I don’t know about you, but my kiddos wake up from nap and want their snack immediately, if not before. Actually, M wants to know what snack is going to be as I tuck her in for nap. (She also asks what’s for breakfast every night before bed. Already food obsessed at age 4?!) So I always need to have on-hand healthy kids snacks prepped and practically waiting, which isn’t easy since I have a full-time job with deadlines and conference calls going on while they nap. Some days, when I’m caught snack-less by my hungry little kiddos, I will whip up these no-bake chocolate chip cookie balls.
It takes less than 10 minutes to make these perfect little balls of soft, sweet, chewy, healthy chocolate chip cookie goodness. My little ones indulge me for those long 10 minutes because
- Cookies. So, no whining allowed.
- They can help make these, which always makes waiting easier. And I love that these are completely wholesome and don’t require heating up the oven in the spring and summer months. We just grab our snack and head outside to play! (We also love these oatmeal raisin no-bake cookie balls and raw date brownie balls.)
Now, I’ve got a few quick notes and tips coming up below on how to make these no bake cookie balls. Just tryin’ to be helpful. If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
What ingredients do I need for chocolate chip cookie balls?
We are also adding a pinch of salt and some splashes of water, but I don’t think those quite count as separate ingredients. So let’s get fixing!
Notes on making chocolate chip cookie balls:
Get the kids involved! Depending on their age, they can fetch and measure ingredients, add the ingredients to the food processor, push the buttons to operate it, stir in the chocolate chips or roll these into balls. Older kids that can use a knife and be trusted around the blades of a food processor could easily make these by themselves. The amount of water needed to get these to come together will depend on the moisture level of your dates, which can vary. Start small, with just a splash or two, and add more water as you go until the mixture starts to stick to itself. Wet your hands when you roll these into balls - that way the balls stick together and don’t get all of your hands. Use certified gluten-free oats if you need this recipe to be gluten-free. Choose dairy-free, vegan chocolate chips if you need this recipe to be dairy-free and/or vegan.
Finally, in terms of storing the leftovers… The extra cookie balls will keep in the refrigerator, in a covered container, for up to one week. If they last that long. Next time you need a chocolate chip cookie fix, try this easy, healthy version. Snack is served. And a crisis is averted… for another day. Enjoy! XO, Kathryn P.S. Check out more easy, healthy summer snacks to get you through the season.
I usually need at least 3 tablespoons of water to get the mixture to come together. It will depend on the moisture content of your dates, which can vary. Add a bit of water at a time and wait till the mixture sticks to itself so you can roll it into balls. It helps to wet your palms with a little bit of water before rolling these up. Store extra cookie balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use gluten-free oats if you need these cookie balls to be gluten-free. Choose dairy-free, vegan chocolate chips if you need this recipe to be dairy-free or vegan.
