Vegan Salted Date Caramel Chocolate Cookies

While Cody and I were in Phoenix last week, we stopped by an amazing juice shop. This really really nice but SUPER fit girl (like, the most muscle ever) across the counter was telling us about how she enjoys the green juices because she limits her sugars. Even sugars from healthy juices made from fruit! Meanwhile, I’m standing there holding the sweetest juice on the menu and dreaming about Healthy S’mores and Birthday Cake Rice Krispie Treats…..

This got me thinking. I started feeling like I should majorly cut sugar out of my life and even started doubting what I consider “healthy eating”. Then I realized an essential truth that I couldn’t wait to share with you guys: Healthy eating looks different for everyone. I think it’s AWESOME that this girl was able to cut sugar out of her life to that extent, to the point where she doesn’t even crave it. I’ll always strive to only consume natural fruit sugars as our bodies don’t need that much sugar and would be better off with things that provide nutrition! However, I’m Christine, and I was born with the world’s greatest sweet tooth. And I know that very well. Therefore, every once in awhile, I need a freakin’ cookie. With better-for-ya sugars and wholesome ingredients, why of course.

All that to say, learn what you can’t live without, and find a way to modify! If that’s sweet treats, head over to our desserts page to make things that have healthy ingredient swaps! If it’s french fries, try making sweet potato fries instead. And most of all, don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re not good enough or working hard enough. If you’re doing your best, just keep going, friend! And then go eat a delicious Vegan Salted Date Caramel Chocolate Cookie 😉

Now let’s talk about these cookies. These cookies were made with love THE BEST ORGANIC COCOA POWDER EVER. If you’ve never had Anthony’s Goods Organic Cocoa Powder, you need to head over to their site and load up right away! 😉 It’s seriously amazing. I also finally invested (HUGE investment y’all…..an entire 3$!) in a squeeze bottle for the date caramel sauce. I won’t go into detail about the sauce disasters I had prior to this bottle (I’ll let you find those in my previous recipes on your own), but just trust me, it’s the best thing since sliced bread!

Also, both Cody and I think that these Vegan Salted Date Caramel Chocolate Cookies taste like something from our childhood, but we can’t figure it out! Like maybe some type of Hostess dessert? If you make these, let us know what you think they taste like!

5 from 12 votes

Print Recipe

Vegan Salted Date Caramel Chocolate Cookies

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 30

Calories: 59 kcal

Author: Christine McMichael

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 dates
• ▢ 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• ▢ 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• ▢ 2 Tbsp vegan butter (or coconut oil)
• ▢ 4 Tbsp agave syrup
• ▢ 3 tsp vanilla
• ▢ 2 tsp baking soda
• ▢ 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• ▢ 1/2 cup cocoa
• ▢ 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• ▢ 1 Tbsp flaxseed
• ▢ 1 Tbsp sea salt

Instructions

• Soak the dates in water and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• While the dates are soaking, mix all of the liquid ingredients except for 1 tsp of vanilla in a food processor. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
• Set the mixtures aside. In a blender, blend the dates until they are a creamy texture.
• In a food processor, combine the previously set aside liquid and dry ingredients. Add 1/2 of the blended dates to the dough. Set the dough aside.
• Take the other 1/2 of the blended dates and continue to blend with the extra 1 tsp of vanilla and about 5 Tbsp of water. Continue until a caramel sauce is created.
• Roll the dough into about 30 cookies and flatten (they won't spread). Bake for about 10 minutes per cookie sheet.
• Once cooled, drizzle each cookie with the caramel salt and top with a pinch of sea salt!

Nutrition

Calories: 59 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 2 g | Sugar: 7 g

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