Growing up, I loved my grandma’s oatmeal raisin cookies and I also love carrot cake. It’s so moist and filled with raisins and carrots. What I really love about carrot cake though is cream cheese frosting. I won’t lie.
Today’s recipe incorporates Oatmeal Raisin Cookies + Carrot Cake, sans frosting. You can always add frosting, but of course.
No-Bake Oatmeal Raisin Carrot Cake Bites
1/ 2 c dry old-fashioned oats + 2 tbsp reserved (use certified gluten-free if necessary)
1/4 c carrots
1/4 c pitted medjool dates (I used 4 large, moist dates)
1/4 c raisins (I used a raisin medley blend) + 1/4 c reserved
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Blend the oats and carrots in a Vita- Mix or food processor for about 10 seconds. Then add everything else (except the reserved ingredients) and blend for another 20 seconds or until incorporated. Don’t overblend.
Remove the dough and by hand, stir in the reserved:
2 Tbsp dry oats
1/4 c raisins
Form into bite-sized balls or cookie shapes. If needed, refrigerate or freeze the dough for 15 minutes to make it less sticky and easier to work with.
Yields: 1 dozen bites the size of a quarter gumball. Store in freezer or refrigerator.
Optional: Pinch Pumpkin Pie Spice, Pinch Ground Ginger, 1/8 c Coconut Flakes, 1/8 c Walnuts/Almonds, 1/8 c chocolate chips. Add frosting drizzle at the end, such as storebought Cream Cheese Frosting. Or, follow my Raw Vegan Cheezecake Filling recipe (and reduce by half) for raw vegan cream cheeze frosting.
Note: For those desiring a more traditional cookie, bake at 350F for 8 to 12 minutes, or to desired level.
A Visual Guide
Oats + Carrots. Blend for 10 seconds
Add everything else (except reserved items) and blend for 20 seconds or until incorporated. Don’t overblend and make pulverized mush.
Resulting dough 20 seconds later
By hand, stir in the reserved oats + raisins. I like the added texture these items give to the finished product.
From into bites, balls, bars. Or whatever you call them. I call them easy, fast, and good.
These bites:
Are a “healthy” dessert or snack. We all have different definitions of healthy, but as desserts go, these are pretty healthy in my book.
They ‘re vegan and came together in less than 5 mintues. Gotta love anything no-bake.
They’re Gluten Free (see this post at the bottom for a discussion on oats and gluten)
Seed & Tree Nut Free (I like nuts, but not in carrot cake or in oatmeal raisin cookies so I kept them out of this recipe)
And combine two of my fave dessert flavors, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies + Carrot Cake, all rolled into one bite.
If you like the looks of today’s bites, try my No Bake Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
And don’t forget to check my Dessert Ball Recipes Post for a compilation of everything from….
….Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
…to No-Bake Peanut Butter Vanilla Balls
Do you like carrot cake?
I remember trying carrot cake when I was a kid and hating it, but I haven’t tried it since. I think I might like it now!
The look a lot like the raw carrot muffins I post the other day. You need to whip up the frosting I posted!
I totally forgot about those! And Ela told me Pure Girls made some. Missed that post. Lots of carrot cake on the brain lately around the sphere I guess :)
I love your blog and all of your recipes – especially this one!
Do you think I could sub dried figs for the dates if that’s all I have in the house right now?
Yes, go for it.
YUM! These looks amazing!
Thanks, Angela :)
Screw it, here you go. :)
https://makingfoodandotherstuff.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/baby-balls/
Those are a blend of: my fudge balls (cocoa + dates)
and my donut holes (cocoa + flax)
Plus with coffee. I need to try those! So many balls, so little time.
And about not grabbing the medjool dates in your hand, if you have raisins, soak some for a couple hours and just use all raisins. It will be date-ish enough to get you by if you’re truly wanting them :)
Oatmeal raisin = fave cookie of all time
Carrot cake = fave cake of all time
The balls = me PISSED that I didn’t buy that bag of medjool dates that I had IN MY HANDS yesterday at the store. Grrr.
I made some mocha balls. You should try to make a spin on those. Let me know if you want the link.
These look so so yummy! I love both oatmeal raisin (or oatmeal chocolate chip ;) cookies and carrot cake (well more carrot bars sans frosting)- so I bet these are amazing! I hope you’re having a good weekend! Cannot believe its Sunday afternoon already. Much love to yoU!
I know, the weekend flew by! Much love right back at ya! :)
I’m terrible- I don’t like raisins or carrot cake much! But the bites look really good, I might have to make some for the bf!
Carrot cake is my all time favorite! I love cinnamon and spice, so anything with that in it is high on my list! Oatmeal cookies are my favorite cookies too!
!!! This recipe was bookmarked before I even read the ingredients. I’m so excited to make these :)
1. Oh my goodness. Lol I’m going to be exclaiming yes to all of your questions. Those cookies are soooo good when they’re fresh and chewy yummmm.
2. YES!!! Carrot cake is one of the only cakes I like (along with tiramisu). I’m picky about it though… as with all cakes (why I don’t really like them lol).
3. Hmm.. I’m not sure! Either your carrot cake bite orrr something that would taste like tiramisu!
XOXO have a lovely weekend with your family, Averie :)
I am flattered “bookmarked before I even read the ingredients. I’m so excited to make these :)”–
Have a great Sunday, Katharina!
Wish I had my Vitamix here in NY with me! I want these so badly. I agree with Evan, frosting to dip these in is a must :)
I bet you could make do with a magic bullet or cheapie food proc if you have one. If not, well, your Vita is waiting for you.
Mmmmm, I need to make these…and dip them in cream cheese frosting on the way to my mouth :-)
I remember you saying you knew I would love these…and oh man, you are SO right!!! You probably have already observed that I am a carrot cake fiend, so these really are right up my alley. I’m a fan of a good oatmeal raisin cookie, too ;) If I hadn’t already made your [absolutely amazing and that I am now addicted to] vegan/raw/gf brownies I’d be whipping out my processor right now!! As it is, I think I’ve made enough noise for one day :P
there are worse things to be addicted to than vegan/raw/gf brownies. glad you’re enjoying :)
Mmm, carrot cake is my favorite. Might have to try these, except I kind of want to dip them in cream cheese frosting :-)