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These Healthy Cookie Dough Balls are a healthy snack and take minutes to make. They are filled with nut butter, sweetened with honey, and only five ingredients total.
If there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s that I need a snack in between lunch and dinner or else I will become hangry, and no one likes hangry Erin.
That’s where these healthy cookie dough balls step in and not only satisfy my mid afternoon hunger craving, but also my hankering for something sweet.
How to make healthy cookie dough balls video
I always wonder how people can make it from when they eat lunch at around noon until when they eat dinner at around six without any snacks in between, and I mean I typically am eating a filling lunch with carbs, protein, and fat, and while that keeps me full till about 3 or 3:30, I always start to hear my stomach rumble in the afternoon.
When I worked in corporate America (I say that as if it was years ago..) I was the queen of afternoon snacking. I remember my colleagues always making fun of me because I would always have some form or homemade protein ball or granola bar in the afternoon, and then would pair it with an orange or a peach.
Snacks are life. And so are these balls.
They are filling. They fuel me through the remainder of the day. They taste good alone or paired with something else.
So many pre-packaged grab and go options are filled with gross ingredients and packed with sugar, so that’s why I always prefer homemade.
I want to be able to control what goes in them and while that isn’t always the case and there are tons of brands of snack bars and bites that I absolutely love (RxBars, Emmys Cookies, Larabar), I really prefer to make everything homemade.
Plus they are super simple to make and you can make them ahead of time to have for the entire week. It’s a win-win.
This recipe for healthy cookie dough balls only calls for five basic ingredients.
If you don’t have oat flour (which you can buy at any grocery store and it is wicked cheap), you can make your own by pulsing rolled oats in a food processor or Vitamix until completely fine and flour-like consistency.
For the nut butter, I prefer using peanut butter because I am obsessed with all things peanut butter flavored, but you can easily use any other type of nut butter. Cashew butter works great, almond butter will work great, even sunflower butter will work too!
All you need is one bowl, about five minutes, and some refrigeration time and you’ve got yourself the best little healthy cookie dough balls ever.
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Healthy Cookie Dough Balls
These Healthy Cookie Dough Balls are a healthy snack and take minutes to make. They are filled with nut butter, sweetened with honey, and only five ingredients total.
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp oat flour
- 1/2 cup nut butter, I prefer salted peanut butter or cashew butter.
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil melted (add more if needed)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt if none in nut butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used mini)
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
- If too wet to roll into balls, chill in fridge for 30 minutes.
- Roll into balls and store in fridge or freezer. If freezer, defrost for a few minutes before eating.
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Meghan N says
YUM – I want to make but I don’t see choc chips in the recipe – how much did you use?
Erin says
Updated!! Sorry about that! I used 1/2 cup mini chips 🙂
Emily says
Do we have to use chocolate ships
Erin says
Hi Emily! Not at all! Feel free to make the recipe your own and let me know how it goes.
Jerrod says
Do u have the nutrition facts on these?
Arri says
Yes there are some at the bottom
Alex says
Hey I want to try and make these! So do you chill the mixture in the fridge before rolling into balls?
Erin says
Hey Alex! Yes, that is correct. Let the dough chill for easier handling. Hope you enjoy them!
Rachel Whalen says
These look so good! I rarely buy coconut oil though. Is there an alternative you would recommend?
Erin says
You could use any other oil, or leave it out! If you leave it out, add in a little bit more nut butter.
grace says
have you experimented with any flours besides oat? 🙂
Erin says
I haven’t but I think almond or all purpose or cassava would work great here! Just may need to adjust ratios.
Autumn says
What would a good substitute for honey be? Would agave work?
Erin says
Agave would work great.
Claire says
These look so good, are these ok for someone who is lactose free? I’ve only recently found out I’m lactose free so still getting to grips with what I can and can’t have.
Claire
Erin says
Yes! They are completely lactose free!!!! Good luck to you!
Suzanne says
These look so good! Does the nut butter taste come through much?
Erin says
if you use peanut, yes! Any other not as much!
Chelsie says
These. Are. Amazing.
Do you know how many calories per ball?
★★★★★
Erin says
Thanks, Chelsie! I will add in the nutritional information now 🙂
Suzanne says
These look so good! Do you think teenagers would like them?
Erin says
Oh yes they will love them
lucy says
Once made how long will they keep in fridge and or freezer ?
Thanks
Erin says
3 months in the freezer and two weeks in the fridge! Enjoy!
Maggie says
Any nutrition info?
Erin says
It’s at the bottom of the recipe card.
Angela says
Still waiting on that nutritional info
Erin says
Hm… its at the bottom of the recipe just like all of my recipes! If you still can’t seem to find it, please let me know.
Cláudia says
Dear Erin,
I have just came across your website and I am loving these recipes! I struggle so hard to find healthier alternatives to candys and deserts, and now I can start venturing around, I see your recipes are very simple and they look delicious!
What I wanted to know is, considering a see a lot of coconut oil in your recipes and I have a very troubled relationship with anything related with coconut, what kind of oil do you think would be able to replace the coconut one in most of these recipes?
Thank you so much!
Erin says
Hi Claudia! Thanks for the amazing words. One oil that I love to use in place of coconut oil is avocado oil. Most grocery stores carry it now. You can also really use any oil you want (olive may be too strong..so stay away from that, but I would suggest avocado)
Sarah says
What a tasty snack! I really like them out of the freezer! Also can’t wait to try with the banana ice cream! ?
★★★★★
Erin says
Thanks for sharing Sarah!! SO glad you like them!
Morgan says
Hi. I’ve made these a few times now but mine always come out a little dry and chalky. Should I add more coconut oil? They are very good but want to get the correct level of moist next time.
★★★★★
Erin says
Yes! Or a little almond milk. Or use less flour.
Kay says
Hi! I wanted to make these, but swap in oatmeal for the chocolate chips. Would you recommend any other changes to the recipe, and/or do you have a recommendation of the right proportion of oats to add in? Thanks– these look amazing!
Erin says
Since oats are drier, I would add in a little more coconut oil, honey and peanut butter. Try out like 1/2 cup oats! This recipe is very forgiving and can be flexible with many ingredients. Too dry, add more liquid. Too wet, add more dry.
Kaylea says
Can you bake these?
Erin says
these are only meant to be eaten as a snack, unbaked!
Emily says
Hi! I’m so sorry, but I don’t have any coconut oil, do you know of anything I can substitute for this? Thank you so much!
Erin says
Any other oil or butter!
Amy says
any alternative for nuts as im allergic
★★★★
Erin says
You can use tahini and gluten-free flour.
★★★★★
Alysha M. says
I would love to try this cookie dough ball recipe, but have to make a few substitutions. I can’t have coconut oil/anything coconut, but I also can’t have oats/oat flour. I saw that you recommended almond or cassava flour to someone in an earlier comment. Do you have any idea what amount I would need to use in place of the oat flour (would it be a 1 to 1 swap)? Thanks!!
Erin says
Hi Alysha, thanks for your kind words! Yes, you can definitely use either flour for this recipe. I haven’t tried either, so be sure to check the ratio for whatever flour your decide to use before baking. Let me know how they come out!
Jacqui says
So good and super easy! Made them in 10 mins 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jacqui, thanks for your kind words! I am so happy you liked them!!
Rachel says
recipe is alright but tastes very heavily of flour and I’d recommend adding more vanilla to combat this
★★★
Angela says
I love this recipe. It is very forgiving and you can switch it up to be any of you yr favorite cookie dough. I made oat flour from oatmeal and it wasn’t as fine but it just makes it seem more like a monster cookie dough and would be great with mini chocolate chips.
★★★★★
Angela says
Sorry mini M&Ms ?
Erin says
Hi Angela! Thanks for your kind words and so happy you enjoyed them and definitely would be great with mini m&ms!! 🙂
Kelsey says
I’m pretty sure that I could live off of these.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelsey, me too!! So happy you like them!
Nicole says
I have made these 2x now and my family loves them! They are a great treat for nursing mamas in the middle of the night too! Maybe a little too good..??
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nicole, I am so happy your family loves them!! Thanks for your kind words! 🙂
Tallinna says
This is amazeballs👌🏼so good!!! you need to have them in the fridge. Erin you are helping me save money buying less snacks🙏🏼
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tallinna, thank you so much for your kind words!! I am so happy you enjoyed them!
Katarina says
These were so good! Perfectly sweet and super satisfying if you’re craving something sweet as a pick me up or for desert. Will definitely be making again. I used almond butter instead of pb because that’s what i had at home and really liked it!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katarina, thank you for your kind words! I am so happy you enjoyed them so much and made them your own! 🙂
Carla says
These ain’t it. Super dry and not worth 155 calories per tiny ball.
★★
Erin says
Hi Carla, so sorry to hear you didn’t like them. Using natural, wholesome nutrient dense ingredients may be more calorically heavy but that’s what this blog centers around – less ‘low-fat, sugar-free’ food.
Laura says
Hi! Love these so much! Quick question, at the top it says makes 12 but then the nutritional facts say 14. Just wondering which it should be! Thanks!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laura, thanks for your kind words!! It should be 12. Thanks for letting me know!
Carrie says
You are a genius! These are so yummy! Finally, I can eat cookie dough without the guilt, lol. I used cashew butter because it’s more neural and I didn’t want PB cookie dough. I added a couple Tbs. of stevia based sweetener because I used a sugar-free fake honey, which isn’t as sweet as regular honey. Mine was a little dryer but that’s probably because it wasn’t real honey. I just needed it to be sugar free. They turned out great! Thank you so much for sharing!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Carrie, thank you so much for your kind words!! I am so happy you enjoyed them and made them your own! 🙂
Gia says
Delicious! Such a quick, healthy recipe – THANKS FOR SHARING.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Gia, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you enjoyed them!
Emily M. says
I used tahini as my ‘nut’ butter, maple syrup (out of honey for quarantine), and replaced the oil with a splash of almond milk. I also used the Bake Believe sugar free chocolate chips from Walmart and chopped them into chunks to stretch them further.
The bites came together beautifully and my husband immediately scarfed a few down. A great healthy snack!! 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emily, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you and your husband enjoyed them and made them your own!
Hanisha says
It turned out yummmmmmmy
I used almond butter instead of peanut butter
And used maple syrup instead of honey
Loved it thanks👍
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, I am so happy you enjoyed them and made them your own! 🙂
MacKenzie Bachry says
Love love love these! They’re perfect for a mid morning or mid afternoon pick-me-up. You can make them however big or small you want. I followed the exact recipe, adding Teddie’s smooth peanut butter and they’re delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi MacKenzie, thanks for your kind words!! I am so happy you enjoyed them! 🙂
monica says
love these! i am allergic to nuts and i use a splash of oatmilk to substitute the nut butter and it’s great!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Monica, thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you made it your own and enjoyed it!!
Madelyn says
Could you use coconut flour? That is all I have on hand. If so, what would the ratio be?
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Madelyn, yes you can use that instead. I couldn’t find an exact ratio, but it looks like it isn’t a 1:1 ratio and is recommended to cut down the amount of flour to 1/4 of what you would normally use. I’d try that and see what the consistency is like and add more if it is too wet. Let me know how it goes!
Suzanne says
This looks delicious, thank you for sharing!
Erin says
Hi Suzanne, thank you for your kind words!!
Rosario says
Hi! This look delicious!! How long do they last?
Erin says
up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer!
Clarise says
These were delicious and simple ingredients that I always already have on hand!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Clarise, thank you so much for the kind words. I am so happy you love them! 🙂
Kate says
I quadruple the recipe to last (only) 1.5 weeks. It’s my kids’ morning snack almost every day. It’s one of our favorite of all of your great recipes!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kate, WOW I am so happy to hear you and your kids love them so much!! Thank you for your support! 🙂
orly says
hola acabo de ver tu receta y me parece muy buena pero tengo una duda , puedo hornear la masa ?
Erin says
Hi Orly! Thank you so much for your kind words. I haven’t tried baking the dough, and since they do not have a rising agent, they wouldn’t come out like normal cookies since these are meant to be eaten as is. I do have a chocolate chip cookie recipe here you could try if you want to bake: http://www.erinliveswhole.com/simple-paleo-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Rachael says
Just made these and had a sneaky taste of the mixture… So delicious! I know my two girls will be excited to have for afternoon tea💗
Erin says
Hi Rachael, thank you for the kind words! I am so happy you enjoyed them and hope they do too!! 🙂
Shira says
Have you ever made these chocolate covered? I think that would be so good! If I were to try, do you think it would work to just melt chocolate chips with a bit of coconut oil, dip/cover the balls and place back in the fridge (or maybe freezer?) until they harden? Let me know what you think!
Erin says
Hi Shira, I haven’t yet but that sounds like a fabulous idea!! I think your plan is perfect. Let me know how they come out!
Alysa says
These taste like peanut butter (I used peanut butter) and not much like cookie dough. Kind of disappointing.
★★★
Erin says
Hi Alysa, I’d try to use cashew butter next time! Sorry to hear they tasted too much like PB!
Rachel V says
This is my go-to recipe whenever I’m craving energy balls or just want any easy snack ready in the fridge; I’ve made them many times. They’re the perfect little snack, but be careful…they can be addicting! 😉
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you love the cookie dough balls so much!
rosmery caldo says
Thank you very much for this recepie, I was looking for something sweet but healthy at the same time.
Again thanks!
Erin says
Hi Rosemery, you’re welcome! I am so happy you enjoyed it!
Casey says
Any suggestions for something other than coconut oil? I’m not a fan of this type of fat.
Erin says
Hi Casey, any other type of oil you like should work. Let me know what you use and how they come out!
Julie says
I made a scaled-down solo snack based off of your recipe with 1/2 cups oats mixed with 1T nut butter, 1T maple syrup, 1T chia seeds, and 1T chocolate chips, and it was so good! Thanks for the inspiration!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Julie, thank you for sharing and glad you enjoyed them!
Lisa B says
Just made these and they are great. I substituted almond flour for oat flour and they came out amazing. Great little after dinner treat I don’t have to feel guilty about! Thanks!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lisa, I am so glad you enjoyed them and made them your own! 🙂
Sasha says
Would ground nuts work in place of nut butter? How much would I use?
Erin says
Hi Sasha, I would not replace with ground nuts.
Brittany Lewis says
I just made these & I love how they turned out.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Brittany, so happy you enjoyed them!!
Laura says
Amazing! Was searching for a healthy snack and I had the ingredients on hand for these plus they’re quick to make. And they’re delicious and filling!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laura, so glad you enjoyed them!!
Maya says
Okay, I will admit that I was skeptical at first… but I love these and will be making them forever. I used cashew butter, which I think is better than peanut butter as it is less intense. I also didn’t put any coconut oil in, or any oil for that matter. I had already mixed up the other ingredients by the time I got to that step, and I think that it isn’t even necessary – the consistency was fine without it and I don’t think it would do much flavor wise.
Basically, the point is that these are amazing and you have to make them right now.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Maya, I am so happy you enjoyed them and made them your own!! 🙂