When you’re craving gingerbread cookies but need a healthier version, this recipe for Healthy No Bake Gingerbread Cookie Energy balls is perfect. With dates, almonds, and blackstrap molasses, this is a nourishing treat!
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Heads up! This post was originally published in December 2013. I’ve left most of the text the same, but added more details and how to make my original “no bake cookies” into energy balls with white chocolate! New photos have been added as well. Enjoy this recipe!
The holiday baking season is in full swing and I’ve totally caught the baking bug. It’s so easy to get swept up in the season and put our healthy lifestyles on hold until the New Year. Let’s work together so we don’t do that, okay?
Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t indulge at all during the holidays. My sister-in-law makes some of the best Christmas cookies and treats ever and I fully intend on eating some when we get to my husband’s hometown to celebrate Christmas. Not to mention the orange chocolate chunk cake my father-in-law makes. I’m getting excited just thinking about it.
I think allowing yourself to indulge during the holidays, even if it’s just a little, is part of having a healthy relationship with food. Too much restriction or deprivation isn’t good for your soul.
But. That doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to indulge all. December. long. Right?!
If you are craving some holiday flavors, but want something without any guilt, this is your recipe! Gingerbread “cookies” in the form of wholesome almonds and dates mixed with molasses and all the flavors of the season!
I find these just as satisfying (and addicting!) as the real thing. Meghan and Luke both love these and had so much fun eating the little gingerbread men. The great part is they can be a snack or a dessert! You have to love a treat that’s healthy enough to serve for a snack.
I used blackstrap molasses in these. It’s much stronger than refined molasses, so if you don’t like that flavor, you can use regular molasses rather than blackstrap. Just know that with that strong flavor, blackstrap molasses delivers a hefty serving of minerals and is one of the greatest plant sources of iron.
Edited, 2020, to add:
You can certainly make these into cookies, but they also work so well as energy balls! I decided to make them as Gingerbread Cookie Energy Balls this year, so thought I’d update this post and show you how it’s done! I added some white chocolate to mine and it was a delicious addition.
Recipe Ingredients-What You Need
- 2 cups dates
- 1 1/2 cup almonds (I use dry roasted, salted almonds)
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- Optional: 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
How to Make Healthy No Bake Gingerbread Cookie Energy Balls
Let’s turn those cookies into energy balls!
- Put all ingredients in a food processor (or high-powered blender, just be careful not to over process them) and process until the dates and almonds are completely broken down and the mixture hold together when you press it between your thumb and finger.
- Using your hands, roll the mixture into approximately 1-inch balls.
- If you’d like to add white chocolate, melt your white chocolate chips. You can do this by using a double boiler on your stove or microwaving them in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until melted.
- Use a spoon to drizzle a small amount of white chocolate on the balls. It’s okay if it’s not perfect. Clearly mine are messy. 😉 Keep them on the tray until the chocolate is set.
Which do you think you’d rather have? My original recipe or the new No Bake Gingerbread Cookie Energy Balls?
If you try these in either cookie or energy ball form, I’d love for you to leave me a star rating! I love your feedback and it also helps other readers see which recipes are tried and true. THANK YOU! Also share on Instagram, tag me, and use the hashtag #happyhealthymamarecipes and I’ll feature you!
If you love gingerbread flavored treats, you should also try these Easy Gingerbread Cookies, this Mini Gingerbread Loaf, theseHealthy Ginger Cookies, and theseGingerbread Waffles!
Print
Healthy No Bake Gingerbread Cookies / Energy Balls
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 14 gingerbread cut outs 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
When you’re craving gingerbread cookies but need a healthier version, this recipe is perfect. With dates, almonds, and blackstrap molasses, this is a nourishing treat!
Ingredients
- 2 cups dates
- 1 1/2 cup almonds (I used dry roasted, salted almonds)
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a food processor (or high-powered blender, just be careful not to over process them) and process until the dates and almonds are completely broken down and the mixture hold together when you press it between your thumb and finger.
- For No Bake Cookies:Using your hands, press the mixture together and transfer it to a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Roll the mixture so it is approximately 1/4″ thick. I used a slightly damp French rolling pin to do this. You can also just press it out with your hands if you prefer. If the mixture sticks to your hands, get them slightly wet.
- Use a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut the dough and transfer the cookies to the wax or parchment paper. Roll out excess dough to make more cookies. If you are short on time and the cuteness factor isn’t important to you, you can simply cut the cookies into squares. A pizza cutter would work great for this, or just use a knife.
- For Energy Balls: Using your hands, roll the mixture into approximately 1-inch balls.
- If you’d like to add white chocolate, melt your white chocolate chips. You can do this by using a double boiler on your stove or microwaving them in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until melted.
- Use a spoon to drizzle a small amount of white chocolate on the balls. It’s okay if it’s not perfect. Clearly mine are messy. 😉 Keep them on the tray until the chocolate is set.
Notes
These can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature in an air-tight container.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: cookies
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 gingerbread cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 3.1mg
- Fat: 7.7g
- Carbohydrates: 22.2g
- Protein: 3.7g
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I’ll be making these all times of the year, so yummy!
You helped me so much as a writer’s conference newbie with the same advice you just wrote. And when I was a college journalism major, our prof told us the same for newspaper writing. Thanks!