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These 5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies…

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

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They are just what every Tuesday needs.

Originally, this cookie recipe was supposed to be Friday’s post, but when I sat down to write today’s post, I really just wanted to write about cookies. Granted it’s currently very, very cold, and very, very snowy outside, so talking about a green salad, just didn’t seem right. Snow days need cookies, and hey, at least these cookies are healthy…ish!

Real talk for a second? Well I’ve loved creating some seriously bright recipes this January for our Healthy January, the one thing I have struggled with is healthier desserts. I always find healthier desserts a little harder than say, just throwing a whole bunch of extra vibrant food in a bowl and calling it a day. Unlike savory foods, desserts usually need a little sugar, and if there’s one thing all health experts agree on, it’s that sugar is pretty bad for us.

UGH. But what about our chocolate sweets, you know?

I’m not one to give up on a good challenge, so I had to start getting a little creative when it came to healthier sweets.

Enter these cookies. They are flourless, butterless, and contain no processed sugar.

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

So basically, they’re health food. Cookies for breakfast?

Um, OK.

And now you’re probably wondering how on Earth these cookies taste even remotely good without any of the usual ingredients cookies contain. Well, I have a secret ingredient.

DATES.

Yup, just dates. Chewy, incredibly sweet dates. I swear, for those of you who think dates aren’t any good, think again because they are a miracle ingredient when it comes to naturally sweetening food, and I love using them in place of processed sugars whenever possible.

Major bonus? Even though dates are incredibly sweet, they actually provide nutritional benefits and are high in antioxidants, potassium and magnesium. Just one serving of dates provides about fifteen percent of your daily fiber.

Cool. Cool.

Double major bonus? Dates are not only sweet and can replace sugar in recipes, but they’re also super sticky and moist, eliminating the need for binders like butter, oil, and sometimes eggs in vegan baking.

You see, you see? Miracle ingredient. I am a little bit obsessed…but moving along now.

PS. I sent about a dozen of these cookies over to my parent’s house for them to try. I wasn’t sure how they’d react because my mom is one of those people who thinks she doesn’t like dates…well, she loved these cookies, as did my dad. When you get mom’s approval on a cookie, you know it’s a good cookie.

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

Aside from the dates, these cookies are made up of four other ingredients: peanut butter, vanilla extract, a large egg, and a generous amount of dark chocolate or milk chocolate.

The peanut butter is the key flavor here and I LOVE it…but I’m sure you guys could have guess that. Peanut butter and chocolate are definitely one of my favorite combos. That said, if you’re opposed, or want to switch things up, these work with just about any other nut butter. I’ve made them with almond butter and they are equally delicious and cashew butter sounds like a genius idea.

A few notes.

I use organic, salted peanut butter that has no added oil or sugars. Just be sure whatever you are using is salted. If it’s not salted, make sure to add a pinch of salt to the dough.

If your dates are feeling dry, soak them in warm water for fifteen minutes or so to plump them up again. Drain the water off before using.

As for your melted chocolate, mine was only seventy-two percent dark. I could have definitely used a darker bar, but I just didn’t have any hand. You can use whatever percent chocolate you’d like. Milk, semi-sweet, or extra, extra dark, it all works. Just depends how healthy…ish you want to be.

Most important tip? Do not over bake these cookies…always under bake. Guys, there is no butter, no sugar, and no flour, if you over bake you are going to get a dry, burnt tasting cookie, and that’s not good. So set a timer when you put these in the oven and watch closely. Got it? Good.

Now that we have all the details, can we all agree to go home tonight and bake up some healthier peanut butter cookies?

I think our Tuesday needs a cookie…dunked in chocolate!

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree
4.26 from 500 votes
15 cookies
calories 156kcal
Prep15 minutes
Cook10 minutes
Total25 minutes
No butter, no sugar, and no flour...dates are the secret ingredient here, not only do they replace the sugar, but they make the cookies moist and delicious!
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the peanut butter, dates, and vanilla. Pulse until well combined and no large chunks of dates remain. Add the egg and pulse to combine. Roll the dough 14-15 balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Using a fork, gently press down on each dough ball to flatten and create a cross hatch pattern. Transfer to the oven and bake for 9-10 minutes. It's important not to over bake these cookies, so set a timer!
    3. Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool. To make dipping easier, freeze the cookies for 10-15 minutes. Then drizzle or dip the cookies in chocolate and sprinkle with peanuts. Eat...or let the chocolate harden and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Enjoy!

Notes

Date Substitute: you can use 3/4-1 cup granulated sugar in place of the dates. Work wonderfully! 

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 86mg | Potassium: 322mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2.3mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies | halfbakedharvest.com #healthy #cookies #dates #glutenfree

YES. IT. DOES. <–all caps are needed.

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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4.26 from 500 votes (451 ratings without comment)

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260 Comments

  1. Leigh Ann says:

    These are basically healthy cookies that I can eat whenever I want right? So yummy!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Haha of course! So glad you like these Leigh Ann! Thank you!

  2. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says:

    These look totally dangerous! I know what I’ll be making later!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Mary Ann! I hope you love this!

  3. Katie says:

    These look great! Would it be possible to freeze them do you think? And if so, do you think it would be better to do in the dough stage or after they’re baked? Thanks!

  4. Liz says:

    These look delicious, and not bad at only 150/160 calories per cookie. I am going to try them. Thanks for Sharing! keep the healthy recipes coming. Our whole family gained weight over the Holidays, and I am particularly looking for 500 calorie meals. Thanks Tieghan!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Liz! I am so glad you like these!

  5. Caroline | Unsweetened Caroline says:

    I know the struggle of making sugar-free desserts – especially since that’s the focus of my blog.
    . Hah! All I can say is thank god for dates! Also, I am definitely making these.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      I hope you love these and they turn out amazing for you! Thanks Caroline!

  6. Tori//Gringalicious.com says:

    I love the fact that you switched plans and shared this today on a whim. That’s what cookies are all about in my opinion. Omg, and Tieghan these look insanely delish! Thank you for sharing them!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Tori!

  7. Sharon Gresham abbott says:

    5 stars
    “Absolutely “the best I’ve ever had!

    1. Laurie H says:

      Made them…………ate them all
      making more before the kids come home
      DELICIOUS

      1. halfbakedharvest says:

        I love that! Thank you Laurie, I am so glad you enjoyed these!

    2. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Sharon!

  8. Amber Sheaves says:

    I know what I’m making today! They look delicious!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      I hope you love these! Thank you Amber!

  9. Char says:

    These look amazing can’t wait to try.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Char!

  10. Linda Neitzel says:

    5 stars
    Cant wait to get going on these they will go along with the browned butter pecan chocolate chip cookies
    Thanks for these creations. Linda Neitzel

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Linda! I hope you love both of these cookie recipes!

  11. Kristine says:

    These look delicious, I can’t wait to try them and I have all the ingredients in the pantry ! Thanks for another great recipe.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Kristine!

  12. Charlotte Moore says:

    5 stars
    YUMMY!!! These look so good as I sit here before breakfast. I could easily eat these now. Ha!!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Charlotte!

  13. Debs says:

    5 stars
    Gah! I love that you make healthy cookies and then just really want to write about them. These look amazing!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Debs!

  14. Ruth Miranda says:

    Tieghan you’re killin’ me here! I can’t even!! <3 <3 <3

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Ruth!!

  15. Liz S. says:

    5 stars
    LOVE this balanced indulgence cookie recipe!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Liz!