These cookies are simple to make and surprisingly good for being "healthy." The cookies include no artificial sweeteners and, instead, get their sweetness from dates and orange juice, both of which contribute nutrition to the cookies. Mildly sweet, the cookies are worth eating--both from the standpoint of taste and nutrition. Yes, the cookies contain a lot of "healthy" ingredients, and, yes, they are full of flavor, with plenty of orange taste, a touch of sweet cinnamon, and lots of crunchy walnuts. Rather than wheat flour, the cookies include coconut flour, which contributes only a slight "coconutty" taste. I usually sprinkle a bit of shredded coconut on top of the batter before baking it for even more coconut flavor and to decorate the cookies. You can substitute more walnuts, if you prefer. These are not crisp cookies. They are quite soft and just a tad squishy--more like thin cakes. We like them with a cup of tea or coffee for a simple dessert or treat. Enjoy!
Low Sugar Orange-Date Walnut Cookies -- Makes 12+
1/2 cup of pitted dates
Grated zest of an orange
2 tablespoons of milled flax seeds
1/4 cup of coconut flour
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/4 cup or orange juice
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup of chopped walnuts
Shredded coconut to top, optional (or use chopped walnuts)
Put the dates in a cup or small bowl and barely cover them with water. Microwave the dates and water for 1 1/2 minutes or until they are very hot. Stir them well and let them cool, then mash the dates/water together well with a fork. In a large bowl whisk together well the orange zest, flax seed meal, coconut flour, olive oil, orange juice, water, and vanilla. Let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes until it thickens up. Add the date/water mixture, the cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and walnuts and stir them in until combined.
Air Fryer: Cut pieces of baking parchment to fit your air fryer basket and drop 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoon scoops of batter onto the sheets, leaving a couple of inches between the batter mounds. With the back of a spoon or spatula, spread the batter out a bit until it's about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle a little shredded coconut on top of the batter to decorate it, if you'd like. Air fry the cookies at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until browned and set. The cookies will still be quite soft when you remove them. Let them cool and lift them from the parchment with a spatula.
Oven: Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and drop 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoon scoops of batter onto the sheet, leaving a couple of inches between the batter mounds. With the back of a spoon or spatula, spread the batter out a bit until it's about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle a little shredded coconut on top of the batter to decorate it, if you'd like. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes or until browned and set. The cookies will still be quite soft when you remove them. Let them cool and lift them from the parchment with a spatula.
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