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.
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!