Healthy Vanilla Cake Balls
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Last updated on Feb 13, 2023
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Have your cake and eat it too! These vanilla cake balls are moist, fluffy and taste like cake, but they’re made with healthy ingredients like chickpeas, protein powder and cashew butter. Vegan + gluten-free.
February is a month for celebrations over here. Isaac’s birthday is TODAY! My birthday/Valentine’s Day is next week. And my friend Christal of Nutritionist in the Kitch has a new cookbook coming out this month. Cue all the celebration emojis!!
I was so excited when I received a copy of her cookbook in the mail a couple weeks ago. I mean it’s tilted Energy Balls and full of energy ball recipes… obviously I’m a fan.
A little more about the cookbook — it’s filled with 100 recipes for no-bake balls that are 100% vegan and gluten-free. There are breakfast balls for an energy boost in the morning, lunch-box balls for a mid-day treat, brain-boosting balls with ingredients known to enhance concentration and focus, performance enhancing balls to boost stamina and aid in workout recovery and bedtime balls with ingredients to promote rest and relaxation or boost your libido.
I already have like 10 recipes bookmarked (Peanut butter and Chocolate are calling my name) and the Vanilla Cake balls recipe that I’m sharing today comes directly from the cookbook!
It’s perfect that I’m sharing these Vanilla Cake balls today because the birthday boy LOVES them! It was so funny because the day I made these Isaac came home from work and immediately popped one in his mouth. The whole thing… obviously. And with his mouth completely full he started talking. I could barely make out what he was saying, but finally realized he was asking, “Is there anything healthy about these?” Apparently he thought they tasted too good to be healthy and almost didn’t believe me when I told him they were made with chickpeas and protein powder. Score!
I normally don’t gravitate toward cake batter flavored things, but I really liked these balls too! They kind of remind me of a cake pops, only without the icing. Plus these are packed with good for you ingredients. Plus, eating something with sprinkles is just plain fun.
If you have a celebration coming up OR just want to celebrate your workout with a fun treat.. these balls are for you! I highly recommend making a batch ASAP.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Healthy Vanilla Cake Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup coconut or agave nectar, I used maple syrup
- ¼ cup vanilla vegan protein powder
- 2 Tablespoons almond flour or meal or ground almonds
- 2 Tablespoons coconut butter
- 2 Tablespoons cashew butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup vegan sprinkles , or 1/2 cup [50 g] unsweetened shredded coconut.
Instructions
- Combine the chickpeas, coconut nectar, protein powder, almond flour, coconut butter, cashew butter, vanilla and salt in a food processor and processor for 1 to 2 minutes, until a smooth mass forms. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Spread the sprinkles on a plate.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop the mixture and, with clean slightly wet hands, shape the mixture into a ball between your palms. Roll the ball in sprinkles to lightly coat, and set on a separate plate. Repeat with remaining mixture until you have 16 balls slightly smaller than a golf ball.
- Place the balls in the freezer to set for 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until required.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is there a sub for the coconut butter?
Hi Annie – I would recommend adding additional cashew butters 2 Tablespoons. Let me know how you enjoy this recipe and how it works out for you!
I made these for a friends birthday and he LOVED them! I love that they’re made with chickpeas and packed with protein!
These protein balls are amazing! I love how the recipe uses chickpeas! Taste just like I’m eating a vanilla cake! I used toasted coconut colored clean food dye for the sprinkles! (I unfortunately couldn’t find any clean sprinkles on the market) but think the toasted coconut flakes turns out well!!
Yay!! I’m so pumped this vanilla cake balls were a hit, Taylor! Thanks for the review 🙂
Amazing. I tried making them into cake pops by putting them on the stick and covering them with vegan white ? but it didn’t go well. Don’t try this at home people ? They’re too heavy and the whole chocolate thing was a mess cause the one I tries doesn’t melt well and takes forever to set again. I had to cover them with it then run to the fridge and pit them in otherwise the whole chocolate would drip everywhere and they would coome of of the stick. All in all, a big mess, but as energy balls they’re perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing ?
Oh no!!! I’m so sorry they didn’t work as cake pops for you! I’m glad you liked them as energy balls though. 🙂
These look great. I love all those ingredients. I saw that comment from someone who was complaining about them but in our family we eat a balance of foods. These are good as treats with good ingredients. I’m going to make them and let my kids eat them too.
what can be substituted for the chickpeas?
I just made these but it turned some sort of sweet hummus. The batter is delicious but way to liquid to shape into balls. I’ve added extra almond flour and popped it into the freezer in the hopes that the batter will harden a bit. Suggestions 🙂 ?
hmmm… I wonder why that happened? Maybe the chickpeas had too much water left on them? I hope the extra almond flour and putting them in the freezer helped them to harden up. Let me know! 🙂
Until I saw the ingredients I would never have guessed there were chickpeas in it! What a great idea. I’m thinking of using these in the children’s lunchboxes. Loving those sprinkles on top too!
Happy Birthday to Isaac! These cake balls look like the perfect way to celebrate!
Oh my gosh these are SO cute!!
Just when I thought chickpeas couldn’t get any better… YUM!
Right!?! Chickpeas are amazing! 🙂
Wow! These sound fantastic! I should surprise my son by putting a few in his lunchbox. 🙂
Oh my goodness. Your son would be so excited to find these in his lunchbox. 🙂
Can someone tell me where to find or how to make coconut butter
Hi Tish! Sure, you can buy coconut butter at natural/organic food stores or online. There are quite a few brands on Amazon. (http://bit.ly/2lrQJQy) You can also make it yourself by processing shredded coconut. Here’s a little guide for making it: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-coconut-butter-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-166405
Cannot wait to check out this cookbook!! And perfect timing on these – my niece is visiting in a few days — she’ll love these (I will, too)!
Yay!!
Less unhealthy than other cake ….. I suppose. I am disappointed folkslike you who promote health then get sucked in with these supposedly “healthy ” treats. This is flour and sugar……better than the usual, maybe. Healthy, no. Suggesting these for breakfast is simply irresponsible. What happened to whole food?
I absolutely love your real,food recipes. Wish this was not what you as a role model would suggest. It’s like the big food companies fooling folks with all the buzz words on packages…. please stick to real food for,the sake of all.
Hi Robi. Thanks for your comment. If you look at the ingredients for these cake balls they are made with real food — coconut butter, almond flour, chickpeas, maple syrup, etc. I mentioned that they are perfect as a pre or post workout snack or as a treat, but never said anything about having them for breakfast. I’m not sure where you saw that.
Your comment is very unnecessary. Health cannot be given a black and white definition. I am an educated Registered Dietitian, and while there are certain guidelines and behaviors/choices I would promote, I also have come to further understand that health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This could mean that something deemed “unhealthy” by someone such as yourself may bring joy to another person and ultimately, it could boost their overall health. If you don’t like this recipe, simply move on from it. But Christal worked hard on this cookbook, and Brittany was kind enough to share it with her readers.
These look like the perfect afternoon treat! Thanks for sharing!
Brittany – these are brilliant girl! So much delicious nutrition packed in these cute little cake balls. Gotta check out Christal’s new book!
Those sprinkles! All the heart-eye emojis. These look and sound so good!