Cookies

Whole Foodie Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite, especially when they include oatmeal. Make them vegan with no oil or processed sugars and you’ve got a cookie I wont pass up. I love these so much, I only make them when I have a lot of friends to share them with because I will eat the whole batch!

Check out my YouTube “short” video here.

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1 cup rolled oats

1 cups walnuts

1 tsp baking soda

1 cups dates soaked in 1/2 cup water until soft

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 t vanilla

 

Cranberry Walnut Cookies

I’m not sure it’s possible for me to have a favorite cookie (I love them all!) but if I could, this Cranberry Walnut Cookie would be one of them. I love the tart from the cranberries, the “zest” from the orange and the richness from the walnuts and chewiness of the oats.  These Cranberry Walnut Cookies are gluten-free, vegan, have no oil or processed sugar, and are a wonderful addition to your holiday cookie plate.

Recipe is from my cookbook Whole Food American Favorites.

 

 

 

 

 1 cup raisins

1 1/2 cups raw walnuts

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup dried cranberries (preferably fruit juice sweetened)

Zest of 1 small orange

1 t vanilla

Soak raisins in 1/2 cup water for at least 2 hours. Grind walnuts, oats, and raisins with soak water in food processor until dough-like consistency. Add cranberries, zest, and vanilla, and process just to incorporate. Scoop out dough, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and flatten with a fork. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes.

 

Vegan Peanut Better Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe is adapted from a recipe someone brought to the Vegetarian Society of Utah potluck. (Not sure of the source) The recipe called for coconut sugar and almond milk. I’ve replace the coconut sugar with dates, a whole food sweetener, and since I rarely have almond milk on hand, I just used water. I knew that small amount wouldn’t make any difference. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 small pitted dates  (deglet noor is the type I use)

1/4 cup water

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/3 cup natural peanut butter

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Soak dates in the 1/4 cup of water for a few hours to soften them.* The water will not cover the dates but moisten all the dates the best that you can. 

In a food processor fitted with an S blade, add oats and baking soda and grind to flour. 

Add peanut butter, softened dates, vinegar, and vanilla. Grind to a thick dough.  Carefully mix in chocolate chips.

 

*If you don’t want to take the time to soften the dates, grind the dates with the oats until crumbly then add other ingredients, including the 1/4 cup water. 

 

 

 

 

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

The original recipe in my cookbook Whole Food American Favorites calls for 1 cup of cashews instead of 1/2 cup of pecans or walnuts and does not include beans. This makes the cookie more flat like a sugar cookie. The recipe here has a cake-like texture. Still delicious and less fat. If you have a nut allergy, use hemp seeds in place of the pecans or walnuts. 

Check out my YouTube video on how to make these here.

 

 

 

 

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup pitted dates

1/2 cup pecans or walnuts

1/4 cup cooked garbanzo beans

2 T molasses 

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 t baking soda

3/4 t ground ginger

1/2 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1/2 t vanilla

 

Grind oats, dates, and nuts in a food processor work bowl until crumbly. Add remaining ingredients and process to a dough. Scoop dough with a cookie scoop or spoon and place on a cookie sheet lines with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. 

 

Chocolate Black Bean Cookies

1 cup rolled oatsBrownie Cookies

1/2 cup raw walnuts*

1/2 cup cooked black beans

30 small pitted dates

2 T cocoa powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 T apple cider vinegar

Process all ingredients in a food processor until a dough forms. Scoop out desired amount of dough and place on a cookies sheet limed with parchment paper. Flatten and from into a cookie shape. Cookies will not spread when cooked. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

*For those with nut allergies, substitute 1/2 hemp seeds and 1/2 sunflower seeds.

Gingerbread Man Cookies

From my cookbook Whole Food American Favorites

A strong blender such as a Vitamix or BlendTec., or a strong food processor such as a Kitchen Aid or Cuisinart, is necessary for this recipe.

 25 small pitted dates

2 1/4 cups white wheat flour, sifted

2 t baking powder

1/4 t sea salt

1 1/2 t powdered ginger

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t cloves

1/3 cup molasses

1 cup raw cashews

1 t vanilla

 

Soak dates in 1/2 cup water for at least 4 hours. Mix sifted flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Blend dates and water with remaining ingredients in a strong blender or food processor until smooth. Add to dry ingredients. Mix well and knead until you have a smooth ball of dough. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for several hours until chilled. (This step makes rolling out much easier.) Divide dough in half and roll one half between two pieces of parchment paper or wax paper.  Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a gingerbread man cookie cutter and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Use raisins or dried cranberries to decorage. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

20 small pitted dates soaked in 1/3 cup water

1 1/2 cup rolled oats, divided

1/4 cup hemp seeds*

1/4 cup sunflower seeds*

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 t baking soda

1/4 cup mini non-dairy chocolate chips

 

In a food processor with an S blade, grind dates, including soak water, 1/2 cup oats, seeds, and vinegar until creamy. Manually stir in baking soda and remaining oats, until well incorporated. Process briefly if needed. Manually stir in chocolate chips. Process briefly if needed. It’s best not to process the oats too much. Scoop out dough and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Flatten using your hand and a piece of parchment paper or wax paper to keep from sticking to your hand. Bake until slightly brown, about 12 – 13 minutes.

*If needed, grind seeds in a coffee grinder first to make sure they get finely ground.

* 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts can be used in place of the seeds

Almond Sugar Cookies

From my cookbook Whole Food American Favorites

1 cup raw almonds (raw cashews work too)

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup pitted dates

1/2 t almond extract

1 t baking soda

1 T apple cider vinegar

Chop all ingredients in a food processor until a dough starts to form. Add a tablespoon of water to help it become sticky. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out dough, roll in a ball and mash to a cookie shape. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes. 

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip CookiesThis banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe is adapted from the Engine 2 Diet. The original recipe called for peanut butter, but because of my peanut allergy, I use pecans instead. And I prefer to use a whole-food sweetener such as dates rather than maple syrup. These cookies are plump, chewy, and very delicious! 

 

 

 

3 ripe bananas, peeled
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup raw pecans
10 small pitted dates
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or oats for a gluten-free version)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Blend bananas, pecans, dates, vanilla, and vinegar in a strong blender until smooth.

To make these gluten free, blend 1/2 cup oats with bananas and dates.

Combine oats, whole wheat flour (if using), and baking powder in a mixing bowl.

Mix blender mixture into oats. Add chocolate chips and/or raisins. You can choose to use only one or the other. Mix well.

Using a cooking scoop or spoon, scoop out desired amount and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly oiled.

Bake 15–18 minutes.

“I made the Banana Oatmeal cookies and was surprised how good they are.  I used all oatmeal and made them in the food processor.  Great way to use ripe bananas.  Thanks for the recipe!”  Barbara, St. George

Banana Bread Cookies

ThesBanana Bread Muffin Bitese delicious Banana Bread Cookies are so healthy they are great for breakfast on the go.  It’s a great way to use up your ripe bananas.

Recipe from Whole Food American Favorites

 

 

 

 

 

25 small pitted dates

1 cup rolled oats*

1 cup raw pecans or walnuts

1 very ripe banana

1 t vanilla

1/4 t nutmeg

1 t cinnamon

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 t baking soda

 

Soak dates in 1/2 cup water for at least 4 hours. Add oats, nuts, banana, vanilla, spices, and dates, including soak water, to food processor. Grind to a chunky dough. In a small bowl, mix together vinegar and baking soda. Add to dough and process a few more seconds to mix. Scoop out dough, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

*If the dough is too moist, add more oats to reach desired consistency. 

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