They’re raw.
They’re sinful sinless.
They’re delicious… and totally addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
I love recreating dessert recipes.
But that’s no secret if you’ve read my About Me page.
A few weeks ago, after discovering they’re discontinuing one of my favorite energy bars (Clif Nectar) , I set out to try and recreate said chocolate bars. With only five ingredients, it couldn’t be too difficult, could it? Well, as it turned out, the results didn’t taste like the packaged bars… mine tasted better!
Don’t let the diminutive size fool you; these babies are jam-packed with fudgey deliciousness. More chocolatey than Clif Nectar bars, more chocolatey than Larabar Jocalats… it’s like popping balls of pure chocolate bliss straight into your mouth. They’re so rich and decadent that even a tiny taste is enough to satisfy a skyscraper-sized chocolate craving.
But fudge babies are so healthy you don’t have to stop after a tiny taste.
It’s hard to believe something so good for you—with zero added sugars and unnatural ingredients—can taste so sinful. (They also happen to be quite a bit less expensive than Jocalats, Nectars, and many other such chocolate bars.)
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Original Fudge Babies
(You can also use this as a Hot Chocolate Crust!)
- 1 c walnuts (120 grams)
- 1 and 1/3 cups pitted dates (220 grams) (I often use SunMaid dates, which are super-soft.)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- optional: 1/8 plus 1/16 tsp salt (I always add this.)
- 3-4 tablespoons cocoa powder (or even Dutch cocoa)
Blend all the ingredients, using a food processor, Magic Bullet, etc. (No need to blend the dates first; I just blend everything all at once in a Cuisinart food processor.) Roll into cutey-pie little balls. (Use plastic wrap if you wish, or smush it all together in a plastic bag so it’ll stay together better.) Or, if you want true brownies, shape the dough into bars!
For a crust: press the dough down firmly into a pie pan.
Version 2:
Hot Cocoa Fudge Babies
I’ve been toying around with the original recipe. Here is my newest-favorite variation:
30 grams cashews, 80 grams dates, 5 grams (1T) dark cocoa powder.
Blend. Even fudgier than the original! 
(Add mint extract + cacao nibs and you’re in Wild Bar territory.
And if you leave out the cocoa powder, you have a homemade cashew cookie Larabar!)
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Let’s talk variations!
They have so much potential:
Fudge Baby Flavors:
For the current flavors, see Fudge Baby Flavors.
Flavors include chocolate-chip cookie dough, peanut butter, and even s’mores! (Shown above are girl-scout Samoas babies.)
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These are delicious (I’ve been making something similar, including once with a big stone mortar and pestle while studying abroad)! In all likelihood, my first Vita-mix creation would be something mundane like a smoothie, but with that kind of power, I could finally try making some serious dosa batter!
I found your blog last night and made these fudge babies today!
I posted them as the first post on my blog and linked back to here!
http://vegediaries.blogspot.com/
These tasted so good! I only found that they were dry so I added some rice milk and it made them easier to roll them into the little balls
rebecca at rcakewalk just forwarded me this link: we’ve both been making date cookies lately! anyway, i love the larabars and have thought i should try make them myself, its true they have so few ingredients. once i even bought the ingredients for but i had so little willpower i just ate everything before i had time to make them! glad to find your recipe.
jimminy christmas. I just made these with almonds, dates, coconut oil, coco powder, 1 frozen bananna and a drop of almond milk….and can i say, THANK YOU!!! Going to take these to easter brunch as an alternative to bitting the heads of of chocolate bunnies
Thank you again!! <3 love love love these! (I made about 10 of them, and there are 2 left lol)
I made your babies several times and they rock =)
This looks like an awesome recipe, Katie. I’d love to try it, but I wonder if you could edit your post to add some preparation notes? I use a Vitamix (vitaprep 3) and I’m sure it can handle the dough, but is there a certain knack to blending these for optimal results? Like do you do the nuts first and then add the dates, or do you throw everything in at once? I know from my experiments with nut butters that having the right technique when using the blender makes ALL the difference. Anyway, I’d be grateful for any added prep info you (or your readers) could provide before I have a go at it.
Duly noted, Lori! I updated for ya!!
You don’t need to worry about blending any one ingredient first. I just throw it all in at the same time (unless I’m making cookie dough bites and want the chips to remain un-blended).
I’ve actually never used the Vita for it; just the Magic Bullet. But a lot of others use their Vitas. I guess it’s a pretty forgiving recipe (i.e. it’s hard to mess up… you can’t go wrong with chocolate!).
If you ever have any other questions, please feel free to ask! Or check out the Fudge Baby FAQ page:
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2009/10/21/mommy-how-are-babies-made/
Happy baby-making!
Love,
Katie
Thanks, Katie! I will definitely give these a try…with some crystallized ginger added for some added zip
I would just like to say that I am SO happy and grateful you created these. My life has just been brightened considerably. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. really. I have to hide them from the rest of my family, they love them so much.
I’ve tried a few recipes for homemade Lara bars, yours is the best ratio or date to nut! The other ones just made my processor a sticky mess. Thank you! I’m going to post about them sometime soon.
Hello, can someone give my the gram conversion for the updated version of the fudge babies? I I am trying to make these but don’t know how much is 30 grams of cashew and 80 grams of dates. 1Tbls Cocoa verses the 4 on the previous recipe?? Thanks you help.
Yoli
Hi Yoli,
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Check out the fudge baby FAQ post for the date conversion
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2009/10/21/mommy-how-are-babies-made/
I made this for my kids two days in a row. My daughters helped me make the 2nd batch tonight and they kept eating the dough before they made it into balls. When I was done making all of the balls, my 3 year-old asked me, “Mommy can I lick your fingers?” They love this stuff! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Sina,
.
Awww, your daughter sounds so cute! Thanks for sharing such a sweet story
WOW! I just made these and fell in L-O-V-E! I eat Jocalat Larabars just about every day and these babies are so much more decadent and chocolatey… Makes me feel like I am eating a royal dessert. I think that after trying these, my fiance won’t be so opposed to eating dates! I am planning to make them with all different kinds of flavors. And now I am pretty sure I know what I am going to give as favors for my small eco-wedding. Thank you!!!
Oh Diana, I can’t even tell you how incredibly honored I feel that you’re thinking of including the babies on your big day!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!!
they were good
I just made these! I’m so proud of myself! YUM.
Your Fudge Babies are PHENOMENAL. I’m on the Paleo diet, but struggle a lot with the temptation of sweets. These are a life saver! They’re so good, my husband, who also has quite a sweet tooth and is NOT doing the Paleo diet, asked me to make more for him! But I was wondering, is cocoa in line with the Paleo diet?
Thank you so much, Ally!
I’m sorry to say, I don’t really know much about the Paleo diet. But if you don’t want to use cocoa, you could always try a different flavor:
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chocolate-covered-recipes/fudge-baby-mania/
I think these are to DIE FOR! I am happy to see that they come in mini muffin size.. because I would be in trouble if they didn’t. I just want to eat the entire batch at once.. They are so delicious. Making them for a potluck next Friday.. they are always a hit! YUM!
-Kenzie
Deep Fryers
Thanks, Kenzie!! I hope they’re a hit at the potluck too!
Oh my gosh! Those fudge babies look amazzing!
I think i might have to make these this week..
I just made these and they are amazing! a big hit with all my family. i had to make them without the use of a blender (lots of chopping and hammering!) but it was worth it x
Thanks for telling me! I always get so excited when someone tries–and likes–the fudge babies!
Hey chica! We here at FIT CHICKS just love these! We posted them on our Facebook and Twitter so our gals have something yummy to munch on this Halloween!
Thanks for sharing!!
Ooh gosh, you are so so sweet! I’m so excited you liked them!! And I’m so honored for the shout outs
. Happy Halloween!
Best flavor ever! My boyfriend suggested I add some pretzels to the basic “hot cocoa” babies and omg, it was fantastic!
Oh wow, your bf is a genius! I want to try this ASAP… and it’s not even 9AM!
Hi Katie!
Thanks so much for your kind and rapid reply to my email the other day!
So my blog and web page are finally up and running with my very first (and only) blog entry in honor of you and Fudge Babies… thank you so much!
I have had a big set back though – I used iweb (mac) and just discovered that I can’t have a comments page without going through some big song and dance, so for the moment I can only take emails! *sigh*
I’m just going to have to start again with Wordpress I think…
Oh well, c’est la vie. I’d love to hear what you think of it – I know I’m addicted to yours! I just found “how to milk an oat”. What a fantastic title! It conjures up a great visual… you’re very clever like that.
Liese xx
Thanks for the recipes! I’m always looking for healthy portable nutrition.
My adaptation is Carob Babies. I have been avoiding anything that produces the health issues I have been fighting. Hence, no chocolate. Carob is a great substitute. It made these babies the perfect sub for this former chocoholic! Just exchange the carob powder for the cocoa powder. Presto, a snack for the holidays I can eat guilt free!
I just love the fudge babies. I’m addicted totally. I crave them. I had to cut the recipe down to a single serving because I will sit and eat every bit of them. Also I am so impatient to get them into my mouth that I don’t even roll them into ball! I eat right out of the cut that I mixed them in… with a spoon. Wow where have these been all of my 43 years? Thanks so much, they are amazing!
Ooh I love your single-serving idea!
No Bullet, no food processor. Just chopped by hand. Tasted good but no where near as moist as yours look and wouldn’t hold together without added water. Also not shiny like yours. Any suggestions or is it just the result of doing by hand instead of machine?
I’ve never made them by chopping by hand, but it seems like that would make a BIG difference in terms of texture.
Also, some types of dates are moister than others. I really like Delget Noor (sunmaid). But I know a lot of others use Medjool.
I tried these for the first time today after getting a kitchenaid food processor for Christmas. They were DELICIOUS! My processor had some issues breaking up the dates, but the ones I got were from a bulk section and pretty dry, today I went to the store and bought a bag and they have more moisture. They turned out amazing, I can’t wait to make your other varieties!
I’m so excited you made them! (And I’ve had problems with the harder dates, too. But then again, my Magic Bullet probably isn’t meant to handle anything that hard.)
I just added a little splash of water to the food processor while blending, and it all came together great.
Seriously good. Dates, as they are, are like candy to me.. this is a deadly mix! Seriously good!!! Thank you!!
Could you replace the dates with another dried fruit instead?
I tried it with figs, and it tasted weird. But I do know some people have had success with raisins or even prunes!
Have you considered market these as your CCK vegan dessert line? I’m sure it’ll be a hit
Haha I have thought about it a few times… but the thing is that it takes years to get a product line up and running successfully, and I also have zippo business experience. It’s a huge risk, because you could devote ten years of your life to it, only to find out that the product never reaches mainstream status in the end. But yeah, I still have thought about it. Right now I just have too much else to do, in terms of fun ideas for the future
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P.S. Sorry about disabling the direct msg thing. I am just way too verbose for 140 words!
Have you tried making a smoothie version out of this? I would probably use almond milk instead of walnut or cashew, with only a couple dates, vanilla extract, raw cacao, and some sunflower sprouts for protein, bananas for neurotransmitters, and an avocado for some healthy fat. Yum!!
I did… and it wasn’t very good. But I have a blogger friend who did make a good “Fudge Baby Shake” that I highlighted a few months ago. If you ever do make a version, I’d love to hear it! Maybe I should try again!
Just tried these out…they are AMAZING! I had to add a little bit of water to make them sticky enough to roll into balls, but other than that, fabulous! I’m going to try adding almond milk next time and throw in some oats and coconut. Thanks for this recipe, I really can’t believe they’re good for you!
~Laura
Thanks, Laura! I think your addition of coconut would be super-delicious
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Hi Katie
I want to try this recipe so badly they look delicious and I love date balls, but I don’t have nuts. Do you think they’ll be fine without the nuts?
I did try just cocoa powder and dates once. It’s completely different, and EXTREMELY sticky. But it’s still good in it’s own right. Not nearly as good as with the nuts though. Do you have nut butter?
No I don’t but I’ll be going to the stores tomorrow and to buy the nuts definitely will be trying them. By the way I tried your single lady carrot and it is beyond delicious. Treats like that make me glad I’ve decided to become a vegetarian.
Thanks, Katie! I love this recipe and am sharing your post and recipe on my Paleo diet blog.
Just made these again today and they never fail to disappoint!
Thank you Katie, you are a lifesaver. I am struggling to lose weight and I now have delicious healthy chocolate treats to turn to when I’m tempted to eat bad chocolate treats. The guilt is gone and I feel energized with these desserts.
I have tried similar recipes but yours is by far the best. A chocolate covered (and healthy) life is the best life! Thank you!!
I came across your site while searching for healthy chocolate desserts. I never really had a sweet tooth before I started Paleo but not wanting to go off of my diet, I began looking for alternatives to satisfy my newly developed craving. I just made these and they are AMAZING!!! I look forward to trying out a few of your other recipes as I stay on track with my health/fitness goals.
Thanks for the great info.
-B
I forgot to tell you I made these! These were the first things I found on your blog and I made the hot cocoa version, but I actually followed the measurements from another blog with the same recipe (http://thecopycatcook.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/cocoa-nibbles/) since I didn’t want to use my scale and I had to tell you how much I liked them! They didn’t last long, and I’m looking forward to making other varieties of raw balls, like peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough balls! Have you made something like that? Thank you so much for sharing your fabulous recipes with us!
OMG.
SO GOOD.
I think the best part is that I can let my kids eat these whenever and as much as they want (well…ok, within reason, kids don’t have an off-switch) and they love them, too.
Haha “kids don’t have an off switch”
I was babysitting once (in 6th grade), and the lady told me I could let her son have whatever he wanted… well, when she got home she discovered I’d allowed him to eat more than 1/2 a box of nilla wafers!
will these still be good if i freeze them in an air tight container for a few days?
Definitely! They will keep for a few weeks if you leave them out of the fridge, they’ll keep for a few months in the fridge, and they’ll probably keep even longer in the freezer!
OH MY HECK. I just made these – they are freakin’ amazing! I LOVE them – they taste just like a brownie! Thank you, thank you!!!
Thank you, Thank you for this great recipe. I love it. Made it for the first time today, and i can’t stop thinking about all the different variations i can try.
You are Amazing. Keep on thinking of tasty thinks to create.
I feel bad, but i just ate the entire batch in 2 days!!! lol. mmmmmm sssoo good.
How many does this generally make?
I’m thinking about trying them ASAP
It depends on how big you roll the balls
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Wow, these really are the best!! I made the original first and we loved those and then upgraded to the Hot Cocoa version and wow, I still can’t believe these are healthy!! It’s really amazing, thank you!
Awesome! I have made the original recipe twice now. Added shredded coconut to the batter, then ground some almonds added more shredded coconut and rolled the balls into the coconut/almond mixture. Everyone has loved them, even friends and family that think the stuff I make is usually too weird. Thanks!
I finally found those stinking dates and… Oh my God.
These are little balls of heaven! They taste BETTER than fudge. I’m in love.
I just became a follower of you 2 days ago. I’m sure these treats are going to be in Heaven! Wow, Katie! This has to be hands-down the best healthy treat I’ve ever had.
must.stop.eating.these.
I’m so glad you found me! And even more glad you gave the babies a shot… it’s hard to believe they’re healthy! I feel that way too! Now the even harder part is trying to STOP eating them. They always seem to find their way into my mouth!
Just made these, with a few changes since I didn’t have cashews on hand, so good! This was the easiest quickest recipe ever. Trying to find sweet treats for that 3 oclock craving and i think this is it! Thanks for the recipe!
I tried the Original Fudge Babies with the cashew’s and they were wonderful…will satify your chocolate cravings…and especially thanks for putting the grams measurements. I tried sooooo many recipes and they have not come out right. Thanks so much. Linda B
I’m so glad they worked out for you, Linda!!
I just made the original fudge babies!! I’m obsessed! I love raw dessert-type things. These are literally perfect and totally satisfied my sweet craving!
Katie, you are my new best friend!!! I had a sweet tooth something terrible. I just made these, and I came close to dying from ecstasy! Simply awesome! Thank you, thank you!
I’m always happy to have a new best friend… especially one who appreciates chocolate
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These look amazing! I’ve just started eating Larabars which are chewy bars (similar to Clif) that are made entirely of raw food with usually 4 ingredients or less. I love how dates can become such a great naturally sweetener. I will definitely be making these, so thanks
Just made these (with raisins because I had no dates) for the first time today – they’re incredible! I LOVE all your recipes and the health-conscious creative genius that goes into them!
Can you believe I’ve never tried them with raisins? I think I need to!
I just made these for the second time and my two year old says they’re better than the wheat/condensed milk version we usually buy from our local cafe! A very new convert, I am so happy to have found your blog. I’m now slowly trying to convert my white flour loving husband into a Katie-treats-eater… So far, so good!
When I tried these the first time I didn’t have dates so used sultanas (raisins) and didn’t have walnuts so used pecans and then rolled them in coconut – they were good too!
Awwww! Your comment is so sweet
. Made me smile so much!
It won’t let me leave a comment on your blog (because I don’t have a wordpress or google acct), but I wanted to say that I love that you’re blogging for YOU! And I like your background; it’s unique and fun!
Now these are DELICIOUS! And in moderation, ARE healthy. Yum yum!
Haha “moderation” being the key word. Whenever I make them, I keep going back for more
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I was showing my mom your blog while we were making the Genius Blondies and she pointed to the Fudge Babies on the side of the page, saying, “Wow, I want those.”
So while the blondies were in the oven, I kept the food processor out and made Fudge Babies for the first time…. Delicious! We used this organic raw cacao powder that my mom had around, which made them extra fudgey! We’re in heaven.
Awww yay times a million! Your comment made me smile so much
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My wife and I have started a paleo diet and she was hankering for something chocolate. A friend pointed me here. I made these today. I made two batches and each had their issues. In the store I was deciding between the sun made dried pitted dates or the organic from the bulk section dates. The sun made ones seemed much harder that the organic bulk ones. So I bought the organic ones. Put my first batch in my food processor and the processor couldnt handle the gumminess of the dates and almonds. Had to put them in the blender and use the chop function. I popped one on and ow my gosh soo good! But crack! I chomped down on an almond, or so I thought. It was a pit. The organic ones were not pitted! Oops! So when rolling the balls I discarded any un chopped peices and most were pits. I decided to eat these myself as even the smaller chopped pits are like biting rocks… I let my wife have batch 2 noted below. Oh well. Second batch: I removed the pits this time, yay, an then I over chopped the batch and it blended smooth and the “batter” was hot. I let it cool down. Rolled them out and they look like brownie batter. Cant see the almonds in them! Oh well, they tasted good but I am missing that crunch from the almonds. I think since I used dry unsalted almonds, I didn’t get some of the oils from the raw walnuts the recipe called for. So I put in on table spoon of extra virgin coconut oil to give it a little more smoothness so they were not tooo dry. Next time I try this I should do better.
Definitely would like the Girl-Scout Samoa Babies!
This definitely IS the best giveaway! I’d love to try the Girl Scout Samoas babies.
Katie! I have been wanting to make these for so long now but couldn’t find dates ANYWHERE! I finally found some and tried making these just now. They won’t stick together?!
Any tips? I still have taken a couple bites of the crumbly goodness and it’s awesome! I just rather have it in ball-form. Should I add more dates??
Hi Kara! Mine always come out super-soft, but it definitely depends on the type of dates you use. By any chance, can you find SunMaid ates by you? They’d be in the section of the store where they sell raisins and dried fruit, and they come in a red bag. They will yield a very soft, sticky dough.
All I could find was Dole. I think I may try adding more. It’s very crumbly, which actually I keep taking bites of and thinking it’d be good in yogurt! So maybe I’ll keep it like this and then try some new ones! Thanks!
I made fudge babies today, and ended up adding another 2/3 cup dates, not for sweet but for sticky. I also drizzles in some agave. If you ended up with drier dates, is that what would you have done? Or do you have another ingredient suggestion?
Also, once it was sticking together enough, I added a handful of oats and some mini chocolate chips, and it tastes a lot like the dough to a cookie recipe my mom made a lot for double chocolate oatmeal cookies. Much better than I expected!
I’ve never had the problem of drier dates… I cannot recommend the sunmaid ones highly enough! They are super-sticky!
If you absolutely can’t find anything stickier, maybe try soaking the dates a little, before blending?
I just have to share a funny story. My 9 year old son is a budding chef. He is pretty serious about it, too. I have made your fudge babies in the past and he loves them. Well, yesterday, he was determined that we would make them once again. So we pulled out the food processor and pulsed away. While he was rolling them into balls, I was on your blog reading out the different flavors you have come up with. He is in the kitchen just about drooling. Finally he says, “Who is this girl? I want to marry her! How old is she, anyhow?” I told him that I believe you are in your 20s. “Oh,” he says, “Well, I like her recipes.”
Thanks so much for sharing your creations. I am defrosting chickpeas as we speak to try out the chocolate chip cookie dough dip.
Ok, I think that is the cutest story I’ve ever heard!!!
Maybe someday I can hire him to cook for me! I love thinking up recipes, and I love eating them (of course!), but the actual cooking process isn’t my favorite part. I’m too impatient, wanting to eat all the ingredients. (And by “ingredients” I mean “chocolate chips.”)
I just made the Fudge Babies and they are AMAZING!!!!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
You are so welcome! Thank YOU for trying them!
Just made these with sunflower seeds as I have an allergy/sensitivity to tree nuts. They turned out great! One question: do you use roasted nuts or raw? And, if roasted, are they roasted with salt or without. Thanks!
I usually use raw nuts. So they’re unsalted. But I bet salted nuts might give them a good flavor, now that you mention it!
i made these tonight and they were abs delicious and just sweet enough to curb my sweettooth. i made the flax seed ones too but hated them (i hate flax seed so go figure). I made the larabar cashews too and while they’re a bit too sweet for every day snacking (what i wanted them for) they are delicious as dessert for me!!!
great recipes, keep them coming!
So happy you liked them, Jen!!
We made the fudge babies and they are so yummy. We added coffee granules to them for a little twist. Thanks for the recipe.
Made these today! Made your chocolate cake batter milkshake yesterday & having pumpkin bread in a bowl tomorrow for breakfast! Can’t wait!!! Thanks for all these yummies! My first grade daughter loved the fudgies & I want to make her a milkshake tomorrow!
Aww, you are so welcome!
I wanted something chocolate-y but not sweet. I had dates and cocoa. Still as delicious as I remembered. Why has it been months since I last made these?
Omg.. I made these last night and they were gone by early afternoon today!! SOOO YUMMY! I would totally take one of these over a chocolate bar. Or maybe 3 of them. I can’t stop!!!
I blogged about them too! http://curlyeats.blogspot.com/2011/10/fudge-babies.html
Thanks for the awesome recipe!! I’m going to try a new kind soon!
Aww, so glad you liked them!
Do you have any nutritional info on these? Do they have the protein and fiber in them that a normal clif bar would have??
I’ve so far only done nutritional info for the Samoas fudge baby version: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/04/11/girl-scout-samoas-in-larabar-form/
I’ve so far only done nutritional info for the Samoas fudge baby version: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/04/11/girl-scout-samoas-in-larabar-form/
But I’d think all versions would be similar.
absolutely delicious! so happy i made these!
I just found this website from Money Saving Mom and OMG you are amazing!! We switched to whole foods about 2 months ago and the thing that has pained me the most is not eating chocolate. We don’t do chocolate chips but do cocoa, but I hadn’t found any good recipes. This site is like dying and going to heaven! I just scoured till I found a recipe I had all the stuff for, this one! IT WAS AMAZING!! I may or may not have eaten a bunch straight out of my processor then put the rest in a little tupperwear and hid it in the back of the fridge where my kids can’t find it : )
Aww Lindsay, I’m so glad you liked them!!
Your comment was so sweet!
Do you ever use organic cocoa powder? Does it taste better?
I like Dagoba cocoa… but I also sometimes use Hersheys. I do think organic has a *slightly* better taste, but I also try to save money sometimes.
Oh. My. Goodness. I have the world’s biggest sweet tooth. I used to eat a daily cupcake before I started trying to resist refined sugars. I have to admit I made 2 batches of these babies last week. Can’t wait to make them for my family at Xmas. Thanks, Katie!!!!
Omgmigod! So freaken good! I could eat those 24-7! If I went grocery shopping 24-7! Haha. Thanks Katie;U r a great help! My family loves it when I bake these! For Thanksgiving I am going to show off and make ur recipes!!!! Thanks again! We luv u katie!
Hi Katie! I just wanted to know about ur life….do u have any kids? How about a husband or boyfriend? Do u go to online collage? Tell me a little bit about u!
U don’t absoulutely HAVE to answer these questions. I am very courious. 
Thanks!
-Izabela***
Hi Izabela,
Currently I’m unattached. I just moved to a new place, and I’m living with a friend. No kids… except the puppies!
These look SO, SO, SOOO good!! however, I’m not a huge fan of dates..at all. Is there any possible substitutions that would work good for this recipe??
I know some people have had success with raisins. And I love the following recipe, which is similar: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/11/14/oatmeal-raisin-cookie-larabars
Or chocolate-pb: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/10/02/chocolate-peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies
Hey Katie, I ran out of dates, can i substitute with figs?
I tried it with figs, and it tasted weird. But I do know some people have had success with raisins or even prunes! (And some people do like the figs.)
is there a way to make these nutless?
Try this version: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/04/11/girl-scout-samoas-in-larabar-form/
A quick note….cocoa powder is not raw. You need to use raw cacao powder if you would like to call these raw.
Hi Mia,
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I don’try not to list particular brands for ingredients in my recipes because I know people have different brands on hand, and people also have different needs. But if someone wants these to be raw, then they can use raw cocoa powder as you said. I label all my recipes as “vegan” too, but that doesn’t mean it’s stopping someone who doesn’t share my ethical beliefs from using non-vegan chocolate chips or milk.
Some good brands of raw cocoa powder include Navitas Naturals and Truly Raw. Sorry for the confusion! And thanks for the comment… I’m not a raw foodist, so if you ever see me labeling something as “raw” that isn’t, definitely let me know my mistake so I can fix it
After staring at the screen for half an hour, I just had to try these!
They are so good. I gave some to my mom, and she said “they…taste like brownies”
That’s a good thing!
Thanks so much for the recipe. A family friend brought over some brownies, and I didn’t get to eat them (butter), so now I don’t feel so bad =)
Katie,
I have been dying to try these and finally made them today! They are fabulous. Thank you so much for your creatvity!! YUM
Will you ever tire of hearing how amazing these are!?!
Because they are. So. Amazing. I am an addict. I am a chocolate-covered Katie addict. Cookie Dough dip, fudge babies… can you move to Westchester County, NY so we can be healthy-eating friends?!?
It is so great to find healthy recipes that are actually healthy. And actually delicious. I am so tired of “healthy” recipes that include things like margarine and artificial sweeteners.
Please don’t ever stop creating new recipes!
Aww lol how did you know it’s my dream to live in New York? (Well, New York in the summer… and Hawaii in the winter!)
Hahaha, well, I grew up in Hawaii, so I guess I have both of your dream homes covered!
I can understand the desire to split your time… Right now it is FIFTEEN degrees here!!!!
I made these tonight for my girlfriend and I and they were absolutely amazing! She said they were better than brownies and totally calmed her sweet tooth! Thanks so much for the wonderful recipe!
Thanks for the inspiration! I made mine with apricots, hazelnuts, cocoa, and stevia
I made these today and I can’t stay out of them!! So delicious!! Thanks for the recipe, it’s a keeper!
Katie… You are a geneous!
I just made these fudge babies & oh my god… Are they ever good! & I cannot believe they are actually healthy. No added sugar, or preservatives. Your even getting fruit & protein in a chocolaty indulgence! Now that’s amazing if you ask me 
next time I bake a dessert to take to a party with me I’ll take this and I bet no one will know their healthy! Thanks so much for the recipe… 
You are so good at what you do! xo
Oh my word, these are delicious!!!! I made them with cashews and rolled it all flat with a rolling pin between wax paper. Looks like fudge and tastes even better. I can’t believe something that yummy has all the great nutrients from the nuts and dates! I made it in the vitamix, but it was having a bit of a rough time. I think I need to invest in a good food processor. You like the magic bullet? Does it work well for these recipes?
It does work well for smaller versions (such as my Raw Macaroons or Cashew Cookie Fudge Babies). For these, I’d probably make a smaller batch so the bullet could handle it. (Also, I use SunMaid dates, which are much softer than regular medjools.)
For this recipe, I really like my Cuisinart.
I’ll have to look at the Cuisinart…I have never had the need to crush so many nuts, dates,…chocolate chips!!! Haha Until then I might just have to work with smaller batches in my vitamix. Thanks again!
thanks for sharing this recipe. i just made a small batch, with raisins instead of dates b/c it’s what i had at home. they are wonderful! and my husband cracks up at the name fudge babies. i love it
If had a VitaMix, the first thing I’d make is homemade vanilla almond milk!
“But fudge babies are so healthy you don’t have to stop after a tiny taste.” = This is a sentence I absolutely welcome. Your fudge babies really look good. And chocolate is healthy as it has lots of nutrients which are good.
Hi Katie!
I stumbled upon your fudge baby recipe two years ago while searching for a student friendly, aka cost effective replacement to Larabars. Thank you a million times! My friends and family have been enjoying these ever since. I am wondering though, have you ever tried to add ginger & orange to your original recipe? I came across a similar varient at my local Organic Market, but have been unable to perfect the recipe at home.
Warm regards.
I haven’t… there are so many combinations I still need to try! The ginger idea sounds really good. Hmmm… an excuse to experiment. As if I needed another excuse to eat chocolate
.
I haven’t… there are so many combinations I still need to try! The ginger idea sounds really good. Hmmm… an excuse to experiment. As if I needed another excuse to eat chocolate
.
So, so good!! I used a little less than a cup of medjool dates and dark chocolate cocoa powder…they tasted like a fudge brownie…amazing!!
Your original version is so good (I used dark chocolate cocoa and medjool dates)…tasted like a fudge brownie. Seriously amazing. Today, I tried using dried cherries instead of dates, and the results are also amazing!! Thanks for sharing yet another recipe that makes the vegan diet just a little more fun and whimsical
These are very good! Made them tonight for the Super Bowl. My mother in law liked them and asked for the recipe. My daughter had 4 and I had 3. THAT’S how good these are.
omg…just made the Original Fudge Babies! I kept thinking this recipe can’t be right — it needs more ingredients! (I did end up adding a tablespoon of Almond Milk.) I thought it was going to be too dry — but lo and behold, I made little balls out of the “dough” – and it’s all I can do to keep from eating every last one! Sooooo delicious!!
Hi! I really liked these fudgie balls, they were very yummy. I did have a problem though during the creation of these I destroyed my magic bullet and I’m still waiting to see if the ninja that I transfered the mixture to survived! Yikes! I would love to know if you have had similar problems with making these or if there is a trick to thining out the mix? Thanks and I still love your blog even though it killed my appliances
Use Sunmaid dates! They’re much softer
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OM Katie I found your blog by a pinterest pin…I’ve tried 3 of your recipes so far and you my dear are a dessert Einstein:) Wow!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I have never been a person to follow someone’s blog, or comment, but your site is unbelievable, these fudge babies are amazing!!!
Aww thanks, Beth!
They are addicting! You werent kidding! They were really messy to make, but worth it in the end!
Katie,
I just made these. They are amazing! And I feel so good knowing that they’re raw! They whipped up super quick, and it’s always fun to play in your food
I just learned about your blog a few months ago, and I look forward to trying so many of these recipes. I really want to incorporate more raw foods into my diet and have fun at the same time! Thank you for everything you do.
I absolutely love this! I don’t even bother to roll them into balls – I just put some of the mixture in a bowl and eat with a spoon. It’s my favorite treat these days! Thank you sooo much for sharing this recipe with us!
Loving your recipes; the fudge babies and related variations are my nightly ritual now. I’m finding that I can resist other temptations that I encounter during the day because I think to myself, “I don’t need that; I can have a fudge baby (or three) when I get home!” Guess I should buy stock in dates; I’m glad Costco carries them in bulk. Ha! Thanks so much for yumming it up!
i wanted to make them today, when i prepared my dates it turned out i didn’t have walnuts, so i used hazelnuts instead – so delicious!!
I am a brand new fan and a brand new vegan, though an old broad. I love your recipes and I would love to prepare more of them, but I’d really like to be able to easily print them out. Could you make it easier for us dinosaurs who don’t have laptops or iphones?
I have “learn to install a print button” on my to-do list!!
I just made these and the peanut butter and cookie dough flavors. They were all very delicious! Roughly how many calories does one fudge baby have?
Just made these. INCREDIBLE! I would call them Brownie Babies. This is the first confection I’ve eaten since going grain free three years ago. Grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free. 5 minutes start to finish! ROCK!
These are sooooooooo good!!! I love this recipe so much!!!!! <3
They sound kind of weird at first with the dates (i don't like dates by themselves) but they are so good! Did i mention that i love this recipe!?!? If I didn't know that they don't have sugar in them, I would think that I was being bad by eating 2 of them at night!
Fold the crumbs into sugar-free whipped topping and freeze for some divinity. My husband discovered this!!! So good.
Made them sooooo good. They do not taste healthy at all!!
I don’t have a food processor…is there any other way that I could make these?!? I’m always looking for “healthier” desserts, cause both my hubby and I have major sweet teeth!!
Sorry, I don’t know
Some people say a blender works, but it’s quite sticky.
If I had a vitamix I would make smoothies with it!
I made these tonight and they turned out so good!! Wow im really impressed with these! I made the gingerbread men awhile ago, and those were good too but you cant eat too many of them before you get sick of the ginger. These are a whole ‘nother story!
I have been going through your website trying to try a new recipe each day. You have yet to dissapoint me! These are beyond amazing. I just made the third batch in two days! My kids fight over these. I always shoo them out of the kitchen when I make them because my son swears he hates nuts….little does he know
How long can these stay out on countertop? Should these be frozen or refrigerated? This will be the first recipe I try. Thanks!
A few days unfridged, or a few weeks in the fridge… or months frozen!
My 4 year old says “We have fudge babies and fudge daddies, but where are the fudge mamas?” We love these!!
What did I do wrong???! I can’t get them to stay together. The mixture tastes wonderful, but it just falls apart when I try to roll it in a ball. Help please
Smush in plastic bag. Also, that’s why I recommend sunmaid dates… they are super-soft!
Kim, I use organic dates from my co-op, which are apparently drier than Sunmaid dates. So I add a little water while I’m grinding everything in the food processor until the mixture changes from crumbly to the consistency of a stiff dough.
I actually found that if I don’t blend them well enough they don’t stick, but if you use a good food processor and do it for at least 1 full minute (or more) they start sticking better. Sometimes I also add a T of peanut butter
OMG…I must say they are AMAZING….I am going to be able to have my dessert fix. I just started paleo and these fit. The next time I make these I am going to roll them in toasted coconut flakes. Very Yummy thank you for the post. I am also going to try the other recipes as well.
Finally made these! They are so incredibly delicious. I’ve been having to force myself NOT to eat the entire recipe all in one day.
Thank yoouuu, Katie!
Can you use pitted plums (prunes)? I have a package of the Mariani ones in my pantry now…
Haven’t tried it, but I think some of the commenters have and like it…
I just made these for the play off game tonight. I didn’t have vanilla (??? go figure) and so I used imitation rum extract and made yummy rum balls, one of my husbands favorite things!! They are SOOOOOOOOOOO good.
Amazing! Just made the original version and then the same but with hazelnuts – AWESOME!
Thanks for the recipe!
Falling in love with your recipes! First it was deep dish cookie pie, then the raw chocolate fudge cake, now the fudge babes! Tomorrow I try the macaroons for Passover:) My variation of fudge babes for my allergic son: same proportions as original but used raw pumpkin seeds…he has literally been begging me to make them again, he is 5 but knows good food when he tastes it! Keep up the fantastic work, I tell so many clients about this site;)
Aw thank you so much, Debra. And I love your idea to use pumpkin seeds. I never know what to do with those things come Halloween… now I know
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I added marshmallows and made a rocky road version. These are amazing, Katie. Thanks for the recipe, as well as the larabar recipes.
Just had to tell you that I am soo obsessed with the peanut butter cup fudge babies! They are very addicting so I have to limit myself to making them only once a week because otherwise I’ll over-indulge (literally quadruple the recipe). Best dessert ever! Love your blog and all your recipes- you’re doing a great job!
Aw thank you, Samantha!
I just rolled my fudge babies in toasted coconut–YUM!
i am assuming that you used unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe as well as your other ones??
Yes, but sweetened would work too!
thanks- i am trying to do no sugar so i wanted to use the unsweetened, but have messed up some other recipes(just ones i made up, not any of yours
by adding in the unsweetened cocoa.
I can’t get enough of these fudge babies… They’re literally my favorite dessert now. There are a lot of similar-sounding recipes for “date-ball”-type things but they are seriously weird and I wouldn’t try them. This is the most awesome and best date-dessert ever, among all the many recipes for them that exist! Thanks for forging ahead on your quest for sinless desserts!
Aw thanks for such a sweet comment, Victor!
I finally tried making them and they’re fantastic! I just want to share: I don’t own a food processor so I put the dates in a shallow dish with a bit of water and stick it in the microwave to soften them, then I mash them with a fork. And for the nuts, I chop them very finely. Thanks for coming up with such a great recipe!
oh my. i just made the original babies! i was skeptical, i’ll admit. i was thinking “these are gonna taste good, but verrrry healthy.” wow, was i wrong! not only are they healthy, but they’re absolutely delicious! just like biting into a piece of fudge!
my food processor was very angry with me, however! i thought it was going to fly off the counter top! i’ll certainly be making some of the variations soon!
These are amazing! I made them for the first time last night and am making my second batch right now (the raw thin mint brownies this time). My family loved them! My mom even brought some to work to share, and I brought some for my coaches =]
Wow, these look a lot like my raw chocolate truffles:
http://thesweetlifeonline.blogspot.com/2012/05/raw-coconut-almond-truffles.html
I can attest to their guiltless deliciousness! I’m glad you reach so many people with these!
Great recipe! Sounds yummy
I was just wondering if the dates can be substituted by something different like dried figs
..
Thanks..
I didn’t like the fig version, but I know others do! I like raisins in the recipe, though.
I didn’t like the fig version, but I know others do! I like raisins in the recipe, though.
Great recipe! Sounds yummy
I was just wondering if the dates can be substituted by something different like dried figs
..
Thanks..
This time around I substituted shredded coconut for the walnuts (same measurement). Really good and reminiscent of Haystacks in taste and texture!
I shared your Fudge Babies on my facebook page!
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