I have a new favorite ingredient: dates.
I discovered them first in this totally amazing raw brownie recipe (seriously, they are awesome brownies, raw or otherwise) and I was basically flabbergasted that you could make something that tastes this good out of nothing but pulverized nuts, dates, and cocoa powder.
Not only are dates good in brownies, they also make killer no-bake peanut butter bites (I added some chopped chocolate to these):
AND they are a wonderful addition to a morning smoothie. My current favorite combination is a banana, a handful of frozen strawberries, a scoop of Greek yogurt, a little flax seed meal, a spoonful of almond butter for protein, a cup of water, a dash of cinnamon, and one or two pitted dates. It’s quite yummy and it packs some good nutrition thanks to the dates.
And finally, the subject of this post: these cookies. A friend sent me a recipe for energy bars made with basically just eggs, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips, and I turned it into these cookies, sweetened with dates. In future batches I might add some chocolate chips or cocoa powder, but I wanted these to be a healthy treat. They taste like a combination of a coconut macaroon and an oatmeal cookie, yet I feel no guilt at all eating these particular cookies for breakfast (along with a smoothie 😉 ).
Coconut Oatmeal and Date Cookies
Makes 20 or so cookies. If you happen to buy dates with pits, the best way to remove them is by squashing the date under the wide flat blade of a knife to expose the pit so you can pull it out.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine:
2 eggs
10 pitted dates
a pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Blend until the dates are totally pulverized and the eggs look creamy.
Pour into a medium bowl and add:
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cups rolled oats (I used old fashioned)
1/2 cup dried fruit (I used dried strawberries)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used almonds)
Mix until combined.
Press spoonfuls of the mixture into balls (it will be crumbly) and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
Bake at 350˚F for about 12 minutes, until browned around the edges, and cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container.
Those huge, soft medjool dates are the best eh? These are right up my alley – look forward to trying. Could probably use only egg whites to make them even lighter – more macaroonish.
They’re pretty great, and so versatile!
I am going to veganise these Korena, they look like something that would go very nicely with an early morning cup of tea to get you up and attm’ first thing 🙂
Yes, for sure! What kind of egg substitute do you use??
I would use some besan flour in this recipe but there are all different kinds 🙂 It would work best here to bind everything together 🙂
Narf7, I was going to reblog this with a challenge to you to veganize it. 😉 Guess you beat me to it . . . Looking forward to your version, too. ~ Linne
Yu-um! Seriously. If only I hadn’t shoveled down the last of the dates the other day in my quest for sweetness in a sugar-free house, I would make these right now.
Oh wow, I want to make all of these. Better go date shopping!
dates in brownies – love that idea!
and yum these cookies look like my kinda snack! 😀
Korena every thing looks so tasty and healthy but really your coconut date cookies really look sublime. Are they chewy or crispy? Either way would be good for me. I like how easy the recipe is as well. thanks for the great healthy snack ideas. Have a super weekend. BAM
They are crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle – best of both worlds!
These are amazing! I love the fact that you didn’t add any sugar, I’m sure the dates takes good care of that. But it also makes them an amazing post-workout snack!!
Yes, for sure! Great energy boost, especially with the coconut.