Healthy Funfetti Cookie Dough Balls

These no-bake energy bites are inspired by funfetti cupcakes, in the form of cookie dough balls. Perfect dessert treats for an Easter brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch, birthday celebrations, an office party dessert or kid’s birthday party. They’re also gluten free!

 
 

These healthier funfetti cookie dough balls are so satisfying, but more nutritious and balanced than typical cookie dough balls or funfetti cupcakes. They’re so quick and easy to make, and will impress a crowd.


Why is funfetti bad for you?

Typical funfetti cupcakes or cake contain mainly refined carbohydrates, including white flour and sugar. They are also often made with vegetable oil, which is a processed and inflammatory type of oil that easily oxidizes when heated. Typically sprinkles are made with artificial colors and other food additives.


About The Healthier Ingredients

Oat Flour

Sometimes no-bake bliss balls have a chunkier texture. Oat flour helps to make the texture more like raw cookie dough, and so much more satisfying. It’s also a great source of fiber, plant based nutrients, a little protein and is naturally gluten free (read the label for how it’s packaged if you have Celiac’s).


Raw Honey

Raw honey is full of potent antioxidants and phytonutrients. It’s also sweeter than regular sugar, so you can use less for the same effect. Raw honey is mostly fructose, so it doesn’t affect blood sugar levels like glucose and table sugar does. This helps to keep blood sugar stable and prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes. You don’t want to overdo it on fructose either, but in small amounts from natural sources (like fruit and honey), it can fit into an anti inflammatory diet.


Raw Cashews

Raw cashews are packed with healthy fats, fiber and minerals. They’re such a great base for no-bake cookie dough balls because of their creamy texture and neutral, slightly sweet flavor. They easily blend into cashew butter in the food processor.


White Chocolate

It can be a challenge to find a perfectly clean white chocolate. I used Guittard when I made these cookie dough balls, and overall it’s a great option. This brand contains palm oil, which shouldn’t pose a health risk with such a small amount used for each serving (a couple of studies have linked it to specific health concerns like leaky gut). Palm oil can also be an ingredient of concern due to the environmental impact of deforestation in harvesting. White chocolate can easily be omitted. These funfetti cookie dough balls are so good by themselves!


Sprinkles

You can find healthier sprinkles, made with cleaner ingredients from Whole Foods and on Amazon. I found cleaner ones at Whole Foods, but they also contained palm oil. If you’re concerned about this, seek out sprinkles that are palm oil free (easy to find on Amazon).

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is best when organic and unrefined, this means it’s not processed and retains it’s flavor as well as its plant based nutrients. I add a little bit to this recipe to help the cashews blend into a butter easier.

Filtered Water

I add a little water so the texture of these no-bake energy bites is more like cookie dough.


Recipe

Makes 14 dough balls

  • 1/2 cup raw cashews

  • 1 tsp unrefined coconut oil

  • 4 tsp raw honey (can add 5 if prefer sweeter)

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • 3/4-1cup oat flour (I added 3/4c + 2 tbsp)

  • 1 tbsp filtered water

  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

  • 2-3 tbsp clean sprinkles

Topping:

  • 1-2 tbsp of sprinkles

  • 1/4 cup white chocolate

Directions

  1. In a food processor, blend raw cashews with coconut oil until it is completely smooth. Stop to scrape sides and bottom corner every 30 seconds or so. It takes a few minutes.

  2. Add in the rest of the ingredients except for the oat flour. Blend until smooth.

  3. Add in oat flour 1/4 cup at a time and blend, when absorbed, add more. For the last 1/4 cup, add 1 tbsp at a time and test the texture. When it holds together well, isn’t too soft, you’re done.

  4. Add in 2-3 tbsp of sprinkles and pulse in food processed to mix in.

  5. Shape mixture into 14 balls, 2 tsp of dough each.

  6. Melt white chocolate in microwave, 20 seconds at a time, stirring between. Once fully melted, dip half of each ball and place on plate, sprinkle a few sprinkles on top white it’s still wet.

  7. Allow balls to set in a cool place for about 30 minutes, then serve!


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