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Quirky Cooking

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

QuirkyJo by QuirkyJo
September 10, 2015
in Chocolate, Dairy Free, Desserts, Egg Free, Favourites, GAPS, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Naturally Sweetened, Nut Free, Nuts, Paleo, Raw, Snacks, Thermomix, Tips, Vegan
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We’re on holiday in Perth, peeps!!! Ok, I’m also running five Quirky Cooking seminar classes while I’m here, so I’m working as well, but we’re away for nearly a whole month with nearly the whole family, so I’m calling it a holiday!

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Me and Zac, soaking up the sunshine!
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If you need me, I’ll be here…

We’re staying in a little house right across from the beach, and we’ve had some absolutely gorgeous weather. Loving it.

Yesterday I decided to make the kids a special treat for afternoon tea, because when you’re a GAPS family you can’t really just go buy holiday snacks – it’s make your own, or eat fruit, veggies and nuts, pretty much. All good, I love baking. And I brought my Thermie with me on the plane, of course, so no problem. (See my Thermie travel tips below!)

So I got out the ingredients to make some of our favourite Cinnamon Donut Cupcakes (recipe in my cookbook), but I couldn’t get the little, old oven to work…What to do?? We ‘needed’ a treat!

Lightbulb moment! I remembered the other day when I was making the base for my raw macadamia lime cheesecake that I’d blended it longer than usual and it became a smooth dough that tasted JUST like raw cookie dough!! No oven needed for that! So I dug through my meager holiday food supplies, and came up with this easy and delicious recipe for raw cookie dough balls, and they worked first go. Phew, disaster averted. The kids wandered off to the beach happily munching them, and I had spent all of 10 minutes in the kitchen. Perfect.

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Plain cookie dough balls. Try adding some cinnamon, or a few drops of lemon essential oil!

Of course, we all agreed they’d be even better with chocolate chips added, so I made a quick trip to Dynamic Organic the next day looking for dairy free, naturally sweetened chocolate chips. They’re not too easy to find, sadly. I thought about making my own raw, dairy free chocolate and chopping it up into tiny pieces, but I’m on holiday. I’m keeping it simple. So I just bought a block of Loving Earth Coconut Milk Chocolate instead, and chopped some of that up into little bits. That’s probably the easiest way to get dairy free chocolate chips (ok, chunks), that don’t have soy or refined sugar in them. 

Quirky Cooking beach
Collecting shells and lazing on the beach in between classes. I do love working holidays.

So here’s the recipe – a perfect substitute for cake or cookies for when you don’t have an oven (or can’t be bothered baking because you’re on holiday at the beach). They’re also egg free, and can be vegan and dairy free if you use coconut oil. For a nut free version, try using half desiccated coconut and half pepitas.

I’ve included a few other ideas for variations below the recipe, and I’d love to hear what variations you come up with – please share in the comments below!

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Cookie dough before adding choc chips – it will look a little crumbly before pressing into balls
Raw Choc Chip Cookie Dough Balls Quirky Cooking
Raw Choc Chip Cookie Dough Balls
Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
2015-09-10 08:15:02
Yields 12
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Total Time
10 min
Total Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 150g blanched almond meal
  2. 3 medjool dates, pitted
  3. 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  4. 1/4 tsp bicarbonate soda
  5. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla powder
  6. 2 Tbspns ghee, butter or coconut oil
  7. 50g dairy free, dark chocolate, chopped into small bits
Instructions
  1. Place the almond meal, dates, salt, soda, vanilla, and ghee/butter/coconut oil into the Thermomix bowl and blend 30 sec/speed 9. (Or process until it resembles fine crumbs in a food processor.)
  2. Add chopped chocolate and mix in for 5 sec/speed 3 (or by hand).
  3. Press dough together to form 12 walnut sized balls, and set on a plate. Refrigerate until firm.
Leave out the chocolate bits and try one of these variations
  1. 1 tsp of cinnamon
  2. a few drops of lemon essential oil (food grade, eg. DoTERRA)
  3. a small handful of currants and 1/2 tsp of mixed spice
  4. 1/2 tsp mixed spice and 1 tsp ginger powder
  5. 1 Tbspn Dutch cocoa powder and a few drops of peppermint essential oil
  6. Nut free: use 75g each desiccated coconut and pepitas, mill until fine, then add remaining dough ingredients
By Quirky Cooking
Quirky Cooking https://www.quirkycooking.com.au/
Bonus Thermomix Travel Tips!!

I get this questions a lot: “Can you take your Thermomix on the plane with you, as carry on luggage?” 

Yes, and no. It depends.

If you have a TM31, you can pop it into the special travel bag, but first you need to remove the blades and put them in your suitcase. Also, take the Varoma out of the back pocket and put that in your suitcase too, or it will be too bulky. (I just pack clothes in and around it in the suitcase.) The carry bag can then fit in the overhead compartment, laying on its’ back. It will weigh nearly 7kg, so it’s just that and a handbag/computer bag for carry on if you do it this way.

If you have a TM5, you’ll need to pack it in its’ original box and foam packaging (I hope you saved it!), mark the box as FRAGILE (and make it clear which way up it should be), then put it through with the suitcases. Don’t forget to add an extra bag to your luggage allowance. It will weigh about 10kg.

Hope that helps!

Tags: almond mealalmondsCacaochocolatecookie doughdairy freeEasterEgg FreeGluten FreeGrain FreeKids LunchboxLunchboxNaturally Sweetenedquirky cookingSnacksWhole Food
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Comments 58

  1. kellie says:
    6 years ago

    Can I please ask what the bicarb does? Absolute beginner and I just assumed it was something that aids in the cooking process… but these are raw… thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Just there for the real cookie dough flavour 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jasmin says:
    6 years ago

    Hi Jo, I made the cheesecake last week, it was delicious and I agree, the base would make a tasty snack! Just a quick question, can I leave out the bicarb or is it essential? Thanks xx

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      you can leave out no problem

      Reply
  3. Anita says:
    6 years ago

    I had been craving exactly this, a raw choc chip cookie dough, but could not indulge in a traditional recipe with the raw egg as I am currently avoiding because I am pregnant.
    This was delicious! Thanks Jo.
    I thought of a naughty but nice addition, add cacao for a double choc chip cookie dough 😉

    Reply
  4. Anita Healey says:
    6 years ago

    Hi Jo
    You are such a genius… Thank you so much for this amazing recipe. The kids and I are on a no (low) sugar, no wheat diet for a little while (lifelong me hopes) and really wanted them to have a lovey treat. This ticked all the boxes! The first batch is gone already and we all love them so much we may have to make another batch tomorrow! Anita (Thermomix Consultant)

    Reply
  5. Annabel says:
    6 years ago

    will be making these tomorrow. Looks yum and the kids will love them.
    You should head down to Dunsborough. We used to live there. One of the most beautiful places around and lots of good food.
    Thanks for all your recipes and the podcast. Your podcast keeps me going during the week.

    Reply
  6. Marnie barrett says:
    6 years ago

    Fabulous recipe thanks!!
    There’s a great shop in here in Perth Jo in Doubleview, 257 Scarborough Beach Rd, called Dunn and Walton for all of your organic goodies!! It’s awesome x

    Reply
  7. Kim Robson says:
    6 years ago

    I travel with my TM5 on airplane now and again. I bought $20 blanket queen size at Woolworths and use that by wrapping my TM5 tightly and securing this with packaging tape. I take my clothes as carry on luggage.
    It works really well.

    Reply
  8. Me says:
    6 years ago

    Thank you for this. Having changed my way of eating, this looks like it will suit me really well as a ‘sweet’ treat.
    Have the best holiday. My folks are on their way to Perth now and I am hoping they will have the great weather you have had.

    Reply
  9. Sue Macleod says:
    6 years ago

    Love it eye’s reckon look & read’s fantastic have a gluten thing & dairy my other half say’s he is normal um????

    Reply
  10. Jenn says:
    6 years ago

    I have had these on my mind all day since I saw them (or even a couple of days since I first saw your tease photo). Anyway I had on my meal plan to make apple crumble for my kids lunch boxes tomorrow but I got home really late and needed something no bake – it must have been fate. 🙂
    Anyway I had to do the nut free version for the lunch boxes and it was a little green – well for my kids anyway. Solution – double choc – added the cocoa to change the colour and still kept the choc chunks. I may have eaten more than one already and they have only just made it to the fridge to set! Thanks

    Reply
  11. Michelle says:
    6 years ago

    holy moley… It’s 10pm, just having a wander around. See this and think “I WILL make this… Now! Wasn’t fussed on getting out the big gal, just popped in in the nutribullet. BAM! Done and incredible. Cannot believe you churned this out in the fly. So yummy. Like any walk of life would scoff this down sorta yummy!
    Thank you x

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Ha ha, I made them at 10pm last night too!! Dangerous… 😀

      Reply
  12. Ann says:
    6 years ago

    Hi Joe!
    Yum! Thanks for yet another amazing recipe!
    Just wondering how long these would keep in the fridge?
    Do you think they would be a good one to freeze like your No Bake Choc Cookies?
    Thanks
    Ann

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      They keep for ages but I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that. 😉
      Yes frozen is great too!

      Reply
  13. Emma says:
    6 years ago

    If these are consumed as raw cookie dough bites what is the purpose of the bicarb?

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      For the authentic cookie dough flavour!

      Reply
  14. hayley says:
    6 years ago

    Have you tried using almond-pulp left over from making almond milk in this recipe? I have no idea what to use my pulp for, and have only been game to try recipes that say “wet almond pulp” as not sure how to dry it or store it etc.?

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      I dehydrate the pulp and then use it in these, but some people have mentioned they’ve used the damp pulp and it’s worked.

      Reply
  15. Kate says:
    6 years ago

    Jo, can I ask why blanched almonds? Could I be lazy ????and use my normal almonds, or should I blanch them? Thank you!

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      It just makes it lighter – use raw if you like 🙂

      Reply
  16. Mel says:
    6 years ago

    So good I could kiss you!

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Ha ha!!!

      Reply
  17. Heather says:
    6 years ago

    Yum – these were great. Instead of dairy free chocolate, I used cacao nibs. The perfect paleo snack!!Thanks!!

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Perfect!!

      Reply
  18. Jo Horton says:
    5 years ago

    Jo would cacao nibs work instead of the chocolate bits?

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Sure! Will just be less sweet. 🙂

      Reply
  19. Belinda-Jane says:
    5 years ago

    Love them!!! The little kids wanted more and the fussy non dieting guest (aka my husband) wanted a batch to take home!

    My sister-in-law complied and sent us each home with a bag… she did make us roll the balls 😉

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Ha ha!!

      Reply
  20. tam says:
    5 years ago

    So the newer model thermie is too heavy? Or is it too bulky too? We are getting one for Christmas and need to fly to from Australia to our home in Thailand and the baggage handlers in Thailand area renowned for breaking everything so I’m terrified of taking it checked!

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      It is too bulky for the overhead locker, and a bit heavier than the old one. Best packed in it’s box in all the packaging material.

      Reply
  21. christina balabin says:
    5 years ago

    Hi Quirky Jo, pretty sure I have met you in previous years at demonstrations with Ellen Pezzelato (had my twin boys and other son at a Malanda and Atherton demo).

    Am now finally in a position to buy one. There’s a Thermo5 available jn Mareeba (used) or am I better off getting it new one? Have just bought a house in Atherton and will be moving up shortly. Are you the best person to talk to about this? Let me know. Christina (0408531422)

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Hi Christina, that’s exciting! I’ll get someone to call you. 🙂

      Reply
  22. Danni says:
    5 years ago

    Thanks Jo, another fab. recipe.
    I used whole almonds, blitzed them in my thermie to get almond meal. Then followed the directions in your post. My 4 year old has decided that they are exquisite.

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Yay!!

      Reply
  23. Renee says:
    5 years ago

    These were delicious. I used a mix of almonds (milled first), coconut and pepitas with some cacao. I subbed in dried dates (pre-soaked in warm water) because we had no medjool. My new go to snack. Thanks

    Reply
  24. Marina says:
    5 years ago

    Have you ever put your thermomix in a checked suitcase? We have a travel bag that we’ve used in the past as carry on, but our current airport has insane regulations and there is no way in hell we’ll get it on as carry on. We don’t have the original box any more either. We were thinkin of packing it up tight with towels in the travel bag, then packing that bag tightly in a hard cased suitcase… What do you think?

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      That should work!

      Reply
  25. Pingback: 17 easy and healthy snacks - www.cooks-notebook.com.au
  26. Sonia says:
    5 years ago

    Hi Jo can you please give me some suggestions on where to purchase dairy free choc chips online (natural sugar) please.

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      I actually just use a block of Loving Earth chocolate and cut into small pieces 🙂

      Reply
  27. Jess says:
    5 years ago

    Wow!!!!! These are soooooo yummy and easy to make. Delicious!!!!

    Reply
  28. Bec says:
    5 years ago

    So im thinking chunks of this through home made icecream…. thanks jo…i think ?

    Reply
  29. Corinne says:
    5 years ago

    oh my ! I made 2 batches this weekend, gone within hours (mostly be me) – soooo very delicious !

    Reply
  30. Alice says:
    5 years ago

    Could I substitute the dates?

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      5 years ago

      Yes use any liquid sweetener, same weight or to taste!

      Reply
  31. Bec says:
    4 years ago

    For a nut free option blitz 150g of oats instead of almond meal. So very good!!

    Reply
  32. Corinne says:
    4 years ago

    Yum!!! I had to have three before they hit the fridge too!

    Reply
  33. Kerrie Renwick says:
    3 years ago

    Hi Jo, what can I replace the almond flour with? Daughter is allergic to almonds and coconut. Looks delicious. Thanks

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      3 years ago

      Hi Kerrie! Other nuts would work in place of the almond meal such as cashews, walnuts or pecans – just mill down first approx 10 sec speed 8 before proceeding with the rest of the recipe. 🙂

      Reply
  34. Renee says:
    3 years ago

    These are delicious! Currently in the process of weaning the family off sugar and recipes like this one make it so much easier. Thank you xx

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      3 years ago

      Yay Renee! Glad you like them! 🙂

      Reply
  35. Tiff says:
    3 years ago

    Yum! Tastes very much like real cookie dough. I followed the recipe exactly, using coconut oil (soft but not liquid) and just milled my own almond meal from natural almonds. also added 2 tspns of 100s and 1000s with the choc chips to make them even more fun and yum 🙂

    Reply
    • QuirkyJo says:
      3 years ago

      So yummy hey Tiff? Glad you enjoyed them! 🙂 xx

      Reply
  36. Georgia says:
    2 years ago

    These are delicious!! Will make a double batch next time as didn’t last long in my house. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
  37. Belinda McLean says:
    10 months ago

    YUM!! I added the cocoa & used a couple of drops of my Young Living Orange essential oil… Jaffa cookies!! The best 🙂

    Reply
    • Quirky Cooking Team says:
      9 months ago

      What a brilliant idea:-). Enjoy.

      Reply

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Last night I decided a 6-year-old recipe on my blo Last night I decided a 6-year-old recipe on my blog needed an update. I now present you with a simpler and much more well-behaved recipe for SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATES! 

This recipe tended to split if the mixture got too hot while blending, but now it’s pretty much fool-proof. And DELISH!!! 😍 Happy Easter, everyone!! ❤️❤️

Ingredients: cashews (and macadamias if you like), cacao butter, medjool dates, vanilla and salt. That’s it. 😊 (And if you can’t have nuts there’s a nut free variation in the notes under the recipe.)

Tap on this photo via there link in my profile for the recipe. 👆🏻 (Or search “quirky salted caramel chocolates”)

https://www.quirkycooking.com.au/2015/03/salted-caramel-chocolates-dairy-free/
How's the hot cross bun baking going? 😃 If you' How's the hot cross bun baking going? 😃 If you're trying my Grain Free Hot Cross Muffins but don't have a piping bag for the marshmallow crosses, you can just use a piece of baking paper rolled into a cone shape with a very small hole at the end, as I'm doing here. Works perfectly! ❤

Tap on this photo via the link in my bio for the recipe.

- Hot Cross Bun Muffins Recipe: http://bit.ly/grainfreehcb

- Marshmallow Recipe: https://bit.ly/quirkymarshmallow

Other Quirky hot cross bun recipes:

- GF DF Hot Cross Buns: http://bit.ly/glutenfreehcb

- DF Spelt Hot Cross Buns: http://bit.ly/spelthotcrossbuns

[Photo by @luisabrimble]
CHOCOLATE!! Want to make your own for Easter? Here CHOCOLATE!! Want to make your own for Easter? Here's a collection of Quirky chocolate recipes to give you some ideas. They include dairy free and nut free recipes, and are all naturally sweetened. ❤ Make one of the base recipes then try a few variations: 

- make your own Easter eggs with Easter egg moulds
- make crunchy chocolate bark by pouring onto large shallow trays and sprinkling over chopped roasted/activated nuts, freeze-dried berries, or whatever additions you like
- add chopped marshmallows (see below), nuts & dried fruit to make rocky road
- swirl through some nut butter
- fill with nut butter or caramel in little moulds
- make chocolate-covered marshmallows

✨Base Recipes✨

Nutty Chocolate (dairy free): Probably the most popular Quirky chocolate recipe, this one is super creamy due to the nut butter blended through. You can find this recipe in our @lifechangingfoodbook 

Raw Dairy Free Chocolate (dairy free, nut free): The old favoruite - a great base recipe to add to in any of the ways above! Find the recipe here: bit.ly/dairyfreechocolate

Salted Caramel Chocolates (dairy free): These are delicious on their own, or swirled through dark chocolate. Watch the video for tips. bit.ly/saltedcaramelchocs

Peanut Butter Fudge: Make this one if you don't have cacao butter - you only need butter, nut butter, cacao/cocoa powder, vanilla, salt and honey or maple syrup. bit.ly/QCpeanutbutterfudge

Honey-Sweetened Marshmallow Recipe: In case you want to make rocky road! http://bit.ly/quirkymarshmallow

Feel free to ask if you have any chocolate-making questions! ❤

[First photo by @cookrepublic]
Slow-Cooked Lamb Roast Dinner. We had friends over Slow-Cooked Lamb Roast Dinner. We had friends over for lunch last Sunday and I cooked up a tasty and tender slow-cooked lamb shoulder with roasted carrots, gravy made from the pan juices, a big roast veggie salad with tahini and lemon dressing, and roast potatoes with toppings. (And the Chocolate Easter Egg Cake I shared yesterday!) It was a simple and stress-free meal, and everyone loved it. 

I was thinking some of you might like some inspiration for Easter meals this weekend, so here’s the lamb roast video I shared on my stories last Sunday. 

You can find a “Slow-cooked slow lamb shoulder with red wine sauce” recipe on my blog and in our @lifechangingfoodbook, and the roast veggie salad is also in Life-Changing Food. I served the salad with two different dressings - a viniagrette and a tahini & lemon dressing. 

To make the tahini dressing, whisk together:
- 90g hulled tahini
- juice of 1/2 a lemon, or more to taste
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, or more to taste
- 2-3 Tbsp water
Did I hear you say you wanted a show-stopping East Did I hear you say you wanted a show-stopping Easter dessert that caters for special diets and still appeals to the “don’t give me that healthy stuff” crowd? 😃😂 (Yep, we have this issue at our get-togethers too! 😂😂) Don’t stress, I’ve got ya coverered! 😘

This gorgeously fudgey and decadent Chocolate Easter Egg Cake is gluten free, grain free, egg free, and has dairy free and nut free variations! 🎉🎉🎉 (Plus it has sneaky veg in it 🤫 - shhhh they’ll never notice the pumpkin or sweet potato if you don’t tell them 😉)

I tested it out on my unsuspecting visitors on the weekend and it was a big hit! 

I’ve shared how to make this on my website, Quirky Cooking, and in this mornings email. ❤️ Tap on this photo via the link in my profile to go to the recipe. 

https://www.quirkycooking.com.au/2021/03/chocolate-easter-egg-cake/
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Copyright Notice

I love it when my readers are as excited about my recipes as I am, and want to share them! I only ask that if you do share my recipes on your own blog or on social media, you only share an excerpt or link, not the entire recipe. Full and clear credit must be given to Quirky Cooking with a link back to the original content. If you’d like to share one of my photos, please contact me for permission. Thank you! Jo x

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