Hot water, (to soak the dates – reserve 1 tablespoon)
1cuppeanut butter
⅛cupcoconut oil , at room temperature
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
1egg, (or chia egg*)
½teaspoonbaking soda
¼ teaspoonsalt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, cover dates in hot water and let soak for 2 minutes. This just helps them soften a little.
Meanwhile, add the remaining ingredients to a food processor.
Scoop 1 tablespoon of the date hot water out and add it to the food processor. Drain dates and add them to the food processor.
Process until fully mixed and a ball/dough forms.
Scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough (depending on how large you like your cookies) into your hand and roll it into a ball. Your hands will get oily! Using the palm of your hand, press the dough down to create a cookie shape. Place on the baking sheet.
(Optional) Using a fork, press down gently in the center of the cookie to make an imprint. Switch the direction of your fork by 90 degrees and press down again.
Bake in the oven for 13 minutes. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
*Chia Egg: To make the recipe vegan, use a chia egg, instead of a regular egg. To make the chia egg, mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and 2.5 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes until it becomes gel-like. Add it to the food processor just as you would an egg.Serving Suggestion: Add cacao nibs or chocolate chips for some added deliciousness!