Date-sweetened cookies are refined sugar-free, soft, chewy and deserving of a place on your go-to cookie recipe list! They will have you asking, “How are these only sweetened with fruit?”
These delicious cookies are lightly sweetened and nutrient-packed-- a perfect option for a hearty breakfast cookie. Make a few batches at one time so you can stock your freezer with a healthy grab-and-go breakfast option.
I love using dates in baking or to bring sweetness to many different foods such as marinades or smoothies. Dates have many health benefits. They are a high source of potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6. They are also full of antioxidants, high in fibre and a good source of iron.
You’re going to love these cookies and feel so good about sharing them with your friends and family. Enjoy!
If you're looking for more delicious and wholesome treats that are entirely sweetened by fruit visit my recipes for: Caramel Date Paste, Date Sweetened Chocolate Pudding, Tahini Stuffed Dates, Chocolate Covered Pineapple and Cottage Cheese Banana Ice Cream.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's sweetened entirely with fruit!
- Delicious as a breakfast cookie especially if you add some nuts or hemp hearts to boost the protein content.
- These cookies freeze well, so you can always have some available.
- Ideal for meal prep for a quick wholesome snack all week long.
- Kid-friendly!
- These cookies are packed with dates! Dates are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and a good source of iron.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Medjool dates - be sure to take the pits out!
- Eggs – use large eggs for this recipe
- Vanilla extract – it’s worth it to invest in pure vanilla or make your own
- All-purpose flour – you can also sub for spelt flour
- Baking soda
- Salt – I love to use unrefined grey salt for extra minerals and flavor
- Ground cinnamon – I recommend Ceylon cinnamon also known as "true" cinnamon
- Oats – use large flake rolled oats, sometimes called “old fashioned” oats
- Chocolate chips - to keep sugar content lower in these cookies you can purchase chocolate chips sweetened with stevia or dates if desired.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- Instead of chocolate chips, you can experiment with dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, chopped dates, chopped dried apricots or candied ginger. These options will add natural sweetness to the cookies.
- Consider adding texture to the cookies by the addition of shredded coconut, crushed pretzels or even a sprinkle of flaky salt.
- Or add various nuts, like chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Swap the chocolate chips for chopped dark chocolate.
- Try stuffing or topping with homemade Nutella.
- Swap the all-purpose flour for spelt flour if you prefer.
- You can use other date varieties such as Deglet Noor instead of Medjool.
I have not experimented with any other substitutions or alterations for this recipe. If you decide to make any changes by adding or substituting ingredients, I would love it if you could share your results with us by leaving a comment below.
How To Make Date Sweetened Cookies
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.
Step 1: Pit the dates and preheat the oven.
Remove the pits from the dates. Use a small knife to make a lengthwise slit along one side of the date and pull the seed out.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Blend the wet ingredients.
In a food processor or blender, blitz together the butter, egg, vanilla and dates until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Mix the dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients including the rolled oats.
Step 4: Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well incorporated.
Step 5: Add chocolate chips.
Add the chocolate chips and stir until just combined.
Step 6: Bake the Cookies
Roll about 2 level tablespoons of dough for each cookie. Press the cookie dough down and shape into desired round cookie shape as these cookies don't spread much. Add a few chocolate chips to the top of each cookie for appearance if desired. (If your dough seems soft, chill for 30 minutes before rolling your cookies.)
Bake in a 350 degree F oven for approximately 8 minutes. Allow cookies to cool and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- If your dates are too firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes to soften them before using. the water thoroughly and pat dry before adding them to the blender.
- When blending the wet ingredients with the dates, blend for at least 30 seconds and ensure a really creamy consistency. There shouldn't be pieces of dates visible when it's fully blended.
- Chilling the dough: If your dough seems too soft or sticky to handle, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes before rolling the cookies.
- Use a tablespoon measure to portion the dough into uniform sizes. This ensures that the cookies bake evenly and have a consistent shape.
Recipe FAQs
No. Dates grow on date palm trees and are dried and harvested before being brought to market. Nowhere in the process is sugar added.
Yes. Dates are high in natural sugars and are also loaded with other nutrients such as iron and antioxidants.
If your dates are too firm, you can soften them by soaking them in warm water for about 10-15 minutes. Drain the water fully before using the dates in your recipe.
Storage
Fridge
Once the cookies have completely cooled, place them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Enjoy the cookies chilled (like I do!) or bring them to room temperature before eating.
Freezer
Allow the cookies to cool completely after baking. Place them in a freezer-safe bag. Store the cookies in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the desired amount of cookies at room temperature before enjoying.
More Healthy Recipes You'll Love
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Leave a review or comment below!
Recipe
Date Sweetened Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates, lightly packed (10-12 dates)
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips or sugar free chips if desired
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates. In a food processor or blender, blitz together the butter, egg, vanilla and pitted dates until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients including the rolled oats.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until incorporated. Add chocolate chips and stir until just combined.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. If your dough seems soft, chill for 30 minutes before rolling your cookies.
- Roll about 2 tablespoon of dough for each cookie. Press the cookie dough down and shape into desired round cookie shape as these cookies don't spread much. Add a few chocolate chips to the top of each cookie for appearance if desired. Bake for approximately 8 minutes. Enjoy!
- Note: I especially enjoy these cookies after they've been chilled in the fridge.
Notes
- If your dates are too firm, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes to soften them before using. Drain the water thoroughly and pat dry before adding them to the blender.
- When blending the wet ingredients with the dates, blend for at least 30 seconds and ensure a really creamy consistency. There shouldn't be pieces of dates visible when it's fully blended.
- Chilling the dough: If your dough seems too soft or sticky to handle, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes before rolling the cookies.
- Use a tablespoon measure to portion the dough into uniform sizes. This ensures that the cookies bake evenly and have a consistent shape.
Nutrition
If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went! Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!
‘Til next time,
Christy
Janis Lindley says
I made this with spelt wheat flour, olive oil instead of butter, flax egg instead of egg, and used the convenient pitted dates, with 72% dark chocolate giradeli chips! I made sure to cook them a few minutes longer than called for in the recipe. The cookies turned out to be delicious! I am trying to keep my cholesterol in a healthy range so this healthy cookie recipe is perfect! Thank you!
Cara says
My husband hates dates, but these cookies converted him! he now swears they are the best chocolate chip cookies he's ever had and his favorite cookies of all time! I cook them a little less time and leave them suuuper chewy. So so good. thank you
Kim Buchmeyer says
Wonderful recipe! I have just discovered baking with dates and this recipe is so good! I want to try using oat flour next time to avoid the oat texture. Also, I may increase the cinnamon and salt just a tiny bit. My mind is churning with variations of this recipe! Someone mentioned adding pecans & coconut... Delicious!
Cindy says
These are really good! I had some sugar free peanut butter chips so I put half of those along with chocolate chips.
Abby Fraser says
I really enjoyed these! I love that they are naturally sweetened and taste amazing!
Toni says
Delicious, and I truly did keep saying "how are these sweetened with only dates??" I swapped the chocolate chips for raisins since the oats were whole. I want to try and make a true chocolate chip cookie using this recipe for guidance - and omit the oats. Would I sub more white flour for the oats to make them more of a traditional chocolate chip cookie? Thanks!
KT Delphonse says
These are now a staple in my house! We make them almost monthly! My son doesn’t do too well with refined sugars so he loves these because he gets to gobble them up without the intense sugar high and low that follow.
Tina H says
Made these and they turned out great! I'd never baked with dates before and was looking for recipes that were straightforward, without complicated ingredients. I'm thinking about adding chopped pecans and maybe some coconut next time. Also you really do need a powerful food processor the puree those dates. I might try soaking them next time like it suggested in the notes section. Anyways, even my pickiest eater in the household went back for three more! Thanks for sharing!
Carl says
Hi Christy, THESE ARE GREAT. Thank you for developing this recipe.
Diane says
I am eager to try this recipe and was wondering whether date syrup might work instead of using actual dates.
Christy Faber says
Hi Diane! I haven't ever tested this recipe with date syrup and I don't think it would work because the fibre in the whole dates also helps to hold these cookies together.
JUDY Caldwell says
these are excellent. shared with my neighbors. loved them. I added coconut, pecans, and hemp hearts. thanks for the recipe. I only cooked for 7 min though
CH says
I’ve made these twice in the last two weeks - delicious both times!
First time I made exactly as recipe written. Only change I would make is to cook for 1-2 more minutes; they were so soft they almost fell apart.
Second time, I just chopped up the dates into very small pieces instead of using the food processor. It’s not as smooth as first time, but the pieces of date were small enough to ‘melt’ as they’re combined with rest of ingredients.
Fabulous recipe - many thanks!!
Rachael says
I substituted some of the flour and oats for some vanilla protein powder and some LSA mix. About 1 cups worth. I also baked it as a slice rather than as individual cookies. It's in the oven at the moment, but my 5 year old picky eater child is happily licking the bowl as we wait for it to cook.
Marilyn says
Excellent!
Shelly says
Do you think Almond Flour would work for a Gluten free option?
Christy Faber says
I've never tested it so it's hard to say! I think oat flour would be a better one to one swap!
Shelly says
OMG!! So good for sugar free!! Those dates add an amazing flavor/sweetener. Natural sweeteners are the best! Thank you for this recipe.
Emarie says
I can't wait to try these tomorrow! I was wondering if I would be able to make up some extra dough, not to cook right away but to freeze or refrigerate so that I could quickly pop them on a baking sheet when needed?
Christy Faber says
That definitely should work! (Although I've never tested it) You may just need to add a bit of time to the baking time when baking from frozen. 🙂
Hannah says
I return to this recipe regularly! I find it so tasty!!!
Kate says
I don’t usually rate recipes, but this one is so good I had to!
Eva says
I made cookies similar to these, with dates and eggs. After I baked them, I accidentally left them out overnight to cool. Would they be safe to eat, considering they contain eggs and have no other "natural" preservatives? I worry that bacteria formed on them, especially with the egg in the recipe.
Christy Faber says
Hi Eva! As far as I understand baked goods with eggs can be left at room temperature over night. I did a quick google search as well and a reputable baking site confirmed this as well.
Abby Fraser says
These cookies taste amazing and we're so easy to make! I will definitely be making them again. Thanks Christy for the amazing recipe!
Jenny Graves says
This is the holy grail of chocolate chip cookie recipes for me. I can’t wait to make them. Thanks for this great way to use dates. Yummy!
Katie Crenshaw says
These are addicting! The flavor is so good and I love that all the ingredients are natural.
Amy Liu Dong says
Oh my gosh, my sweet tooth is so happy seeing these cookies. This is so delicious!
Jamie says
Wow! This is a unique cookie, I love the idea of adding date to our favorite chocolate chip cookies! It looks so delicious! The taste of date and chocolate will keep us coming back for more!
Nivine El Alami says
What can we replace the butter with? So excited to try them!
Christy Faber says
I think a coconut oil substitution should work but I haven't tested it to make sure. If you try coconut oil let me know how it goes!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I love using dates in baking and these cookies were delicious. A wonderful recipe to use dates and absolutely did not miss the added sugar in the cookies.
Mindy says
I had a bunch of dates lying around so I decided to give this recipe a try. I give it a 10/10. So delicious. I used pitted dates so it made the process super quick and easy!
Colleen says
These cookies have just the right amount of sweetness without sugar. Great recipe, it's a keeper!
veenaazmanov says
Healthy combination of ingredients and definitely a healthy cookie recipe too. Best as a snack option.
Kate says
I'm saving this recipe to make with my daughters, one of whom has a really big sweet tooth! I've been trying to find ways to reduce added sugars in her diet so I'm excited to try this one, it looks delicious.
Leslie says
You're totally right, I was definitely asking how these are only sweetened with fruit! haha! This is a fabulous cookie recipe!
Hannah Sloots says
what the heck....these are actually AMAZING. I will be making again!