Nourishing no-bake Carrot Cake Bites (inspired by my Healthy Carrot Cake) are snack bliss! Packed with protein and actually filling thanks to oats, almond butter, flax, fresh carrots, raisins, and spices. A portable snack that's amazing right out of the fridge. My toddler loves these for breakfast!
It's like my heaven-sent carrot cake had a snack baby!
For the times when life is whacko and you can't be bothered with the oven (hi, guilty), carrot energy bites to the rescue! Gang's all here--plump raisins, coconut, and lots of cinnamon.
Fun fact: did you you know carrots were the official wartime substitute for ice cream? Like, a big honking carrot on a stick. And it was called ice cream. The audacity!
If you've made my carrot cake baked oatmeal or carrot banana bread, you know that my carrot cake obsession runs deep.
Ingredients
- Oat four: the whole grain base. Use certified gluten free oats if needed. Steer clear of steel cut (save those for my Healthy Overnight Steel Cut Oats) since this is strictly an old fashioned rolled oats recipe. I blend them in the Nutribullet to make oat flour.
- Carrots: Because....carrot cake! I use large, peeled carrots that are freshly grated in the food processor (you can also use box grater) versus the store-bought kind which tend to be less moist.
- Nut butter: Neutral almond or cashew butter are best here. Healthy fats, protein and flavor! I wouldn't recommend peanut here.
- Protein powder: To make these more filling! Use your favorite plant based protein powder. I haven't tested these with whey protein. They'll work with collagen but they'll be more moist, so don't add the milk unless the mixture is dry.
- Raisins: What's carrot cake without raisins?
- Maple syrup: My favorite naturally-derived liquid sweetener, but honey also works.
- Milk: A splash to add moisture
- Spices + salt: A mix of cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg for classic carrot cake vibes. You can also add a pinch of cloves. Salt is important for flavor and helps bring out the sweetness.
Dietary swaps and substitutions
- Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter and oat milk.
- Add-ins: Make these your own! Omit raisins and add pecans if you fancy.
- Protein: You can omit the protein and use more oat flour, but the bars will be less sweet.
- No added sugar: Swap the maple syrup for date paste.
Let's make it (step-by-step)
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Add wet ingredients, carrots, and raisins.
Mix to combine, form into balls, and eat!
Storage
Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. I like them right out of the freezer, too!
Let me know if you make these beauties and be sure to leave a comment and star rating! Your feedback means everything to me.
God bless America and ice cream. I mean carrots.
Print
No Bake Carrot Cake Protein Bites
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 20 bites
- Category: Snacks
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Snack
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Easy no bake Carrot Cake Bites! A healthy snack with no oil, flour, and or refined sugar. Made with nourishing ingredients like oats, coconut and almond butter with the fun flavor carrot cake! Portable, vegan, gluten free, and kid friendly. Inspired by my cookie dough protein bars.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup raisins (optional)
- 1 ¾ cups oat flour (or make your own by grinding oats in the food processor)
- ½ cup vanilla plant-based protein powder*
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ cup creamy cashew butter or almond butter (the drippy kind)
- ¼ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup shredded carrot
Instructions
- Place raisins in a bowl. Cover with warm water and let them soak to plump up. Shred carrots (I use the shredding attachment on my food processor.)
- Place oat flour, protein powder, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Drain raisins thoroughly. Add almond butter, almond milk, maple syrup, carrot and drained raisins. Using clean hands, stir mixture until fully combined. Add a splash more almond milk necessary.
- Roll into 20 balls. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator or freezer for optimal texture.
Notes
*if you use collagen peptides, omit the almond milk and only add if needed. Protein powders vary but peptides absorb less than vegan protein powders.
Mandy says
We pulled the same carrot trick on our dog, we call them treats and he is crazy for them. We always have a giant bag of carrots in the fridge to treat him, but it's nice because I always have carrots when a delicious recipe like this comes along, too!