Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (2024)

home Vegan Recipes

5 from 4 votes

15 minutes minutes

by Marly

8

Jump to Recipe

Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure Policy

These no-bake carrot cake energy balls are clean-eating and delicious in every bite. If you love the flavors of an egg-free carrot cake, these energy balls infused with carrots and spices will be your new favorite! so add healthy energy to your day that tastes delicious and is filling, too.

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (1)

Are you trying to infuse your life with healthier ingredients? Maybe you’ve even tried baking healthier? That can lead you down a rabbit hole of wondering is carrot cake is healthier than regular cake.

There is a time for baking, but overall, go ahead and indulge in your favorite cakes. Then return to these vegan carrot cake bites for a seriously healthy treat.

Of course, another healthy cake option is this carrot cake mug cake. It’s a perfect recipe when you’re in a hurry.

However, these energy balls are a perfect pick-me-up for the afternoon doldrums, and they’re easy to make. I actually prefer these to cookies sometimes, if you can believe it.

Table of Contents show

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • Using carrots in energy bites adds flavor, texture, and bright color
  • Pumpkin pie spice adds the warm spices-infused flavor you expect from this healthy treat
  • Walnuts are the secret ingredient that adds the ultimate carrot cake flavor to these energy bites

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Oats — This recipe uses rolled oats, otherwise known as old-fashioned oats. You could use instant oatmeal, but it will change the texture.
  • Ground flaxseed — You can adjust the amount of ground flaxseed used based on your personal taste preference. Flaxseed is a great source of omega-3s.
  • Dates — I recommend using around 10 to 12 Medjool dates. Don’t forget to remove those pits!
  • Spices — We’ll use both ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to make every bite infused with these warm flavors.
  • Coconut Flakes — I use unsweetened shredded coconut in the batter. You can also roll the carrot energy balls in shredded coconut.
  • Agave Nectar — You’ll need just a bit of agave nectaror maple syrup
  • Almond butter — You could substitute peanut butter, but I find almond butter has a more neutral flavor. I buy a lot of my vegan products at Costco, including the Kirkland mixed nut butter that I use for this recipe.
  • Chopped carrots — You can use a whole carrot or several baby carrots. We always have whole carrots around for our green smoothies so that’s what I use.
  • Walnuts — I like adding chopped nuts to the batter for the flavor they add.
  • Dried cranberries — Colorful dried cranberries are added to each bite to contribute flavor, texture, and color. You can substitute raisins.

Ingredient Spotlight

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (2)

Which Dates are Best?

Medjool dates are perfect for these energy balls thanks to their soft and chewy texture with a rich, caramel-like flavor. Compared to regular dates that are firmer, Medjool dates are perfect for this recipe. Native to Morocco, Medjool dates may appear to be a dried fruit like raisins, but they are actually a fresh fruit. Removing the pit is crucial as it is very hard and can cause damage to your food processor blades. You can find Medjool dates at stores like Sprouts, health food stores, and even Costco.

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (3)

How to Make Carrot Cake Energy Balls

  1. Create oat date flour by pulsing oats, dates, flax, spices, and coconut flakes in a food processor.
  2. Add agave nectar, almond butter, and carrots and pulse several times until the carrots are broken down into small bits.
  3. Add walnuts and dried cranberries and pulse again to break them into smaller pieces.
  4. Roll dough into evenly-sized balls.
  5. Serve as is or roll in coconut flakes.

Marly’s Tips

The dates should be soft and tender. If yours are firm or have dried out, place them in a microwave-safe bowl and heat them for a few seconds.

Want to make carrot cake energy balls without dates? Substitute 1/4 to 1/2 cup of maple syrup or agave nectar for the dates.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
These energy balls are better than having cookies. I love them and they’re healthy too!

Lauren

Forming Energy Bites

Use a cookie dough dispenser to create evenly-sized dough bites. Use your hands to roll them into balls. Serve them as is or roll them in shredded coconut flakes or chopped walnuts.

I like to reserve a few chopped nuts and dried cranberries to press some into each individual ball. That way each one has the distinctive color and flavor that these two ingredients provide.

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (4)

Storage Tips

Store carrot cake balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (5)

That’s it for these carrot cake protein balls. Enjoy!

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (6)

Subscribe and get a free Easy Vegan Recipes eBook

Plus our latest vegan recipes, delivered right to your inbox!

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (7)

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (8)

Carrot Cake Balls

High energy, clean eating snacks, these carrot cake energy bites do so much more than add healthy to your day, they taste delicious and are filling too!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 14

Calories: 132kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • cup ground flaxseed
  • 1 cup medjool dates , pitted (around 10 to 12 dates)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ¼ cup coconut flakes
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar , or maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons dried cranberries , or raisins

Instructions

  • Combine oats, ground flaxseed, dates, spices, and coconut flakes in a food processor. Pulse to combine until it resembles a coarse meal.

  • Add agave nectar, almond butter, and carrots to the food processor. Pulse several times. Use a spatula to push down contents and then pulse again until carrots are in small bits.

  • Add walnuts and dried cranberries. Pulse again to break into smaller pieces.

  • Use a cookie dough dispenser to create evenly-sized balls. Use your hands to form into balls. Serve as is or roll in coconut flakes.

  • Store energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Recommended Equipment

Food Processor

Cookie Scoop

Spatula

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1543IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep carrots from turning green in carrot cake? ›

If your carrots turn inexplicably green with a recipe you've used many times before, the likely culprit is that the baking soda didn't get fully dispersed throughout the batter. If your carrots are turning green every time you make the recipe, the ratio of baking soda in the recipe is probably off.

Is butter or oil better for carrot cake? ›

Oil: The secret to keeping our carrot cake so deliciously moist. I've used avocado oil, safflower oil, and vegetable oil with great results. Melted coconut oil works, too, but the baked cake will have a light coconut flavor.

How many energy balls can I eat? ›

These 4-ingredient protein balls have about 128 calories so you should only eat 2 of these as part of a healthy amount of calories and fat. Keep in mind that you need to consider all the foods consumed in a day and keep it within the acceptable range for your height and weight.

Why did my carrots turn black in my carrot cake? ›

Carrots contain pigments that are sensitive to changes in pH balance. When the shreds of carrot come into contact with the alkaline baking soda, a chemical reaction takes place that causes the pigments to change color.

Why does my homemade carrot cake fall in the middle? ›

This is because too much batter in one cake tin may result in the weight of the batter being too much for the cake to support, causing the cake to collapse and sink in the middle as it bakes. This is especially true for cake recipes which have a more softer, delicate structure to them, which many of my cake recipes do.

Is carrot cake batter supposed to be thick? ›

In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add your canola oil and melted butter and stir well (batter will be pretty stiff and thick at this point, I usually use an electric mixer or my stand mixer to combine everything nicely).

Why is my carrot cake so moist? ›

Keep the extra nuts and, god forbid, coconut out of things, and definitely don't add pineapple—it'll make the batter too moist. Carrot cake is oil-based, rather than butter-based.

Are energy balls actually healthy? ›

No bake energy balls are a perfect healthy snack, treat, and breakfast on the go. They are balanced with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Energy balls for runners, kids, grandma, and anyone between!

Is Peanut Butter good or bad for you? ›

Eating peanut butter alongside other nutritious foods is perfectly healthy — as long as you don't exceed your calorie needs. Peanut butter is high in calories and could lead to excess calorie intake if not consumed in moderation. However, it is still a high-quality food that provides numerous nutrients.

When should you eat energy balls? ›

The Benefits and Best Time to Eat an Energy Ball

If you want sustained maximum energy take an energy ball just before you hit the gym, as the proteins and carbohydrates help build lean muscle, boost energy (as they suggest) and keep your weight in check.

What is the green stuff in my carrot cake? ›

Our answer. The green flecks are carrot but the colour has been changed by the bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in the mixture. Some pigments are sensitive to pH balances and will change colour if they are in a very acid or very alkaline environment.

Are old carrots safe to eat? ›

If your carrots feel slimy and look discolored, are wilting or soft, or show signs of mold, they should be tossed. The white blush on carrot skin is OK to eat—it just means the carrots are drying out and need water.

How do you know when carrots are too old to eat? ›

How to Tell if Carrots Are Bad. Carrots that have spoiled or gone bad will usually have an odor, a slimy texture, or dark discoloration. They may also be wilted or soft. If you see mold growing on carrots, throw them out.

How do you store carrots for carrot cake? ›

For long-term storage of fresh carrots, keep them whole and unpeeled. Wrap the carrots in a dry paper towel and place them in an airtight food storage container. Place the container in the coldest part of your refrigerator (32-40°F), typically the crisper drawer.

How do you keep carrots from oxidizing? ›

Run a paper towel in cool water and wrap it around the carrots. Place wrapped carrots in an airtight container and place in a colder section of your fridge, such as a crisper drawer or near the freezer. Use within 3 weeks.

What is the best way to keep carrot cake fresh? ›

To maximize the freshness of carrot cake, proper storage is essential. Always use airtight containers, plastic wrap, or resealable bags to protect the cake from air exposure. If your cake contains cream cheese frosting, refrigerate it to prevent spoilage. Freezing is an excellent long-term storage option.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 5825

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.