Sometimes it can be hard to stop our food cravings, especially if we're stressed or when don't eat healthy food. If you need to eat something sweet, you should try these 3-ingredient raw cacao bites, they taste incredibly good and you only need 3 ingredients to make them.
Feel free to use your favorite nuts (I used walnuts, but I also love hazelnuts and almonds). I only eat unsalted raw nuts because salted and fried nuts aren't good for our health and sometimes they also have some additives or preservatives.
There are so many ingredients you can use to make these bites: spices (like cinnamon or nutmeg), seeds, superfoods or dried fruits, it's almost impossible go work with this recipe!
Medjool dates work better for this recipe, but if you can't find them or they're too expensive for you, you can use another type of dates, although you should soak them overnight and maybe you'll have to add some syrup or molasses (I adore maple syrup).
The bites are ready in only 5 minutes and you can eat them immediately. You just have to place the nuts in a food processor or a powerful blender (food processors works better) and blend until they form a crumbly mixture, add the dates and the raw cacao (unsweetened cocoa powder is okay) and blend again. Make balls with your hands and they're ready to serve!
If you can't make the balls because the dough is too sticky, you can add more nuts or let the dough stand in the freezer for 10 or 15 minutes, although if it happens, the balls will be easier to make if your hands are wet. If it's too dry, add more dates or more syrup.
I love raw cacao because is much nutritious and healthier than processed cocoa powder. It's more expensive, but it has a strong flavor, so you need to use less. Feel free to use unsweetened cocoa powder if you want.
You can store the bites in a sealed container at room temperature, but I prefer to keep them in the fridge, especially in summer.
If you make these 3-ingredient raw cacao bites, please leave a comment or tag a picture #simpleveganblog on Instagram or your favorite social network.
📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Raw Cacao Bites
Instructions
- Place the walnuts in a food processor or a powerful blender (food processors work better) and blend until they have a crumbly texture.
- Add the dates and the cacao and blend again.
- Make balls with your hands and they're ready to serve.
- You can store the bites in a sealed container at room temperature, although I prefer to keep them in the fridge, especially in summer.
T Car says
Simple, easy and tasty!
Iosune says
Hi! Thanks a lot 🙂
Wanda says
Fabulous! Easy, quick, yummy!
angelia miller says
Absolutely delicious. They were so simple to make, definitely hit the spot!
Iosune Robles says
Hi! So glad you liked it 🙂
Kelly says
I didn’t have walnuts so I used pecans and OMG sooooo good!!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kelly! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂
Kelley says
I made these with sliced almonds, they're delicious.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kelley! Sounds so good 🙂
Susan K says
Awesome! My entire family loves them and don’t even know how good they are for them. They call them chocolate ball treats
Iosune Robles says
Hi Susan! That's amazing 🙂 I'm so glad you all liked it!
Julia says
This was an excellent base for me to customize! Thank you for such a simple and versatile recipe ♥
Iosune Robles says
Hi Julia! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂
Julia says
You're welcome! Thank you for the recipe 😊
Ryan Higgins says
Do you use Raw Cacao nibs or beans or powder?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Ryan! Cacao powder 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
Ljupco Nikolovski says
Its hard for me to make a ball, any tip?
However they are very tasty, i tried them also with sunflower seeds
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Maybe try to add some liquid, such as coconut oil or some milk!
Dawn Judd says
So easy to make - and prefer these over the protein balls
Iosune Robles says
So glad you liked it 🙂
Nelly says
So easy to make and they were yummy!
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Yes, they're so yummy 🙂
Andrea Henrikson says
These are fool-proof and always a crowd pleaser. I roll some in either raspberry blueberry or strawberry dust and they're the bomb.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Andrea! You're completely right 🙂
Gretchen Zick says
So very delicious. Can't wait to try with all different kinds of nuts. Made a fantastic (but easy-to-clean-up) mess in my kitchen! I'm calling them candy. Have a great day!
Iosune Robles says
I'm so glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
Natalie Power says
This is a fantastic recipe. Very easy to make, a healthy alternative, and perfect sweet treat. I love coconut so rolled them in dessicated coconut...yum! Thank you!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Natalie! Thanks for your kind words 🙂
Nina says
These coco bites are absolutely delicious. My future son-in-law says they taste like chocolate brownies.
I added three tablespoons of unsweetened coco to an entire box of dates I bought at Trader Joe’s. I also added half a bag of walnuts from Trader Joe’s , a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of vanilla.
They are perfect with a cup of coffee.
Iosune Robles says
Sounds so good! I'm glad you liked it 🙂
AnnLiz simpson says
Being allergic to walnuts I was just wondering g I’d suggest anything to substitute it with. Pecans? Pistachios? Hazelnuts?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Feel free to use any kind of nut 🙂 Have a nice day!
rachel says
hi
would love to try these
could i put these into chocolate moulds and freeze?
what are they like from the fridge?
do they make a mess whilst eating them? is it like soft and mushy? melts everywhere?
how big do you make the balls?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Rachel! Feel free to put them into chocolate moulds 🙂
It's good to keep them in the fridge so they compact better.
No, they don't make a mess and they are soft but not mushy. They don't melt, it is not possible!
We make it about the size of a pool ball!
rachel says
hi
thanks for your quick response.
do you grind the walnuts to the same consistency as store bought ground walnuts ? or does it come out coarser? cos i was thinking of just throwing in a packet of store bought ground nuts?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Feel free to add store-bought ground nuts instead of grinding them at home! Hope you enjoy them 🙂
Rachel Landau says
Hi
just wanted to check - is it 200g dates already pitted or do you weigh them with pits and then take out pits?
tks
Iosune Robles says
Hi Rachel! Better already pitted 🙂
rachel Landau says
which brand raw cacao do you use?
tks
Iosune Robles says
Hi Rachel! I don't remember the exact brand, sorry! The important thing is to buy 100% cocoa 🙂
Rachel says
hi
i tried the recipe and we loved it! couldn't beleive my kids would go for it!
i made again this week and i found its quite oily -is it from the dates?
is it better to blend on low and for short? did i over blend?
also how do you get 14 pool balls from such a small recipe?
tks
Iosune Robles says
Hi Rachel! So glad you all loved it 🙂
- Yes, it could be!
- In my opinion, it doesn't matter how you blend it but maybe next time, try not to over blend it!
- Could be due to the size of the dates?
Have a nice day!
Ellen O reilly says
Love these .sweet and good for you .tastes like the inside of ferro roche
Iosune Robles says
So glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
Irfan says
Hey I don't have walnuts at home but I do have almonds so can I sub walnuts with almonds let me know!
Iosune Robles says
Feel free to use almonds Irfan 🙂 Hope you like our raw cacao bites!
Paula Salmon says
What a fun & easy recipe!! These were a big hit in our household and will be a favorite for years to come. Thanks for sharing this simple and delicious recipe!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Paula! So glad you all liked it 🙂 Thanks for your kind words!
Jean says
Excellent - I added a tablespoon of peanut butter, a t of almond paste some salt and vanilla - so easy and so good!
Iosune Robles says
Sounds so good Jean 🙂 Have a nice day!
Alyssa says
Started raw vegan tonight and these were amazing to add to my meal plan.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Alyssa! This raw cacao bites are just amazing 🙂 Have a nice day!
sarah jones says
These are amazing! Why haven't I discovered this ridiculously easy recipe before?!
Literally took me 5 minutes to make and because the mixture isn't overly sticky the processor will be easy to clean!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Have a nice day!
Michelle says
I used apricots and pecans and cocoa powder because that’s what I had, and ended up adding coconut as well. Turned out well! I bet you could up the sweetness with chocolate chips as well. Good idea, thanks for sharing!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Michelle! Sounds so good 🙂 Have a nice day!
Padhmini says
Excellent
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Thanks for your words 🙂 Have a nice day!
Terri B. says
These are so easy to make and have become my favorite go to when I want a sweet snack without the guilt. These are not only delicious but also nutritious. I used raw almonds and organic coconut chips and added 1 TBSP of caçoa nibs to the dates and cocoa. Yum!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Terri! That sounds so good 🙂 So glad you liked it! Have a nice day!
Ivelina says
Hi! I love these, so easy and tasty!! How long can they last in the fridge?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Ivelina, I think they can last 1 week in the fridge, or even more 🙂 Have a nice day!
Tina Burgess says
I make these as bars the size of a kit kat finger and freeze. Just make them in a tray and cut to size after chilling. They freeze well! I use cashews and sometimes add chia seeds.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Tina!! Thank you for sharing your experience with us!! Have a great day!
Rebecca says
My favourite healthy sweet treat and so easy, thank you for the recipe
Iosune Robles says
Hi Rebecca! thanks to you for following us!!! Have a nice day!
Vivienne says
These are sublime, I’ve made them a few times now, but with the edition of chilli flakes!
Vivienne says
Apologies that should say addition!
Iosune says
Hi Vivienne! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
john gilmour says
can you use other fruit in stead of dates like dry plumes many thanks john
Iosune says
Hi John! I've never tried it myself, but I think it's not going to work, sorry!
Donna says
Made these for my after dinner sweet, oh so good!! Realized AFTER that I had used the tsp instead of Tbs 🤦🏽♀️ But still tasted great! I used almonds. Thank you!
Iosune says
Hi Donna! So glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Victoria says
Hi,
Where did you buy the medjool dates?
Thanks
Iosune says
Hi Victoria! I buy them at Costco 🙂
Rebecca Weston says
I have a pretty serious sweet tooth, so after tasting the original recipe I added maple syrup to make them more to my liking:)
Iosune says
Hi Rebecca! Sounds great 🙂
Christine says
All those who had my raw energy bites ❤️ Them. I’ll be making them this holiday season, along with a variation of ingredients I would like to include peanut butter! Anyway, Thank you.
Iosune says
Hi Christine! So glad you guys enjoyed it 🙂 PB sounds great!
Carine says
Thanks SO much for an extremely delicious date ball recipe, Iosune! Easy to make too...I simply love them!
Iosune says
Hi Carine! Thank YOU for your comment 🙂 So glad you enjoyed them!
Angela Andiorio says
Wow so yummy! I used fresh deglet dates and they worked well. Left some as is, Rolled in coconut flakes and some in cocoa powder. I didn’t have raw cacao but I had nibs which I processed.
Iosune says
Hi Angela! So glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Cherrbri says
I enjoyed these and they're really easy to make. I added peanut butter to mine. I've had the ingredients around for a while and wanted to do something new with them.
***Don't forget to remove the pits from dates.*** Making this recipe was one of my first time using dates. I forgot to remove the pits and my food processor now has a hole on the side.
Iosune says
Hi Cherrbri! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂 So glad you enjoyed them!