Chocolate Date Cookies
Description
Nutrient-rich dates and dark chocolate combine in this chocolate date cookie recipe, replacing sugar with dates for a healthier cookie alternative.
Ingredients
•
8 ounces pitted Deglet Noor dates
•
hot water as needed
•
1 cup chopped walnuts
•
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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1 egg
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1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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1/4 cup rolled oats
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1/4 cup dark cocoa powder (such as Hershey's® Special Dark)
•
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Directions
1
Place dates in a small bowl; add enough hot water to cover. Set aside until soft, about 10 minutes.
2
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
3
Remove dates from water; reserve soaking liquid. Combine dates, walnuts, and vegetable oil in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until mixture forms a paste and no large date chunks remain (this may take several minutes). Add soaking liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time, if mixture is too dry, until reaches a paste-like consistency.
4
Add egg and vanilla; pulse to combine. Add oats, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; pulse to combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Fold in chocolate chips (dough will be very sticky).
5
Scoop dough into balls using a medium cookie scoop; place 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Press dough balls down with damp fingers to flatten slightly.
6
Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are just set, 13 to 15 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.