Carrot Cake Energy Balls

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

• Lemon — We’ll use both the zest and the juice of the lemon.
• Oats — I used rolled oats for this recipe, but you can substitute instant oats.
• Chia — We’ll add some ground chia seeds to create a thicker texture. You can use whole chia seeds; I just prefer ground because it creates a smoother finished texture.
• Syrup — I used maple syrup, but you can substitute agave nectar.
• Milk — We’ll use almond milk for the best overnight oats! Substitute your favorite plant-based milk.
• Yogurt — I love adding some plant-based yogurt (plain, unsweetened) for an even more tangy flavor.
• Protein Powder — I add some vanilla protein powder for increased flavor and nutrients. If your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add an extra teaspoon or two of sweetener.
• Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the lemon curd topping.
• Turmeric — A pinch of turmeric makes that lemon curd sunny yellow.

• Oats — This recipe uses rolled oats, otherwise known as old-fashioned oats. You could use instant oatmeal, but it will change the texture.
• Ground flaxseed — You can adjust the amount of ground flaxseed used based on your personal taste preference. Flaxseed is a great source of omega-3s.
• Dates — I recommend using around 10 to 12 Medjool dates. Don’t forget to remove those pits!
• Spices — We’ll use both ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to make every bite infused with these warm flavors.
• Coconut Flakes — I use unsweetened shredded coconut in the batter. You can also roll the carrot energy balls in shredded coconut.
• Agave Nectar — You’ll need just a bit of agave nectar or maple syrup
• Almond butter — You could substitute peanut butter, but I find almond butter has a more neutral flavor. I buy a lot of my vegan products at Costco, including the Kirkland mixed nut butter that I use for this recipe.
• Chopped carrots — You can use a whole carrot or several baby carrots. We always have whole carrots around for our green smoothies so that’s what I use.
• Walnuts — I like adding chopped nuts to the batter for the flavor they add.
• Dried cranberries — Colorful dried cranberries are added to each bite to contribute flavor, texture, and color. You can substitute raisins.

Ingredient Spotlight

Which Dates are Best?

Medjool dates are perfect for these energy balls thanks to their soft and chewy texture with a rich, caramel-like flavor. Compared to regular dates that are firmer, Medjool dates are perfect for this recipe. Native to Morocco, Medjool dates may appear to be a dried fruit like raisins, but they are actually a fresh fruit. Removing the pit is crucial as it is very hard and can cause damage to your food processor blades. You can find Medjool dates at stores like Sprouts, health food stores, and even Costco.