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    MJ & Hungryman » Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes

    No Bake Carrot Balls

    By Min On April 3, 2023

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    Toddler grabbing one of the stacked carrot balls.

    10 minutes and 5 ingredients are all you need to make these carrot balls! Packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber, they are the perfect portable snack and a great way to get extra veggies into your child.

    Overhead shot of stacked balls on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • Carrot Cake Balls
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Tips for Success
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • More Energy Balls
    • Carrot Balls

    Carrot Cake Balls

    They are basically raw carrot cake shaped into bite-sized balls. Except unlike traditional carrot cake, these energy balls contain no added sugar and don’t need to be baked!

    Psst...if you are looking for a healthy carrot cake recipe, you have to try this eggless carrot walnut cake!!

    The texture is soft, making them perfect for babies and toddlers!

    Make a batch of these healthy energy bites and enjoy whenever you or your child need an energy boost. They are also perfect for any spring or Easter celebration too.

    And if you have extra carrots, try these carrot pancakes and carrot banana muffins.

    Jump to:
    • Carrot Cake Balls
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Tips for Success
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • More Energy Balls
    • Carrot Balls

    Ingredients

    All the ingredients laid out on a white background.
    • Carrot - you will need about 1 medium carrot, or about 110 grams. Roughly chop before adding to the food processor.
    • Walnuts - I personally love the carrot and walnuts combination but you can also use almonds, pecans, or cashews.
    • Medjool dates - adds natural sweetness and provides carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. I like to purchase in bulk from Costco as it's more cost-effective and freeze so I always have some on hand.
    • Oats - Rolled oats works best but you can also use quick oats. Steel cut oats will not work.
    • Cinnamon - adds warmth and depth of flavor
    • Chia seeds - this is optional but a great way to add extra fiber, protein, and omega-3s. Hemp seeds are great too.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    A two image collage of blended carrots on the left and all the ingredients added to food processor on the right.
    All the ingredients blitzed in a food processor.
    1. Add chopped carrots to the food processor and blitz until finely chopped.
    2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until the dough clumps up and is sticky.
    3. Use a mini cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the dough and roll into bite-sized balls.
    4. Roll in some unsweetened coconut, if desired.
    5. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate if you desire firm balls.

    Tips for Success

    Toddler grabbing one of the stacked carrot balls.
    • Dates - if they are not soft, be sure to soak in hot water for at least 5 minutes, drain and pat dry. Reserve the soaked water to help moisten the balls, if necessary. And don't forget to remove the pit!!
    • For more flavor and texture, roll the carrot balls in unsweetened shredded coconut.
    • If the dough isn't coming together, blend a little longer until all the ingredients break down and become sticky.
    • If the dough is too sticky, blend in more oats.
    • If the dough seems too dry, pulse in more water or reserved date water, 1 teaspoon at a time.

    Variations

    Carrot balls with berries and yogurt on a blue plate.
    • Nut-free? swap nuts with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
    • Gluten-free? Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats
    • Desire more texture? add some raisins or even chocolate chips!

    Serving Suggestions

    These carrot cake bliss balls are great for an easy breakfast with some yogurt and fruits or snack or whenever you or your child need a little pick-me-up. They are also perfect for school lunch boxes!

    Equipment

    I highly recommend using a food processor if you have one. My husband got me this food processor for Christmas because I want to start making more bliss balls and energy bars for snacks. So far I am LOVING it!

    You can make this in a high-speed blender, but the texture tuns out differently and the mixture will be really hard to get out of a blender jar.

    Storage

    These energy balls are best stored in the refrigerator as they will get a bit soft if it's warm. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

    You can also freeze for up to 3 months. Enjoy straight out of the freezer or thaw in the refrigerator or room temperature.

    More Energy Balls

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      Peanut Butter Bliss Balls (Extra Protein)
    • A close up shot of the apricot balls with a bite taken out.
      Easy Apricot Balls
    • A close up shot of pumpkin ball with a bite taken out.
      No Bake Pumpkin Balls
    • Four oatmeal balls with different add-ins.
      No Bake Oatmeal Balls (with Peanut Butter)

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

    Overhead shot of stacked balls on a plate.

    Carrot Balls

    10 minutes and 5 ingredients are all you need to make these carrot balls! Packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber, they are the perfect portable snack and a great way to get extra veggies into your child.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 Balls
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Equipment

    • Food Processor

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium carrot (110g), roughly chopped
    • 1 cup walnuts (105g
    • 8 medjool dates (130g)
    • ½ cup rolled oats (50g)
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • Optional: 1 tablespoon chia seeds or hemp seeds
    • Optional: shredded coconut for coating

    Instructions

    • Add chopped carrots to the food processor and blitz until finely chopped.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until the dough clumps up and is sticky.
    • Use a mini cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the dough and roll into bite-sized balls.
    • Roll in some unsweetened coconut, if desired. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for firm balls.

    Notes

    • Dates - if not soft, be sure to soak in hot water for at least 5 minutes, drain and pat dry. Reserve the soaked water to help moisten the balls, if necessary. And don't forget to remove the pit!!
    • For more flavor and texture, roll the carrot balls in unsweetened shredded coconut.
    • If the dough isn't coming together, blend a little longer until all the ingredients break down and become sticky.
    • If the dough is too sticky, blend in more oats.
    • If the dough seems too dry, pulse in more water or reserved date water, 1 teaspoon at a time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Fiber: 2g
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, I’m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. RJ says

      July 06, 2023 at 6:50 pm

      I just made this for my 13mo boy and he loved it!!! Thank you for this amazing yet simple recipe!

      Reply
      • Min says

        July 09, 2023 at 7:20 pm

        I'm so glad!! You're welcome!!

        Reply
    2. Chi Chi says

      July 06, 2023 at 8:28 am

      5 stars
      My 2 year old loves them! Made two batches in one week! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Min says

        July 06, 2023 at 11:51 am

        And it's so easy to make, right? Enjoy!!

        Reply
    3. Moh says

      May 15, 2023 at 8:05 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy it is to make. It makes a decent amount of mini balls so I froze them without the coconut and take a couple out when I feel like it and roll them in coconut once thawed. They are delicious! I personally love them with or without the coconut. I thought my toddler would likes them too since he eat everything that is in the balls but he doesn’t, he’s not fan of mushy food in general.

      Reply
      • Min says

        May 16, 2023 at 7:32 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed these! They shouldn't be that mushy. If so, I would try adding some oats next time!

        Reply
    4. Samantha says

      April 22, 2023 at 8:14 am

      Can I use oat flour?

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 22, 2023 at 4:05 pm

        Yup!

        Reply
    5. Rikki says

      April 16, 2023 at 10:12 am

      Could you omit or substitute the nuts? We have an nut allergy in the house.

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 16, 2023 at 7:05 pm

        I would add sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds

        Reply
    6. Ellie says

      April 09, 2023 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      My 2yo and I love this! Added a tbsp of both hemp and chia and the extra crunch is surprisingly nice.

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 09, 2023 at 8:56 pm

        I agree!!

        Reply
    7. Lauren says

      April 06, 2023 at 12:21 pm

      I don’t have walnuts at home! Could I use cashews? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 06, 2023 at 1:14 pm

        Sure!

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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