Healthiest Cookies Ever

Healthiest Cookies Ever

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: healthy cookies

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 12

Total Time: 22

Servings:

Calories: 114kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

This may not be the first healthy cookie recipe you've tried, but it's going to be your favorite. These cookies taste like the "soft batch" cookies I grew up eating, only this recipe is made with 100% whole food ingredients: no flour, oil, or refined sugar required!

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Ingredients

1 ½ cups raw walnuts
1 tightly packed cup Medjool dates , pitted
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
3 tablespoons water
½ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade, process the walnuts briefly until they reach a crumbly texture.
Add in the dates, salt, baking powder, vanilla, flax, and water. Process again, until the batter looks relatively smooth and sticky. Then, add the chocolate chips or any other mix-ins you prefer, and process briefly to incorporate them.
Use a tablespoon or 1-ounce cookie scoop to scoop the dough and drop it onto the lined baking sheet. Use wet fingers to flatten and shape the cookies, because they won't spread as they bake. I usually get about 16 cookies from this batch.
Bake at 350ºF for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. While the cookies are still warm, you can add a few more chocolate chips on top (if there are any spots that look bare). Let them cool completely in the pan, as they will be fragile while they are still warm. Once they are cool, they are ready to enjoy.

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Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 16 cookies without the optional chocolate chips, since those can vary. This information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients in an online database, so it's just an estimate and not a guarantee.

I love the buttery flavor of these cookies when made with walnuts, but I have a feeling that pecans or almonds would work well, too.
If you don't have access to dates, raisins can be substituted in most cases, but the flavor will be slightly different.
If you don't want to use flax seeds, one chicken egg can be used instead of the ground flax and water that this recipe calls for.
Optional add-ins that are free of added sugar include: cacao nibs, raisins, shredded coconut, chopped nuts

Update Note: This recipe was updated in 2025 to use baking powder instead of baking soda + vinegar. If you prefer the original recipe, it calls for 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1 teaspoon of vinegar to help the cookies rise.

Nutrition