Healthy Holiday Treat: Almond Date Cookies
Looking for a date for the festive season? How about one you can count on? Maybe one that comes bearing almonds, coconut and cinnamon, too? Your perfect date: These date cookies.
We love cookies. What would winter be without them? This crunchy holiday treat is delicious and healthy. Naturally sweetened with dates, these cookies contain no added sugar and are easily made vegan by using an egg alternative.
So, other than the natural sweeteners, what’s healthy about the cookie?
Good for the digestion: Dates, almonds and whole grains are rich in fiber. Fiber keeps your gut happy and helps with constipation.
Immune system boost: Coconut is composed of lauric acid which the body converts into monolaurin. Monolaurin is an antiviral agent that helps fight a variety of pathogens and viruses.
Active fat metabolism: Since our recipe only includes naturally occurring sugar from protein, fat and fiber content, blood sugar levels remains more stable than a cookie using refined sugar. This limits cravings and prevents fat metabolism from being interrupted for too long.
Heart-healthy: Research shows that eating almonds can help to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors including cholesterol levels and belly fat.
If you like, drizzle the cookies with icing and sprinkles for a more festive look!
Almond Date Cookies recipe
Ingredients
- 1 egg (vegan alternative: 1 Tbsp chia seeds soaked in 3 Tbsp water)
- ½ cup ground almonds
- 1 ½ cup whole grain flour (preferably spelt)
- ½ cup coconut oil (alternative: ½ cup butter)
- 2 Tbsp almond butter (alternative: 2 Tbsp of another nut or seed butter)
- ½ cup chopped, pitted dates
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
Method
- Add the egg, coconut oil, almond butter and dates to food processor and blend until creamy.
- Add ground almonds, salt and cinnamon and mix again.
- Take the mass out of the mixer and transfer it to a bowl. Slowly add flour. Knead the mixture with your hands until you have a smooth dough.
- Store the dough in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Roll the dough out on a surface that is lightly dusted with flour. The dough should be about 4 millimeters thick. (Tip: Put the dough between two pieces of parchment paper and then roll it out. That way, you don’t need to dust a surface with flour.)
- Preheat the oven to 320°F.
- Cut the cookies with your favorite cookie cutter and place the pieces on a baking tray that is layered with parchment paper.
- Place tray in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes until they become slightly darker.
