Peanut Butter Date Cookies
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These Peanut Butter Date Cookies are sweetened naturally with dates and are grain-free! They’re simple to make and are a great snack or treat that you can feel good about!
We also love these Lemon Blueberry Cookies and Vegan Thumbprint Cookies With Raspberry Chia Jam in our house!
*Note: This post was originally published on March 4, 2022, and was updated on September 21, 2023.
Peanut Butter Date Cookies
I was inspired to make a treat without any added sugar thanks to my friend Alex of @mindbody.andbump on Instagram. She was doing a 31-Day No Added Sugar Challenge for the month of March and I wanted in…but I wasn’t ready to give up sweets entirely! This recipe was my compromise. 🙂
I hope these Peanut Butter Date Cookies give you a “sweet treat” option for you and your family that you can feel good about! My kids are all about these cookies and I’m okay with it, knowing what’s in them.
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter and Date Cookies
Only 8 ingredients. These cookies only have 8 ingredients, making them a simple (and delightful) cookie.
Easy to make. I love how easy they are to make as you just throw all of the ingredients into your food processor and blend!
No added sugar. These cookies are naturally sweetened by dates! Dates also add some more nutrients to the cookies like fiber, potassium, and iron.
Grain-free. Since there is no added flour, the cookies will come out of the oven pretty soft. Make sure to let them set on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They will still be soft after this and a little crispy around the edges!
Easy to make them vegan. If you want the recipe to be egg-free, you can swap out the egg for a “chia egg” (see recipe notes below for instructions).
Peanut Butter Date Cookie Ingredients
Pitted dates: I used Medjool dates. Any kind will do though!
Hot water: This is to soak the dates to soften them. Make sure to reserve 1 tablespoon of the hot water before you strain the dates.
Peanut butter: You can use salted or unsalted. You can also use any nut butter or use sunflower butter if you want to make the cookies nut-free.
Coconut oil: This helps to make sure the cookies don’t get too dry.
Vanilla extract: For flavor.
Egg: You can use an egg or make the cookies vegan by using a Chia Egg (see notes below).
Baking soda: For structure.
Salt: For flavor.
How to Make Peanut Butter Date Cookies
STEP 1 – Soak the dates
In a small bowl, cover dates in hot water and let soak for 2 minutes to soften them. Meanwhile, add the remaining ingredients to a food processor.
STEP 2 – Prep the cookie dough
Scoop 1 tablespoon of the date hot water out and add it to the food processor. Drain the dates and add them to the food processor. Process until fully mixed and a ball/dough forms.
Scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough (depending on how large you like your cookies) into your hand and roll it into a ball. Using the palm of your hand, press the dough down to create a cookie shape. Your hands will get oily! Place on a lined baking sheet.
(Optional) Using a fork, press down gently in the center of the cookie to make an imprint. Switch the direction of your fork by 90 degrees and press down again.
STEP 3 – Bake
Bake in the oven for 13 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
FAQ
You sure can! Replace the egg with a “chia egg”. Mix 1 tablespoon chia seeds and 2.5 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes until it forms a gel-like consistency. Add it to the food processor, just as you would an egg.
Yes! Feel free to use your favorite nut butter or make them nut-free by using a sunflower seed butter, like Sunbutter.
Yes! We love adding chocolate chips to ours.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes!
Vegan Thumbprint Cookies With Raspberry Chia Jam
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegan Apple Peanut Butter Cookies
Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies With Coconut
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Peanut Butter Date Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pitted dates
- Hot water, (to soak the dates – reserve 1 tablespoon)
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ⅛ cup coconut oil , at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg, (or chia egg*)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, cover dates in hot water and let soak for 2 minutes. This just helps them soften a little.
- Meanwhile, add the remaining ingredients to a food processor.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of the date hot water out and add it to the food processor. Drain dates and add them to the food processor.
- Process until fully mixed and a ball/dough forms.
- Scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough (depending on how large you like your cookies) into your hand and roll it into a ball. Your hands will get oily! Using the palm of your hand, press the dough down to create a cookie shape. Place on the baking sheet.
- (Optional) Using a fork, press down gently in the center of the cookie to make an imprint. Switch the direction of your fork by 90 degrees and press down again.
- Bake in the oven for 13 minutes. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.