Carrot Cake Energy Bites

By Adam Fisher

Dietitian Reviewed: Erin McNamara, RDN, LDN, CLT

Recipe Developed for Health eCooks

Photographed By: Adam Fisher

These no-bake Carrot Cake Energy Bites deliver all the cozy spice of carrot cake in a protein-packed, portable snack. With a whopping 8g of protein and just 72mg of sodium per serving, these healthy protein balls are a smart choice to keep on hand to satisfy pesky cravings. Warmly spiced with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger, and naturally sweetened with Medjool dates, these nutrient-dense bliss balls will satisfy even the most stubborn sweet tooth. Ready in 15 minutes, they’re a perfect high protein snack recipe for meal prep, refueling after a workout, or a midday pick-me-up that tastes like a bite-sized piece of freshly baked carrot cake.

What ingredients will you need to make Carrot Cake Energy Bites?

• Vanilla whey protein powder

• Walnuts

• Almond flour

• Gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats

• Unsweetened shredded coconut

• Chia seeds

• Milled flaxseeds

• Ground cinnamon

• Ground nutmeg

• Ground cardamom

• Ground ginger

• Kosher salt

• Fresh carrots

• Medjool dates

• Pure vanilla extract

• Unsweetened vanilla almondmilk

What kitchen tools will you need to make these healthy protein balls?

• Food processor

• Large mixing bowl

• Small mixing bowl

• Large rimmed baking sheet

• Parchment paper

• Measuring utensils

  • 1 cup measuring cup

  • ½ cup measuring cup

  • ⅓ cup measuring cup

  • Tablespoon

  • Teaspoon

  • ½ teaspoon

  • ¼ teaspoon

Are these carrot cake protein balls vegan-friendly?

Although the original recipe was not developed to be vegan, it can easily be modified to be 100% plant-based. Simply swap the whey protein powder with a vegan-friendly protein powder. In order to achieve the same amount of protein per serving, you may need to add more plant-based protein powder depending on which brand you use.

Are these protein bliss balls gluten-free?

They sure are! All of the ingredients used in this recipe are 100% gluten-free. The only ingredient to double check is the old-fashioned rolled oats. Be sure that the brand you use certifies that they are made in a gluten-free facility.

Carrot Cake Energy Bite ingredient substitutions and additions

What I love about making protein bliss balls is that they are very customizable to meet your palate and dietary needs. Although this carrot cake-inspired snack is delicious as is, feel free to adapt the recipe to your liking. Below are a list of ingredient suggestions that will hopefully tantalize your taste buds!

Ingredient Substitutions

• Whey protein powder - If you are looking to make these as a vegan treat, swap the whey protein for your favorite plant-based vanilla protein powder. Just note, the total grams of protein per serving will vary depending on what protein powder you use.

• Walnuts - Using walnuts give these protein balls an nutty richness. However, I also love using pecans for their earthy sweetness and because they pair perfectly with anything related to carrot cake. You also cannot go wrong by using almonds.

• Unsweetened shredded coconut - Are these energy bites not sweet enough for you? No problem! Instead of unsweetened coconut, simply swap it for sweetened shredded coconut for a little extra sweetness.

• Almond flour - Feel free to use other varieties of gluten-free flours in this recipe. For the best flavor, texture, and added protein benefits, I would recommend either oat flour or hazelnut flour. I would avoid using gluten-free all-purpose flour because it has little nutritional value and does not add any flavor to the recipe.

• Unsweetened vanilla almond milk - Not a fan of almond milk? Use any kind of vanilla flavored plant-based milk that you like. Using regular unflavored almond milk does the trick too in these protein bites. And if you prefer dairy milk, I suggest using a low-fat variety to keep this snack healthy.

• Kosher salt - For any kind of baked good or dessert, I usually prefer using sea salt. I find it to be more flavorful than Kosher salt. However, in order to make this a low sodium recipe, I chose to use Kosher salt since it has a lower sodium content than sea salt.

  
  

Ingredient Additions

• Lemon or orange zest - Need a bit more zing to cater to your taste buds? Simply add a teaspoon or two of either lemon zest or orange zest to the bliss ball dough. Both compliment the blend of warm spices perfectly!

• Dried fruit - dried cranberries, dried pineapple, or raisins

• White chocolate chips - One of my favorite pairings is white chocolate and carrot cake. Adding a ¼ cup mini white chocolate chips (aka white baking chips or white morsels) to the no-bake dough adds a pop of sweetness and texture to every bite. Alternatively, I would recommend adding a white chocolate drizzle on top of them. Simply combine a ¼ cup white chocolate morsels with a ½ teaspoon of olive oil or coconut oil in a microwave-safe dish and microwave in 20-second increments, stirring after each cycle, until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a reusable pastry bag or zip-top plastic bag and drizzle over each bite. If you are really feeling naughty, add the chocolate chips in the dough and drizzle on top with a garnish of chopped nuts.

  • If you are making a vegan version of this recipe, use dairy-free white baking chips. I highly recommend Enjoy Life Mini White Mini Chips. They are the best tasting non-dairy white baking chips and free from 14 allergens.

How to store Carrot Cake Protein Balls

These no-bake energy balls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week for best freshness and taste. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.