Updated July 29, 2023
Indulge in these moist and delicious date & almond butter cookies, sweetened naturally and packed with health benefits. Enjoy them guilt-free as a heart-friendly dessert or snack, loaded with fiber and essential nutrients. Enhance the flavor by adding a dash of ground ginger or cardamom, and pair with your favorite non-dairy milk for a perfect treat.
Dates, often referred to as “nature’s candy,” have been cultivated by humans for centuries, boasting over 600 varieties, with medjool dates being particularly popular. Beyond their natural sweetness, dates offer a wealth of benefits, including fiber, antioxidants, and an array of essential vitamins and minerals crucial for maintaining optimal health.
In addition to the cookie recipe below, here are a few quick ideas for more Paleo snacks using dates:
- Replace the pit with a blanched almond and wrap a slice of prosciutto around each date;
- Stuff the pitted dates with cashew cream, made by processing soaked cashews;
- Process 1 cup roughly chopped dates with 1/2 cup mixed ground nuts and 1 tablespoon raw cacao nibs to a paste, adding a little water if dates are too dry. Form into balls and roll in ground nuts. Place on a plate, lined with parchment paper and chill for a couple of hours before serving.
Almond Butter and Date Cookies
Serves 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 min
Ingredients:
10-12 medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1¼ cup almond flour
½ cup almond butter
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 small banana, peeled and cut into chunks
½ teaspoon almond extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350° F; grease and line a baking sheet and set aside.
- Place dates, almond flour, and almond butter, baking soda, and hemp seeds in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until just combined.
- Add the eggs, vanilla and almond extracts and banana and process until smooth. Sometimes dates are too dry, so add a splash of water to obtain a workable dough.
- Place tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart and flatten with a fork.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes, transfer onto a wire rack and cool completely before serving.
Nutrition facts per serving:
| calories 154 | total carbs 19g | protein 5g | total fat 8g |cholesterol 31mg | sodium 11mg |
