roughly chopped
- ½ cup (100 g) hemp seeds
- 5 (75 g) Medjool dates - pited
- 3 tbsp (27 g) raisins
- 1.5 tsp (3 g) ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp (1 g) ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp (1 g) ground ginger
- 2 tbsp (32 g) almond butter
- ⅓ cup (25 g) finely shredded coconut - optional, for rolling
Instructions
- To a food processor, add the rolled oats, carrots, hemp seeds, Medjool dates, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and almond butter. Process for 2 to 3 minutes until everything is finely chopped (refer to video for visual cue).
- Divide the mixture into 22 portions and roll each into a ball shape. If using, roll each ball in desiccated coconut.
- Allow the bliss balls to set in the fridge for a couple of hours to firm up, and enjoy!
Video
Per Serving/Portion
FAQ
These bliss balls can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
I haven’t tried freezing them myself, but a few readers have mentioned in the comments that they freeze really well. A reader, Ro, said they froze beautifully, so it’s worth a try if you’d like to make a bigger batch.
Regular dates can be used, but if they are not as soft, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before using.
Yes, dried apricots make a lovely swap if you don’t enjoy dates. They also lower the sugar content from 5 g to about 3 g per ball.
Buckwheat flakes or quinoa flakes both work great in this recipe.
Sesame seeds are an excellent alternative to hemp seeds and will still provide a calcium boost.
Yes, peanut butter or any nut butter works well here. It might change the taste slightly as almond butter is a little more neutral. Tahini also works if you’d like a nut-free option.
Yes, they are; use gluten-free certified oats if necessary.
Yes, all the ingredients used in these Carrot Cake Bliss Balls are plant-based and vegan-friendly.
Yes! You can add a scoop of your favorite plant-based protein powder to the mixture before rolling them into balls.
Yes, they are a great, healthy snack for kids, but always check for potential allergens. To make them school-friendly (aka nut-free), swap almond butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini.
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Can I substitute peanut butter? How would it alter the nutrition?
Yes peanut butter, or any nut butter would work well here. It might change the taste a bit as almond butter is a little more neutral. Nutrition wise, it’s quite similar, peanut butter has a little more protein than almond butter. Let me know if you try it 🙂
Hi! I’d really like to try these but I just don’t like dates. I’ve tried them in different recipes and can’t help it, I just don’t like them. Is there anything I could replace them with?
I think dry apricot could be lovely in here, or another dry fruit maybe?
Love the idea of Apricot- I love dates too!
both delicious 😍
I don’t see the amount of sugar per serving. Can you please provide this data? Thanks.
Sugar is 5 g. No refined or added sugar 🙂 If you want to lower it, swapping the dates for dry apricots would take it to 3 g. Let me know if you try them 💚
Thank you so very much! I may try that 😊
Let me know how you go 💕
I really want to try these. What can I sub for the hemp seeds? They don’t digest well for me.
Thanks for great recipes
Hey Cathy, I have not tried yet but someone just mentioned on Instagram using sesame seeds instead of hemp seeds, I think that would work well. Let me know if you try it 🙂
I just made them and replaced the hemp seeds with slivered almonds . That worked great ! 🙂
My husband really likes these . ☺️
That’s awesome Michele, thanks for sharing 💚
Easy.peasy and nuticious AND delicious recipe. Instead ofhe carrot,bI used pumpkin, and partly I covered the bliss balls with grinded pistaches instead of coconut.
Yum! your version sounds amazing!!
Yum yum yum!!!
🤍
My sisters and I loved these as a special treat! They turned out exactly as pictured-how often does that happen?! Love!
Oh I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know 💚