No Bake Chocolate Coconut Date Cookies (Raw Samoas)
Today we are making a recipe inspired by Samoas Girl Scout Cookies. These are no bake Chocolate Coconut Date Cookies! These no bake cookies were inspired by the chocolate, caramel and coconut combination of the popular Girl Scout Cookies, known as Samoas. They have a crust made of nuts and dates, with a date-caramel-coconut mixture on top, drizzled with a chocolate coating!
Inspiration For This Recipe
Now that summer is abound and kids are running after the ring-a-ling from the ice cream truck, collecting fireflies in glass jars, and swatting at swarming mosquitoes, there is also the question on every child’s mind: What now? If that is something that has crossed your mind for even a fraction of a second, let me help. This was me every break, when I would wait and wait for summer to arrive, but the moment school was free, I lied down in bed and had no idea what to do. That is, until I was flipping through Pinterest and came across a remake of Girl Scout Cookies – specifically, Samoas. These cookies had so many different textures and flavors going on, and I was intrigued to try to make a raw, no bake cookie recipe using these flavors!
Why You’ll Love These No Bake Chocolate Coconut Date Cookies
Samoas-Inspired: So if you’re a fan of Samoas Girl Scout cookies, you’ll love these no bake cookies because they capture the delicious essence of the beloved classic. The combination of caramel, chocolate, and coconut is a timeless flavor combination that evokes fond memories of indulging in Samoas during childhood. These cookies are the perfect treat for a healthy snack and offer a homemade version of that delightful flavor, bringing back a sense of nostalgia with every bite.
Whole Food Ingredients: These no bake cookies are made with a selection of whole foods that not only taste amazing but also provide nourishment. The main ingredients include dates, which add natural sweetness and a chewy texture, as well as flaked, toasted coconut for one of the main Samoas flavors. Additionally, the cookies are coated in a luscious drizzle of chocolate, providing a rich and indulgent flavor. Aside from the dates and pure maple syrup, there’s no other added sugar in this recipe either!
Substitutions
Dates: For best results, use Medjool dates. They are soft and caramel-like, perfect for blending in this crust. Deglet Noor dates may work too. Do not substitute with another dried fruit or sweetener.
Almonds: Use raw, unroasted, unsalted almonds. You can substitute with raw walnuts, macadamia nuts or pecans instead.
Cacao Powder: This is the raw, unprocessed form of cocoa powder. You can also use regular cocoa powder, which is commonly used in baking brownies and other chocolate recipes. Cacao powder can be found in health food stores or in the natural foods aisle of the grocery store.
Cacao Butter: Cacao butter, also known as cocoa butter, is a natural fat extracted from the cacao bean. It is the edible fat that is separated from the cocoa solids during the process of making chocolate. Cacao butter has a creamy, smooth texture and a mild chocolate aroma.
Cacao butter is solid at room temperature but melts easily when heated. It has a melting point just below the human body temperature, which gives it a pleasant mouthfeel and allows it to melt smoothly in the mouth. This characteristic makes cacao butter a popular ingredient in chocolate making and confectionery.
You can also use refined coconut oil, the type that doesn’t smell like coconuts (is not virgin or extra-virgin) to replace the cacao butter.
Coconut Flakes: Camino coconut flakes is one of my favorite brands to use for coconut recipes. Coconut flakes are a little bigger than desiccated coconut. You can use sweetened or unsweetened coconut, but sweetened will contain refined sugar. I opted for unsweetened coconut flakes for this recipe.
Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup, where the only ingredient on the package label is maple syrup. You can also use another liquid sweetener, such as agave nectar.
No Bake Chocolate Coconut Date Cookies Notes
- If you don’t want to make homemade chocolate with cacao butter and cacao powder, opt for vegan semisweet or dark chocolate chips, or a chopped chocolate bar. This can be melted and drizzled over the cookies!
More Recipes You’ll Love
No Bake Vegan Gingersnap Cookies
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
If you make these No Bake Chocolate Coconut Date Cookies, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
No Bake Chocolate Coconut Date Cookies (Raw Samoas)
Equipment
- High-speed blender or food processor
- Baking Tray
- Small Saucepan
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the Crust
- ¾ cup Medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup raw almonds unsalted, unroasted
For the Coconut + Caramel
- ½ cup Medjool dates pitted
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
For the Chocolate Topping
- ¼ cup cacao butter melted
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ⅛ tsp vanilla extract
- pink salt
Instructions
For the Crust
- For the crust blend the ingredients until a dough forms, and shape into 4 circles with holes in the middle (like donut cookies).
- Place these cookies evenly apart on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
For the Coconut + Caramel
- Take the dates for the topping and blend them until a paste forms in the blender. Add some evenly on top of each cookies.
- In a small saucepan, add the coconut flakes over low heat. Stir these around for 1-2 minutes, until golden-brown.
- Remove coconut from the heat. Top each cookie with one tablespoon of the toasted coconut.
For the Chocolate Topping
- Whisk the cacao butter, cacao powder and maple syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Mix in the other chocolate ingredients until everything is melted.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate on top of each cookie.
- Put the tray of cookies in the freezer to set for an hour.
- Once the chocolate is set, remove from the freezer and allow the cookies to thaw a little. Then enjoy!
Notes
-
Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
