Amazing Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Energy Balls (With Homemade Chocolate)

How this Cookie Dough Energy Ball Recipe was Created

I can think of nothing I loved to lick off of a beater more than chocolate chip cookie dough as a kid (who am I kidding? That’s still my favorite thing to lick off of a beater!). And that is the inspiration behind these chocolate chip cookie dough energy balls.

I wanted to make chocolate chip cookie dough that kids could eat as much of as they want without concerns over raw egg and flour. Additionally, I wanted them to be no-bake energy balls. And of course, they had to be healthy and free from refined sugar.

So I began by deciding to use date paste as my sweetener for optimal energy and health benefits, not to mention dates’ amazing natural sweetening capabilities. Then I used almond flour for a little protein and oat flour for flavor balance with some butter to allow them to firm up a bit when chilled.

But no chocolate chip cookie dough protein balls would be complete without the star of the show: Chocolate chunks! Homemade, honey-sweetened chocolate chunks to be more specific. Using homemade chocolate in these no bake energy bites of goodness ensures that they remain entirely free from processed sugar.

So you don’t have to feel even a spec of guilt over letting your child snack on this healthy cookie dough!

While you are thinking of these as healthy energy balls, your kids will simply think they get to have a treat for their morning or afternoon snack.

Think of this as a way to eliminate a few food arguments with your kids. When the inevitable question, “What do we have to eat?” comes up, give the kids something healthy and give yourself a break. Give them a couple of yummy date energy balls that taste just like chocolate chip cookie dough and everyone will be happy!

Plus, with fiber balancing out the natural sugars in the dates, you don’t have to worry about this sweet snack causing a sugar spike in your kids.

My ultimate goal with these healthy energy balls was to make something delicious that would also be beneficial for children’s health. And that is exactly what these irresistible chocolate chip cookie dough energy balls are.

When to Whip Up a Batch of These Energy Balls

These chocolate chip energy balls are great for a variety of times and purposes.

As an ideal argument-stopping snack, these delicious little energy bites also make a great after-school cure for the hangries. I don’t know about your kids, but my older daughter comes home from school hungry and cranky most days. But after a snack, she magically transforms back into a happy little girl.

Having a healthy yet highly appealing treat such as these no-bake energy bites is the perfect way to quickly wipe the frown off of your child’s face and get him or her in a positive mood for the afternoon.

But it’s not only your kids who can benefit from these yummies. Have a batch of them ready to go in the fridge or freezer for times when you need a snack to offer your kids’ friends when they come over. Or, send them with your child to a play-date to share.

You can even offer these healthy energy balls as a quick and easy breakfast option before your kids rush out the door for school. At my house, there is usually a pretty short window of time for eating breakfast before it’s time for my daughter to leave for school. So having quick and easy options ready to go straight from the fridge or freezer is a must.

You can also bring cookie dough balls on picnics or outings. Just make sure you either freeze them before you leave or bring them in a chilled, insulated lunch box so that they do not become melty and messy before it’s time to eat them.

Another great option for these is to reserve them to be consumed only as a dessert you don’t have to feel guilty about giving to your child. It will be a delectable treat for your child that won’t bring out your sugar-anxiety.

Really, the only time you shouldn’t make these energy balls is … actually, there is no time you shouldn’t make them! Since they will keep in the freezer for a month, you can always make these, even if they won’t be consumed right away (which is highly unlikely even with the best of intentions).

Ingredients

• Butter: Butter provides a sort of binder for these no-bake energy balls since it hardens when it is chilled. It’s not enough to make these balls completely hard in the fridge, but it’s enough to keep them from being mushy when cold.

• Homemade Date Paste: Dates are one of nature’s best, and healthiest sweeteners! Incredibly sweet, they make the perfect natural baking sugar substitute when pureed (use my super easy date paste recipe).

Alternatively, you can buy date paste from Amazon or a Middle Eastern grocery store. But you will probably need to add a little hot water to it to make it easier to work with since store-bought date paste has less moisture and is more dense.

• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract adds a touch of flavor. Make sure you have the real-deal vanilla extract and not a fake imitation.

• Ground Oats/Oat Flour: Oats provide a beautifully flavored base for these healthy cookie dough balls. I use sprouted rolled oats from Costco and grind them into a flour myself with my trusty Ninja chopper (Side Note: I’ve had this thing for twelve years and it’s still my favorite kitchen appliance).

• Almond Flour: Almond flour adds protein, fiber and healthy fats, along with several micronutrients.

• Collagen Powder: Collagen adds a little more protein to these cookie dough energy balls along with many other health benefits of collagen. I love the Mama Natural collagen powder because it features six different types of collagen – and because it has noticeably improved my daughter’s health.

• Homemade Chocolate: My homemade chocolate recipe is sweetened with honey and so, so easy to make. By using homemade chocolate chunks in these energy bites, they remain truly refined-sugar-free.

Instructions

Step 1

First, blend together the softened butter and date paste with an electric mixer or by hand with a spatula.

Step 2

Add vanilla extract and give it another quick mix.

Step 3

Add in the rest of the ingredients except the chocolate chunks and mix until fully combined.

Step 4

Chill batter in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to firm up slightly for rolling and to ensure the chocolate chunks will not melt during mixing. Make sure the batter is cool to the touch before mixing in the chocolate.

Step 5

After chill time, remove batter from the fridge and add the chocolate chunks. Mix in until they are evenly distributed.

Step 6

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 7

Using a tablespoon to measure each ball, scoop and roll all of the batter into balls and place on the lined baking sheet.

Step 8

Once all the balls are rolled, place in the fridge for a half hour to firm up. Alternatively, place in the freezer to firm up faster.

Step 9

Once the balls have firmed up a bit, place them in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for up to one month.

Substitutions & Tips

• Try to make up your chocolate at least one day ahead to give it ample time in the freezer before mixing it into your cookie dough batter.

• It is also best to make your date paste in advance so that it is not warm when you make your cookie dough batter. However, if the date paste is freshly made and your batter is slightly warm as a result, simply chill it for longer in the fridge before adding in the chocolate.

• If the batter seems too sticky, wait until it has chilled in the fridge to determine if it needs more dry ingredients. It will likely be too sticky to roll before chilling, but it should be firm enough to roll without making a mushy mess after chilling.

• If you do not have or do not wish to use collagen, you can substitute with protein powder or simply add more oat flour or almond flour to get the right consistency.

• Try adding some chopped walnuts or pecans if your child likes nuts.

• Substitute the chocolate with raisins or other small/chopped dried fruit if you want to make these as a chocolate-free option.

• If you are in a rush and don’t mind a little bit of processed sugar, you can use store-bought chocolate chips in this recipe.

• Make sure to store these in the fridge or freezer. If you wish to take them as an on-the-go snack or treat, just make sure they are frozen first or transport them in a chilled, insulated lunch box.