Let’s just say I made two dozen of these babies yesterday and now they’re gone. Let’s also say my kids had unlimited desserts today because these were so nutritious and I didn’t have to feel even a little bit bad. Let me ask you, would you feel bad about whole grains, nuts, dates, and spices? Cuz that’s just about all that’s in there.
I also think it’s worth mentioning that these got me through basically a whole trimester during a very difficult pregnancy when I could hardly look at food without losing it. I felt so relieved that there was something I could actually eat that was good for me, too.
These sweet treats have a wonderful soft texture and just the right amount of mild spice. They’ll have you wanting to make a hot cup of tea and snuggle under a blanket by the fire with a good book. What could be more inviting?
While I opted to just roll these into balls and then smoosh, this dough works really well with cookie cutters because it hardly spreads when baked.
Date Sugar
Because these cookies are sweetened with date sugar, they also provide a good dose of fiber and aren’t too sweet. If you’re new to date sugar, you can find the kinds I like here or here on Amazon ready to be delivered to your doorstep.* (You can also find these and almost anything else you might need for my recipes in my online shop.)
“Why date sugar, anyway?” you might ask. Find the answer to that and many other questions on my FAQ.
Equipment
In this recipe, it makes a big difference to have a great food processor. I have tried many different brands, and none come close to my Cuisinart. One food processor I tried spent 20 minutes trying to grind some cashews finely before I finally gave up and realized it just wasn’t gonna happen. Meanwhile, the Cuisinart grinds like a champ in no time. If you are getting serious about a plant-based lifestyle – or even if you just really want to make the best version of these awesome cookies, I strongly recommend getting yourself a Cuisinart food processor! Once you have it you will wonder how you ever lived without it. I use mine several times a week!
Date-Sweetened Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger**
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup date sugar
- 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- Grind all dry ingredients in the food processor until very fine. Slowly drizzle in water while pulsing food processor until you have a soft, malleable dough that's not too sticky. (You might not need a full 3/4 cup so only add just a little at a time to be sure.)
- If it's too soft to shape into cookies, refrigerate for 20 min or so first.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape cookies and place on parchment paper. They will not spread much at all, so shape them the way you want to see them in the final product.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking periodically to make sure they don't overcook.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container.
Notes
 *As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I use or would use myself!
IF YOU’VE MADE THIS, PLEASE RATE AND COMMENT BELOW! PLEASE ALSO TAG @SALADTHERAPY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT, LIKE, AND SHARE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM!
STAY IN THE LOOP WHENEVER A NEW SALAD THERAPY RECIPE IS POSTED! SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER – NO SPAM!
What do you think about using soaked cashews? Would that work if you add less water?
I can see that working but I would be interested to hear the results 🙂 Start with no water at all and blend the soaked nuts with the dates and other ingredients WITHOUT the flour before pulsing in the flour, being careful not to over-process so as not to over-develop the gluten.
Hey- wondering if there is a different but you think would work in here besides cashews? My son is allergic to cashews, walnuts, pistachios, and peanuts- but he can have almonds..
*nut
You can definitely use almonds! I have also successfully used sunflower seeds and hemp seeds in similar recipes and think they’d work great.
Hi Shana, Date sugar unavailable in our neck of the woods. Presume I can use the water from the recipe and make date paste, does 2/3 paste sound good? + adjusting for any extra water as required. Thank you, Helen
Hi Helen! You might want to try one of my recommended date sugars that you can buy online (this is what I do); if so you can try one of these two links:
https://amzn.to/3ITh0CF
https://amzn.to/3scNSAj
I do think it should work to use whole dates, though I have not specifically tested it in this recipe. However since the dates contain their own liquid and are less dense than the date sugar is, I would omit the water from the recipe and increase the dates to 1.5 cups, very tightly packed. i would grind the dry ingredients WITHOUT the flour first until it’s as fine as possible, then add the dates and blend well, then pulse in the flour until just well combined.if at that point you need a little more moisture, pulse in 1 tablespoon water at a time, making sure not to overprocess the dough so that the gluten doesn’t develop and ruin the texture of the cookie. If you try it like this I’d love to hear your results!