This post is sponsored by California Raisins and The Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.
Yew guys. I just discovered that those purple wrinkly dudes called raisins may even be BETTER than dates in no-bake bites!
Raisins are one of those love it or hate it foods. Kind of like walnuts. Like some weird people can’t stand walnuts in their brownies and raisins in their oatmeal cookies, whereas a raisin-less oatmeal cookie is like a crime in my opinion. Whenever I make no-bake bites (which is like every week), I start with a dried fruit base. I wasn’t sure how a base of exclusively raisins would turn out, but I’m officially obsessed! These bad boys seriously taste like oatmeal raisin cookies.
But guess what? You don’t even have to turn the oven on, my frands! Simply blend, roll, eat, repeat.
California Raisins are the bomb because they have one ingredient: raisins. They’re sweetened naturally (no added sugar) and dried by the sun. They’re totally convenient and portable, and wrinkles aside, they’re kinda cute, too! What more could you need in life? They’re an awesome whole food snack not only for the kiddos after school, but for parents and grandparents alike.
Did you know that a serving of raisins provides 9% of your daily fiber and potassium and 6% of your daily iron? Research actually suggests that among children, eating raisins as an after-school snack may prevent excessive calorie intake and may increase satiety (or feeling full) when compared to other common snacks, including cookies and chips.
You know I’m all for the one ingredient snackities! The fewer ingredients, the better.
But wait. There’s more. According to the USDA, raisins are the most economical dried fruit! Considering I know the price of pretty much every item I buy at four different grocery stores, you could say that I care a little bit about those things. Having a food blog ain’t cheap, yo!
I always whip up a batch of bites on Sundays while the quinoa is cooking and the broccoli is roasting. I wanted to pack these gems with a variety of nuts and seeds, including protein-packed hemp seeds, flax seeds, almonds, and walnuts. Feel free to use whatever combo of nuts and seed you like. I wholeheartedly guarantee that they will be mad delish no matter what.
The kids will thank you for this one.
- ¾ cup California Raisins
- ¼ cup creamy almond butter
- ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds (or more flaxseed)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup almonds
- Place the raisins and almond butter in a large food processor. Blend until well combined and creamy, about a minute.
- Add coconut, flax, hemp seeds, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Blend until well combined.
- Add in the walnuts and almonds and process until everything is very well incorporated and forms a crumbly "dough." There should be no big chunks of nuts.
- Roll into 12 bites. Store in the freezer or refrigerator.
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Hey, I could make this into a cake and my siblings wouldn’t even know it’s healthy if I just threw in some chocolate chips in there.
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy recently posted…September Wrap Down & August Wrap Up
Agreed! Sounds like a fool-proof plan to me 🙂
Oooh yeah! I am out of dates, my friends, so this is perfect timing. Making these today. 🙂
Maryea {happy healthy mama} recently posted…Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup
Hahah that was a good typo. Hope you love them!
Friend. Singular. haha 🙂
Maryea {happy healthy mama} recently posted…Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup
Ah those look great! The perfect snack, I imagine. 🙂
They really are!
I make no bake bites every week too and strangely I’ve never used raisins. Going to try to make this recipe over the weekend since I have all the ingredients on hand! #winning
Dietitian Jess recently posted…Orange Coconut Gluten Free Muffins
Give them a try! I bet you’ll love them 🙂
I’m loving all the raisin recipes! I used raisins in bites in addition to dates and loveeed them. No clue those little guys had so much iron!
Cassie recently posted…What to Eat During a Ragnar Relay Race
For realz!! They’re my new fave for no-bake bites, and they’re cheap-o too!
These are awesome!! Can’t wait to make them. I’m definitely one of those “give me raisins in my cookie and walnuts in my brownies” kinda gals 🙂
Me tooo!! Hope you love ’em!
Wow I love raisins, never thought about them as a replacement for date – but I’d love to give this a try. I stopped buying dried fruit last year that had added ingredients – so I”m down to dates, raisins, figs, prunes, and apricots. I can’t wait to try this 🙂
Sam @ PancakeWarriors recently posted…So I Wanna Run a Half Marathon – Any Advice???
I’m in love with turkish apricots–have you tried those? Enjoy!
” Research actually suggests that among children, eating raisins as an after-school snack may prevent excessive calorie intake and may increase satiety (or feeling full) when compared to other common snacks, including cookies and chips.”
Well, I guess every (dried) fruit will “win” compared to cookies and chips because they’re simply more satiating due to their fiber content vs. simple carbs from white wheat flour etc.
Anyways, this is a nice recipe, finally a bites recipe without dates 😀
And why are there brands that sell sweetened dried fruit?? I mean, all dried fruits are basically candy. Super sweet, if not too sweet sometimes. Why put even more sugar in?? Things like this make me angry!
I understand how you feel. They’re definitely sweet enough on their own. Enjoy!
These sound fantastic, Alexis! Do you think I could use raisins in recipes that call for dates? I have always wondered about that substitution.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted…Three Cooks One Kitchen: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on the Grill
Thanks girl! I’m not sure, but I don’t see why not!! They’re WAY cheaper, too! I loved the flavor.
These look delicious and so easy to make. Definitely pinning! 🙂
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Erin @ The Grass Skirt recently posted…Why you should add castor oil to your beauty routine
They’re SUPER easy! Enjoy!
My brain just got blown! I didn’t know all of those fun facts about raisins and hadn’t even thought to use them as a natural sweetener. Next trip to the grocery store, I’m hoarding raisins! I wanna take a bite out of all the balls.
Julia recently posted…Peach Almond Yogurt Cheesecake Bars
Love the idea of using raisins as a base! And any snack that tastes like a cookie is a-ok in my book!
Dana @ fresh simple five recently posted…Welcome to Fresh Simple Five
mmm! These bites sound delicious!
Dudette…these look delicious and seeing as I’m not a huge date fan but am of raisins in baked goods- in no bake goods they’d be a given. If I smash them down, I wonder if they can sub cinnamon raisin bread.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Asian Pan Seared Salmon
Cookies instead of bread? Sounds perfect to me!!
Love it, lady! I used to -hate- raisins as a little kid… My mom would always make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with a handful of raisins tossed in, and I’d always pick them out. And don’t even get me started on people who gave raisins out on Halloween. Blasphemy. But now? Love em! Actually… I’m sitting here nibbling on a box of em as we speak.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. thinking out loud #96 .
Hahaha you’re one of those raisin-picker-outers! No shame, gal pal. Raisins on Halloween is pure MAHEM!!
These look amazing! I like that raisins make great pre-workout fuel and really love that this combines the raisins in a tasty little “energy bite.” Will be trying out on my 7th grade brother for his football games – call anything a “cookie” and it’ll be enjoyed by him and his teammates!
Thanks, Tori! I have a big feeling that his team will ADORE these!
My daughter is one of those raisin (and date) haters – but she might change her mind after having one of these bites! But wait – that might not be good for me … I might have less bites to eat!!
Hahahaa I think she may be converted after these! If not, more for you 🙂
I would have never thought to use raisins in place of dates! You are a genius. And I pretty much love cinnamon raisin anything so I know these are out of this world yummy. Pinned!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health recently posted…A Big Bowl of Comfort
You’re gonna love these if you’re a raisin fan! Enjoy 🙂
I looooove using raisins in no-bake bites, more so than dates because I like to hoard my dates to be stuffed with nut butter! The best and simplest combo is raisins and natural PB. It tastes just like a PB&J I swear!
Ashley recently posted…Fall Fashion: Take 1
I love that you love dates stuffed with nut buttah!! The BEST.
How much nutmeg? It’s in the directions, but not on the ingredients list. I’m making them now–and I’m so excited. Guess I’ll have to guess on the nutmeg this go-round. I’ll guess 1/2 tsp.
Thanks!
Sorry about that! I removed the nutmeg from the recipe and forgot to take it out of the directions. A tiny pinch is all you need if you decide to use it. A little goes a long way!
Hey, these look amazing! I’ve been wanting to make them for awhile and am finally getting around to it. A couple of questions, though…
1) Did you use a tablespoon or any sort of measuring spoon to get consistently sized dough balls?
2) I know that these should be stored in the fridge or freezer, but when it comes to transporting them, do you think that they’ll survive and not get all soft/mushy if they’re just out in a container (i.e. not in the fridge or freezer) for a little while?
Thanks!
I just roll them into small balls, I don’t really measure. And I store them in the fridge. They’ll be fine sitting out when you’re out and about, though!
So I made these the other day. These are the first balls I’ve made, eaten, and seen in person. I generally avoid the food processor and blender like the plague, but I forced myself to give it a go so I could have some healthy snacks for the week. Go figure this is right when my roomie, the food processor’s owner, tells me the blade’s breaking and I’ll need to make sure shards of razor sharp metal aren’t mixing into my food. So far so good, but… anyway. I think I over-processed these like crazy, ’cause by the time I got to rolling them into balls, they were dripping oil EVERYWHERE. The “dough” was kind of dry and wasn’t overly fond of sticking to itself. Still, they taste amazing! My boyfriend has had issues with nuts (particularly walnuts) in the past but tempted trying one of these. It didn’t bother him and he said it’s the best little snack thing I’ve made so far! (That isn’t saying much, though, as I’ve only made, like, 3 snacky things so far in my still-young cooking journey.)
Do you know what’s going on with the oil-everywhere-thing? Did I indeed over-process, or is that normal? Any tips for a ball–and cooking–n00b would be appreciated! 🙂 Thanks so much for the recipe!
Made these again, keeping them in the food processor for less time this go ’round. No oil everywhere. The balls are softer, almost crumbly, and I find them most tasty straight out of the freezer! Frozen, they hold together even better without being too hard to eat. They almost soft, breaking up easily when you bite into them. My boyfriend loves them, and so do I! Thanks again for the recipe!
Hey! Do you have the nutrition facts on these? I’d like to use these for my patients. I’m an RD too 🙂
Thanks! Katelyn Hedrick, RD, LDN
You can find nutrition info by importing recipe into MyFitnessPal!
You can put the recipe into My Fitness Pal and they’ll give you some fast nutrition facts 🙂
Me dull. You smart. That’s just what I neeedd.