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Chocolate, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easter, Egg Free, Favourites, GAPS, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Gut Health, Health, Holidays, Lunchbox, Naturally Sweetened, Nut Free, Nuts, Paleo, Raw, Snacks, Thermomix, Tips, Vegan, Wholefood
Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
We’re on holiday in Perth, peeps!!! Ok, I’m also running five Quirky Cooking seminar classes while I’m here, so I’m working as well, but we’re away for nearly a whole month with nearly the whole family, so I’m calling it a holiday!
We’re staying in a little house right across from the beach, and we’ve had some absolutely gorgeous weather. Loving it.
Yesterday I decided to make the kids a special treat for afternoon tea, because when you’re a GAPS family you can’t really just go buy holiday snacks – it’s make your own, or eat fruit, veggies and nuts, pretty much. All good, I love baking. And I brought my Thermie with me on the plane, of course, so no problem. (See my Thermie travel tips below!)
So I got out the ingredients to make some of our favourite Cinnamon Donut Cupcakes (recipe in my cookbook), but I couldn’t get the little, old oven to work…What to do?? We ‘needed’ a treat!
Lightbulb moment! I remembered the other day when I was making the base for my raw macadamia lime cheesecake that I’d blended it longer than usual and it became a smooth dough that tasted JUST like raw cookie dough!! No oven needed for that! So I dug through my meager holiday food supplies, and came up with this easy and delicious recipe for raw cookie dough balls, and they worked first go. Phew, disaster averted. The kids wandered off to the beach happily munching them, and I had spent all of 10 minutes in the kitchen. Perfect.
Of course, we all agreed they’d be even better with chocolate chips added, so I made a quick trip to Dynamic Organic the next day looking for dairy free, naturally sweetened chocolate chips. They’re not too easy to find, sadly. I thought about making my own raw, dairy free chocolate and chopping it up into tiny pieces, but I’m on holiday. I’m keeping it simple. So I just bought a block of Loving Earth Coconut Milk Chocolate instead, and chopped some of that up into little bits. That’s probably the easiest way to get dairy free chocolate chips (ok, chunks), that don’t have soy or refined sugar in them.
So here’s the recipe – a perfect substitute for cake or cookies for when you don’t have an oven (or can’t be bothered baking because you’re on holiday at the beach). They’re also egg free, and can be vegan and dairy free if you use coconut oil. For a nut free version, try using half desiccated coconut and half pepitas.
I’ve included a few other ideas for variations below the recipe, and I’d love to hear what variations you come up with – please share in the comments below!
Note: You can find fine sea salt and vanilla powder for this recipe in my online store!
Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 12
Ingredients
Units
- 150g blanched almond meal
- 3 medjool dates, pitted
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp bicarbonate soda
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla powder
- 2 Tbspns ghee, butter or coconut oil
- 50g dairy free, dark chocolate, chopped into small bits
Instructions
- Place the almond meal, dates, salt, soda, vanilla, and ghee/butter/coconut oil into the Thermomix bowl and blend 30 sec/speed 9. (Or process until it resembles fine crumbs in a food processor.)
- Add chopped chocolate and mix in for 5 sec/speed 3 (or by hand).
- Press dough together to form 12 walnut sized balls, and set on a plate. Refrigerate until firm.
Notes
Leave out the chocolate bits and try one of these variations
- 1 tsp of cinnamon
- a few drops of lemon essential oil (food grade, eg. DoTERRA)
- a small handful of currants and 1/2 tsp of mixed spice
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice and 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1 Tbspn Dutch cocoa powder and a few drops of peppermint essential oil
- Nut free: use 75g each desiccated coconut and pepitas, mill until fine, then add remaining dough ingredients
Can I please ask what the bicarb does? Absolute beginner and I just assumed it was something that aids in the cooking process… but these are raw… thanks 🙂
The Real Person!
Just there for the real cookie dough flavour 🙂
Hi Jo, I made the cheesecake last week, it was delicious and I agree, the base would make a tasty snack! Just a quick question, can I leave out the bicarb or is it essential? Thanks xx
The Real Person!
you can leave out no problem
I had been craving exactly this, a raw choc chip cookie dough, but could not indulge in a traditional recipe with the raw egg as I am currently avoiding because I am pregnant.
This was delicious! Thanks Jo.
I thought of a naughty but nice addition, add cacao for a double choc chip cookie dough 😉
Hi Jo
You are such a genius… Thank you so much for this amazing recipe. The kids and I are on a no (low) sugar, no wheat diet for a little while (lifelong me hopes) and really wanted them to have a lovey treat. This ticked all the boxes! The first batch is gone already and we all love them so much we may have to make another batch tomorrow! Anita (Thermomix Consultant)
will be making these tomorrow. Looks yum and the kids will love them.
You should head down to Dunsborough. We used to live there. One of the most beautiful places around and lots of good food.
Thanks for all your recipes and the podcast. Your podcast keeps me going during the week.
Fabulous recipe thanks!!
There’s a great shop in here in Perth Jo in Doubleview, 257 Scarborough Beach Rd, called Dunn and Walton for all of your organic goodies!! It’s awesome x
I travel with my TM5 on airplane now and again. I bought $20 blanket queen size at Woolworths and use that by wrapping my TM5 tightly and securing this with packaging tape. I take my clothes as carry on luggage.
It works really well.
Thank you for this. Having changed my way of eating, this looks like it will suit me really well as a ‘sweet’ treat.
Have the best holiday. My folks are on their way to Perth now and I am hoping they will have the great weather you have had.
Love it eye’s reckon look & read’s fantastic have a gluten thing & dairy my other half say’s he is normal um????
I have had these on my mind all day since I saw them (or even a couple of days since I first saw your tease photo). Anyway I had on my meal plan to make apple crumble for my kids lunch boxes tomorrow but I got home really late and needed something no bake – it must have been fate. 🙂
Anyway I had to do the nut free version for the lunch boxes and it was a little green – well for my kids anyway. Solution – double choc – added the cocoa to change the colour and still kept the choc chunks. I may have eaten more than one already and they have only just made it to the fridge to set! Thanks
holy moley… It’s 10pm, just having a wander around. See this and think “I WILL make this… Now! Wasn’t fussed on getting out the big gal, just popped in in the nutribullet. BAM! Done and incredible. Cannot believe you churned this out in the fly. So yummy. Like any walk of life would scoff this down sorta yummy!
Thank you x
The Real Person!
Ha ha, I made them at 10pm last night too!! Dangerous… 😀
Hi Joe!
Yum! Thanks for yet another amazing recipe!
Just wondering how long these would keep in the fridge?
Do you think they would be a good one to freeze like your No Bake Choc Cookies?
Thanks
Ann
The Real Person!
They keep for ages but I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that. 😉
Yes frozen is great too!
If these are consumed as raw cookie dough bites what is the purpose of the bicarb?
The Real Person!
For the authentic cookie dough flavour!
Have you tried using almond-pulp left over from making almond milk in this recipe? I have no idea what to use my pulp for, and have only been game to try recipes that say “wet almond pulp” as not sure how to dry it or store it etc.?
The Real Person!
I dehydrate the pulp and then use it in these, but some people have mentioned they’ve used the damp pulp and it’s worked.
Jo, can I ask why blanched almonds? Could I be lazy ????and use my normal almonds, or should I blanch them? Thank you!
The Real Person!
It just makes it lighter – use raw if you like 🙂
So good I could kiss you!
The Real Person!
Ha ha!!!
Yum – these were great. Instead of dairy free chocolate, I used cacao nibs. The perfect paleo snack!!Thanks!!
The Real Person!
Perfect!!
Jo would cacao nibs work instead of the chocolate bits?
The Real Person!
Sure! Will just be less sweet. 🙂
Love them!!! The little kids wanted more and the fussy non dieting guest (aka my husband) wanted a batch to take home!
My sister-in-law complied and sent us each home with a bag… she did make us roll the balls 😉
The Real Person!
Ha ha!!
So the newer model thermie is too heavy? Or is it too bulky too? We are getting one for Christmas and need to fly to from Australia to our home in Thailand and the baggage handlers in Thailand area renowned for breaking everything so I’m terrified of taking it checked!
The Real Person!
It is too bulky for the overhead locker, and a bit heavier than the old one. Best packed in it’s box in all the packaging material.
Hi Quirky Jo, pretty sure I have met you in previous years at demonstrations with Ellen Pezzelato (had my twin boys and other son at a Malanda and Atherton demo).
Am now finally in a position to buy one. There’s a Thermo5 available jn Mareeba (used) or am I better off getting it new one? Have just bought a house in Atherton and will be moving up shortly. Are you the best person to talk to about this? Let me know. Christina (0408531422)
The Real Person!
Hi Christina, that’s exciting! I’ll get someone to call you. 🙂
Thanks Jo, another fab. recipe.
I used whole almonds, blitzed them in my thermie to get almond meal. Then followed the directions in your post. My 4 year old has decided that they are exquisite.
The Real Person!
Yay!!
These were delicious. I used a mix of almonds (milled first), coconut and pepitas with some cacao. I subbed in dried dates (pre-soaked in warm water) because we had no medjool. My new go to snack. Thanks
Have you ever put your thermomix in a checked suitcase? We have a travel bag that we’ve used in the past as carry on, but our current airport has insane regulations and there is no way in hell we’ll get it on as carry on. We don’t have the original box any more either. We were thinkin of packing it up tight with towels in the travel bag, then packing that bag tightly in a hard cased suitcase… What do you think?
The Real Person!
That should work!
Hi Jo can you please give me some suggestions on where to purchase dairy free choc chips online (natural sugar) please.
The Real Person!
I actually just use a block of Loving Earth chocolate and cut into small pieces 🙂
Wow!!!!! These are soooooo yummy and easy to make. Delicious!!!!
So im thinking chunks of this through home made icecream…. thanks jo…i think ?
oh my ! I made 2 batches this weekend, gone within hours (mostly be me) – soooo very delicious !
Could I substitute the dates?
The Real Person!
Yes use any liquid sweetener, same weight or to taste!
For a nut free option blitz 150g of oats instead of almond meal. So very good!!
Yum!!! I had to have three before they hit the fridge too!
Hi Jo, what can I replace the almond flour with? Daughter is allergic to almonds and coconut. Looks delicious. Thanks
The Real Person!
Hi Kerrie! Other nuts would work in place of the almond meal such as cashews, walnuts or pecans – just mill down first approx 10 sec speed 8 before proceeding with the rest of the recipe. 🙂
These are delicious! Currently in the process of weaning the family off sugar and recipes like this one make it so much easier. Thank you xx
The Real Person!
Yay Renee! Glad you like them! 🙂
Yum! Tastes very much like real cookie dough. I followed the recipe exactly, using coconut oil (soft but not liquid) and just milled my own almond meal from natural almonds. also added 2 tspns of 100s and 1000s with the choc chips to make them even more fun and yum 🙂
The Real Person!
So yummy hey Tiff? Glad you enjoyed them! 🙂 xx
These are delicious!! Will make a double batch next time as didn’t last long in my house. Thanks so much for sharing.
YUM!! I added the cocoa & used a couple of drops of my Young Living Orange essential oil… Jaffa cookies!! The best 🙂
The Real Person!
What a brilliant idea:-). Enjoy.
I use the pulp from the almond milk and this were delicious, everyone at home loved them! So soft and yummy!!