These no-bake pecan pie bites are one of the easiest treats to make for the week – perfect when your sweet tooth hits! They’re made with whole-food ingredients, are vegan and gluten-free, and SO yummy!
You know what’s funny? I never had pecan pie until I was like, 24. Thomas’s sister made it for a holiday get-together and I was OBSESSED. I really couldn’t believe I went 24 years without it. So we are over her making up for lost time, with these bad boys! I’m not sure I could do pecan pie justice, so we will pretend these are the next best thing 😉
Looking for more pecan recipes? Try my healthy pecan Snickers bars!
Pecan pie bites recipe video
Why you’ll love this recipe
- No bake: No oven is required to make these delicious little bites! It’s like pecan pie in no bake form!
- Wholesome: Made with nourishing ingredients, these make a great healthy snack or dessert and are packed with nutrients, fiber, and contain no added sugar.
- Customizable: Don’t like pecans? Try cashews or another nut!
- Dietary needs: Pecan pie bites are vegan, gluten-free, paleo, grain-free, and refined sugar-free!
- Easy: they come together in a food processor for minimal effort and clean-up!
How to make no bake pecan pie bites
You’ll only need a few ingredients to make this no-bake dessert! Full recipe and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Ingredients
- Pecans: These are the base of the recipe. You could sub any nut or seed, but I love the flavor and benefits of pecans!
- Dates: These act as the binder and some sweetness for the recipe! I love how dates give almost a caramel-like flavor!
- Chocolate: This is what we’ll coat the pecan bites in! I used Hu Kitchen chocolate to keep these refined sugar-free. You can use my code “danishealthyeats” at checkout for a 15% off – couldn’t recommend them more!
- Coconut sugar: You can omit this, or sub monk fruit or stevia. It offers a little extra flavor and sweetness to the recipe, to resemble more of a pecan pie flavor.
- Vanilla + Sea salt: These are optional as well, but I love the depth It gives the recipe! And sea salt and chocolate is the best!
steps to make no-bake pecan pie bites
- Add everything besides the chocolate to a food processor.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop by spoonfuls onto a lined cookie sheet. Form into a small disc.
- Freeze.
- Melt chocolate and dip each bite into the chocolate.
- Return to the freezer to set up!
storing no-bake pecan bites
Just add them to an air-tight container and pop in the freezer!
More healthy no-bake desserts to try
- Healthy sugar cookie ice cream
- No bake cinnamon rolls
- Butterfinger cups
- Caramel apple yogurt clusters
- Copycat heavenly hunks
- Healthy pecan snickers bars
- Dairy-free homemade ice cream sandwiches
No-Bake Pecan Pie Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup pitted dates soaked
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar or monk fruit
- pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon optional
- 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add everything to a food processor, besides the chocolate, until a sticky dough forms. This may take a few minutes, be sure to scrape down the sides every now and then.
- Roll the sticky mixture into balls and place on a lined cookie sheet. Flatten them down slightly with your palm. Place them in the freezer to firm up a little, about 15 mins.
- Melt the chocolate until smooth. Dip each cookie bite into the mixture and return to the cookie sheet. Place a pecan on top. Place back in the freezer until hardened!
What kind of pecans… raw or roasted, salted???
Any will work! I used raw but salted or roasted would add another level of flavor!
These are soooooo good. Taste amazing and a super satisfying texture.
Hi Becky! Thank you so much for trying them! SO happy you liked them! xo
How long do you let the dates soak?
Hi Cierra! If your dates aren’t super soft and gooey, it’s good to soak them in hot water for 15 ish minutes until they’re super soft!
Thanks. I tried the recipe and they were delicious. Only thing I soaked dates too long. I will try again and soak only 15 mins. I mixed pecans and almonds.
I’m so happy you liked them! Thank you so much for trying them! xo
These were awesome! I made them for a Christmas gift and will be making them again!!
Hi Elizabeth! Aw, that’s such a cute idea – I loveee that! Im so happy you liked them!
I love LOTS of Dani’s recipes but I make these on repeat. They’re simple, delicious and packed with nutrients. What more could you ask for?! Love you Dani and love these little bites of heaven!
Hi vivian! Thank you so much! These are my weakness! So happy you like them!
Delicious recipe.
However, I could not get the melted chocolate to coat the pecan pie balls smoothly. I melted the chocolate over a double boiler. Although it melted, I had to spoon it all around each piece and it was kind of thick. Do you have a suggestion?
Hi Kk! Aw, i’m happy you enjoyed them! So it could have been the chocolate brand itself. I recommend adding a tbsp of refined coconut oil to the chocolate while melting next time. Also, to be sure to keep the heat VERY low to prevent the chocolate from seizing. <3
Hi! I’m curious if chocolate is tempered would they still need to stored in the freezer?
Hi Lynda! They could probably be left out for a while however, the inside will get softer. If that’s how you prefer it though, they’d still be great. But since they are made with all whole foods, no preservatives, i’d store them in the fridge after a few hours!
Ohhh my goodness!!! These are AMAZING!!! I used half the amount of pecans, not by choice, but what I had on hand. My were regular salted, which if I would’ve use the full amount, I wonder if it would’ve been too salty. Added unsweetened coconut to a handful, and it was just as good and tasted similar to an almond joy! These are divine and I will be remaking these so I have them on hand! Even going to make these at my annual sweets day for the holidays!
Hi Lynsey! Omg, I am trying the coconut addition immediately! I am SO happy you liked them and am honored you’re including them in your annual sweets!! Thank you so, so much for trying them!
Loved this recipe. I made this for a gathering with a bunch of friends and it was an absolute crowd pleaser. So healthy and so delish!
Hi Lauren! Aw, this absolutely makes my day! I’m so happy your friends liked them! :’) Appreciate you for trying them!
These are soooo good! I didn’t have coconut sugar so I substituted with maple syrup. And instead of covering in chocolate, I rolled in quick oats. To me, the oats gave these a bit of a pie crust taste, so yummy! (Although, I don’t know how the oats will fair being refrigerated. I guess won’t provide as much “crunch” but I am sure still good!). Thank you for your recipe!
HI Jen! YAY, this makes my day! Thank you so much for trying them! I’m definitely going to try rolling them in oats next time!
Very good flavor and texture as i used to love pecan pie. But, please note the you must use dark chocolate or vegan chocolate to remain vegan. Milk chocolate is obviously not vegan.
Hi vicki! Im so happy you liked them! And so sorry, i’ll note that! I figured if someone was vegan, they’d have vegan chocolate on hand! (:
I’m a bit confused. Do you add the one cup to pecans to the mixture, then put whole pecans on the top at the end? I quickly checked the ingredients at the grocery store and bought approximately a cup of whole pecans. But when I went to make the recipe I figured I needed both a cup of pecans and then whole pecans. If so I might be helpful to know on the ingredients list. But they look delicious and I will get more pecans.
Hi Sue! The pecans on top are totally optional, no need to stress about adding them! I just think it makes them look pretty and adds some extra crunch! (:
these were super delicious but I think next time I’ll skip the vanilla though maybe I put too much in..haha. I bet these would be good with peanut butter too! yum! great recipe!
Hi Iva! I’m so happy you enjoyed them! I love vanilla, but I know it can be overpowering for some – I think they’d still be amazing without it!! Appreciate you so much for trying them!
I love pecans!! Can’t wait to try this recipe!! Just curious, what brand of chocolate do you use??
Hi Jessi! Yay, i hope you love!! I love Hu Kitchen bars (If you eat dairy, their Grass-fed milk chocolate bars are incredible!) But they also make dairy-free/vegan chocolate as well!
In the recipe directions you say “Add everything besides the chocolate to a food processor.” When you say “besides”, does that mean to added it in with the candy mixture?
You have 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips on the ingredient list. You also want the candy coated with chocolate. How much of the candy mixture gets chocolate and how much for the melted chocolate to dip the candy in?
Hi Carmen! SO sorry for the confusion. The chocolate chips are simply for coating! So you just add the dates, nuts, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, coconut sugar (if using) to the food processor. The chocolate will be melted later on to coat the bites!
Hi Dani, thanks for this recipe it’s amazing! I’m afraid I’m somewhat addicted already 😊 Which is why I’d love to know if you happen to have nutrition facts for these – how many calories, sugar etc they pack per piece? Thanks 😊
Hi Edina! So it’ll just depend on how large/small you make them, the type of chocolate you use, etc! I used Lily’s chocolate (which is sugar-free) so mine were much lower in sugar than ones made with full sugar chocolate. I’d recommend throwing the recipe into myfitnesspal or another app, with the exact brands you use for the most accurate measurements!