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No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (Date-Free, Vegan)

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For several years now, I’ve been embarking on a new time in my life.

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I’m at this in-between stage of getting older, where certain things that I’ve previously enjoyed, seem a bit incongruous now.

Topping this list includes activities like:

1) Shopping at stores like Hollister and American Eagle, stores I’ve always loved, but have recently been feeling a bit out of place in,

2) Watching MTV. The bloom is definitely off the rose there, as I feel like I’m watching younger and younger people say and do dumber and dumber things,

3) Listening to any song involving girls kissing girls or teeny boppers crooning the boys to ‘come and get it’.  (For the record, I only enjoyed the melody of ONE of the above songs.)

Granted, I’m not that old yet, but with two little daughters, I find myself more and more wishing to be a positive role model in all that I do and wanting to steer them clear of some of the above worldly mayhem.

While eagle-emblazoned baby tees and self-proclaimed blockheads may be on the outs, one thing I’ll never be too old for is cookie dough!

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I recently watched an episode of Trisha’s Southern Kitchen (which is a bit like food porn for me) where Trisha made a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough balls for herself and her friend to indulge in.

Where she used the traditional white flour, butter, and sugar, I have instead employed walnuts, oat flour, and a combination of maple syrup and honey.

I wanted to make these less of the typical raw treat and more of an actual batch of cookie dough that you might bake (though I haven’t tried).

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The walnuts take the place of both flour and butter, as they have the consistency of the former when broken down, and the nut’s natural fat eliminates the need for any extra oil. The maple syrup and honey (obviously) lend sweetness as well as contributing to binding.

I find that the small dash of baking soda really gives this treat a signature cookie dough taste, lending more validity to this whole sweet fantasy.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (Date-Free, Vegan)
 
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Author:
Serves: 15-20 balls
Ingredients
  • 1½ c. raw walnuts
  • 1 c. oat flour
  • 1 t. chia seeds, optional
  • ½ t. sea salt
  • 1 t. cinnamon
  • ¼ t. baking soda
  • 3 T. maple syrup
  • 1 T. raw honey (or more maple syrup if vegan)
  • 2-3 T. cacao nibs, chopped dark chocolate, or chocolate chips, etc.
Instructions
  1. Pulse the walnuts until they are a meal-y consistency (be careful, as walnuts can butterize quickly)
  2. Pulse in the oat flour, chia seeds (if using), sea salt, cinnamon, and baking soda until combined.
  3. Pulse in the sweeteners until you start to see the mixture clump together.
  4. Pulse in the chocolate.
  5. Roll into balls.
  6. Chill and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition facts are based on using the optional chia seeds, honey, and two tablespoons cacao nibs. WW points (new system): 3
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1/20 of recipe Calories: 102 Fat: 7.1 g Saturated fat: 0 g Unsaturated fat: 7.1 g Trans fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 8.3 g Sugar: 3.4 g Sodium: 64 mg Fiber: 1.3 g Protein: 3.1 g Cholesterol: 0 mg

Inspired by this recipe

If you divide the batter into 20, each treat is low in both carbs (7.7 grams) AND sugar (3.1 grams).

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Isn’t that cute? I was just trying to photograph the recipe in a different way, and it ended up having that little face! Everyone needs a cookie dough snowman! 🙂

I made this recipe the other night, and my husband probably ate two-thirds of the batch! >:-I

Because these have walnuts, they’re really not for our kids, so he and I constantly squabble over them (with me hiding them in the vegetable drawer and him finding them now that I’ve revealed my secret spot on here several times). Argh!

Do you feel like you’ve grown out of anything in the stage of life you’re currently in?

Shared with: Allergy-Free Wednesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  2. How would I sub the oat flour if I’m eating grain-free foods only and sugar free (using stevia and xylitol). Because the honey binds, what would I use to bind this together, if I use on of the other sweeteners?

    Reply

    • Hi Meg,

      You could try almond meal for the oat flour, but I’m not sure about the honey…maybe a combination of stevia/xylitol and coconut milk?…

      Reply

  3. These sound really delicious and love that they are not loaded with nuts and coconut oil etc…..i did not know you could eat oats ‘raw’? Are they digestible without being soaked etc….even ground into powder? Thanks, sorry for sounding a bit ignorant’ 🙂

    Reply

    • Hi Donna,

      Everyone is different, but they agree with me just fine. Soaking definitely helps with digestion, but you would then have to dry the oats to use them in this recipe or to grind into flour. Hopefully that helps! 🙂

      Reply

  6. These look so delicious, Lauren! I love that they’re more like bake-able cookie dough bites rather than raw and date-filled. I love dates, but it’s nice to mix things up a bit!

    As for growing older, I definitely prefer a casual night in with my husband rather than a city night out on the town. We used to fill our weekends with dinner reservations and concerts, and now we’re happiest filling our time with bike rides, home-cooked meals, and green juice! I think the older I get, the more I appreciate the simpler things in life that once seemed boring. That being said, I still find myself singing along to both of the songs you mentioned and others like them — guilty pleasure that I just can’t quit! 🙂

    Reply

  8. I will be ok if people get too old for Justin Bieber, but cookie dough? No way. Nooooo way will cookie dough ever get old! And I love that this is actually cookie dough!

    Reply

  9. I love that you used walnuts in these in place of both flour and butter, what a brilliant idea! I never understand when people say they don’t like walnuts, because in my opinion they taste like butter! So funny and random to bump into you at the grocery story yesterday, definitely a sign we need to hang out and also I want you to make delicious cookie dough balls and brownie bars for me, haha 🙂

    I was never one to stay out too late, but I’ve noticed that these days I am much more interested in coming home early and getting a good nights sleep than being the last one to leave a party. I also find that I get pretty cranky and require lots of snacks if we eat dinner any later than 7:00. Maybe I’m just an old person at heart!

    Reply

    • Hi Izzy! Yes, so great to meet you yesterday! I’m excited to have broken that ice and look forward to when we can finally get together! 🙂

      Haha, I’m totally with you on being old at heart. I’ve always been more about sleep than partying and am definitely known for eating dinner early (4:30pm).
      🙂

      Reply

  10. I need these ASAP! I honestly always have some sort of “power ball” kicking around in my fridge. I enjoy them anytime of day! I love that you used walnuts, because I’m a walnut freak! I can’t live without them.

    Heh, and I know what you mean about this age-stage. I recently had this same “crisis” when purchasing a skirt for summer. Is it too short for my age or too long for my age? What’s the age-appropriate length!? Ahhh.

    Reply

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