Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies
These date sweetened chocolate chip cookies are everything you love in a classic chocolate chip cookie without the processed sugar.
These cookies sweetened with dates are chewy, flavorful, and perfect as an afterschool snack or evening treat.
Making these cookies is super simple too, you don’t need to be a baking expert to make these perfectly.
Not only are these cookies easy to make, but they’re a great way to enjoy a homemade treat made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Whether you’re baking for your family or just craving something sweet, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.
Why you’ll love these date sweetened chocolate chip cookies
Who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie? They’re just so classic and universally loved, they’re a true crowd pleaser.
Here’s what you’ll love about this recipe:
No added processed sugar. The chocolate chip cookie dough is sweetened exclusively with medjool dates. Dates are a good source of fiber, magnesium, calcium, among other nutrients.
So chewy. You’ll love how chewy these cookies are. Just take one bite and you’ll fall in love with them, I guarantee.
Can be made spur of the moment. No need to wait to soften butter or make date paste, this recipe can be made quickly any time you need some chocolate chip cookies!
Chocolate chip date cookie ingredients
These cookies don’t need any special ingredients to make them. I bet you have most of the ingredients right now!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Dates – Naturally sweet and caramel-like, dates sweeten the dough while adding moisture and a soft texture to the cookies.
- Whole wheat flour – A more wholesome alternative to white flour, whole wheat flour gives the cookies a boost of fiber.
- Cornstarch – Helps keep the cookies soft and tender by reducing gluten development.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
- Baking soda – Works as a leavening agent, helping the cookies spread and develop a chewy texture.
- Butter – Add moisture and flavor while contributing to the soft texture of the cookies.
- Egg – Provides structure and helps bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the sweetness and adds warmth to the overall flavor.
- Chocolate chips – The perfect mix in! They add bursts of melty chocolate to every bite.
Each ingredient plays a role in making these cookies soft, sweet, and packed with delicious flavor. Now, let’s get baking!
How to make cookies sweetened with dates
These cookies are amazingly easy to make. All it takes is six simple steps to the tastiest date sweetened treat.
- Process the dates and flour together in a food processor until it resembles wet sand. About 1 minute. Add the salt and baking soda and pulse to combine.
- Whisk the melted butter, egg, and vanilla together in a large bowl.
- Mix the flour and dates in with the butter mixture.
- Fold the chocolate chips into the batter.
- Rest. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes on the counter.
- Bake the cookies in an oven at 350 for 10 – 12 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Chocolate chip date cookie tips
Keep these tips in mind while you’re baking up these date sweetened chocolate chip cookies:
- Process the dates well. Make sure to really process the dates into the flour. It will take a good 5 minutes in a food processor.
- Make sure the egg is at room temp. Since this recipe uses butter, you need to ensure your egg isn’t cold when you add it to the recipe. Cold temperatures cause butter to solidify, making it clump up and not emulsify with the rest of the ingredients. Simply place the un-cracked egg in a cup of room temperature water for 5 minutes to quickly and safely bring it up to room temperature.
- Don’t skip on the resting time. The rest time important for hydrating the flour and helps the cookies turn out chewy and moist.
- Use a spring loaded cookie scoop. This is the fastest and easiest way to make evenly sized cookies. Similarly sized cookies bake more evenly.
- Flatter the cookies before baking. To make sure the cookies spread into the perfect cookie, press the cookies into a half-inch thick disc before baking.
- Make sure the oven is up to temperature before baking. You may be tempted to pop the cookies into the oven before it’s totally up to to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s important to wait until the oven is at the specified temperature so the cookies will bake properly.
Final Thoughts
These date sweetened chocolate chip cookies prove that you don’t need refined sugar to make a treat that’s soft, chewy, and delicious.
Whether you’re making them for a family snack, a lunchbox treat, or a healthy dessert, they’re sure to be a hit.
Plus, they freeze well, so you can always have a batch on hand for whenever a cookie craving strikes!
Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies
May 6, 2024Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (120 g)
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates (100 g) 8-10 dates
- 1 TBS cornstarch
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 6 TBS melted butter (85 g)
- 1 whole egg room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the flour, dates, cornstarch, salt and baking soda. Process for 4 – 5 minutes on high until the mixture resembles brown sugar. The dates should be mostly integrated into the flour, with a few pea sized pieces here and there. See image in the post above. Set aside.1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup pitted medjool dates, 1 TBS cornstarch, ½ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp baking soda
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted and cooled butter, egg, and vanilla.6 TBS melted butter, 1 whole egg, 1 tsp vanilla
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips (The batter will be shiny and kind of greasy looking. It will be less greasy after after resting covered on the counter).½ cup chocolate chips
- Cover and let the dough rest on the counter for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place an oven rack in the center position and heat the oven to 350℉.
- Once the dough has rested, portion it into balls that are about 2 TBS each in size.
- Place the dough balls about 4" apart on a lined cookie sheet. Using clean fingers, flatten each dough ball into a 3" diameter disc.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes on the cookie sheet. Enjoy!
