These. Cookie dough in bite form (!!). As I love to do, I have taken my favorite salmonella-studded raw treat and transformed it into a healthier indulgence by using some of my favorite whole foods: almonds for texture and monosaturated fat, dates for that buttery sugar sweetness and fiber, cinnamon and vanilla for antioxidants and that cookie dough flavor. And finally- mini chocolate chips for that tell-tale sign that we’ve got a chocolate chip cookie on our hands.
I would bet you that they don’t last until lunchtime if you’re anything like me and packing my lunch- though I try to keep a sweet bite for after lunch, I end up reaching for it with my coffee. With these bites, it’s a welcome nutrient-dense addition.
- 1 and ¼ cup almond meal
- ¼ cup Deglet dates
- Scant ⅓ cup almond milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- If you want to make your own almond meal, pulse 1 heaping cup of raw unsalted almonds in the food processor until very crumbly and no large pieces remain. Remove from the food processor to continue the recipe. You can use blanched almonds, but I just use whole raw almonds.
- In a food processor or blender, combine dates (it should be 8-9 dates) and milk and process until dates are in very small pieces.
- Add in almond meal, vanilla bean paste (or extract), salt and cinnamon. Process until combined. Add in mini chocolate chips and incorporate them into the dough.
- Refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes until it is a bit less sticky, and then roll the cookie dough into 16 half-tablespoon sized balls or 8 tablespoon sized cookies (just flatten the balls).
- Store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
While these are perfect straight out of the freezer, they are equally as good smushed into a work or school lunch, or grabbed on the run for a sweet snack. Check out the rest of the bars and bites the Recipe Redux community put together at the end of this post for more snack ideas that are healthy and satisfying. The subtly sweet chocolate chip cookie dough flavor of these bites is just a big bonus!
Marisa
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Elana @ The Inventive Vegetarian says
These sound delicious! I’m a recent convert to the whole no-bake cookie bite balls thing, so I’m always looking for new recipes. Thanks so much for sharing this one!
Marisa says
They are such great snacks and quick treats! I hope you try them out 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yum! Love the use of almond meal! I have an unopened bag from a few months ago…I wonder if it’s still good 😛
Marisa says
Thanks Rebecca! Check the expiration date and you should be good to go – or grind up your own if you can from raw almonds.
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
I love, love, love little snacks like these! They sound amazing!
Marisa says
I’m so glad to hear!
Kara Lydon, RD says
Cookie dough is one of my all time favorite indulgences. Thanks for sharing this healthy alternative!
Marisa says
Make them and keep them in the freezer for your cookie dough cravings!
Cassie says
These look so good… I need to start flattening out my bites so they look like cookies 🙂
Marisa says
Making things into different shapes is just plain fun. They don’t replace cookies, but sure taste like the dough!
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
YUMMMMM. I like that you used almonds in these 🙂 My almonds are always at work and never at home so I never think to use them in my “bites” recipes. That needs to change!
Marisa says
I have sooo many bags of raw almonds everywhere – work, car, home – for snackin!
Kylie @ immaeatthat says
I’m intrigued by this ‘vanilla bean paste’ business…will have to look for it! Sounds fun…and fancy! Oh and I love all things cookie dough so this recipe is ya know absolutely perfect.
Marisa says
I love it because its more viscous than extract and has the specks of vanilla bean! Really fun to have. I am happy to hear that you approve of all the cookie dough flavor because you make me crave it daily 🙂
Sarah Grace says
Yumm, I’m seeing tons of these delicious ball recipes of all kinds for this months theme! LOVE cookie dough anything (reason why I have so many different recipes with that flavor 🙂 )
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Marisa says
Agreed! It’s so good!
Jenny Shea Rawn says
Oh my. Love love cookie dough, but always know I shouldn’t be licking that spoon (for many reasons!). These look and sound like the perfect better for you cookie dough fix. Love how you used the mini choc chips – love those. And have never tried vanilla bean pasta – will look for it next time I’m shopping.
Marisa says
Yes – you don’t have to feel guilty eating this dough 😀 You can use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean paste, but I love the paste because in many desserts you can see the vanilla specks which are pretty (but again, not necessary).
Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasil) says
YUMMY. This ReDux theme has made me realize I need to get dates into my pantry as a staple, pronto.
Marisa says
Yes! They are so great to have around, even for a sweet snack on its own!
Rachael says
I recently made these and they are amazing! They taste like cookie dough!! I keep mine in the freezer and they are a perfect little treat!
Marisa says
So happy to hear you love these, Rachael! I am obsessed with these bites!