These Date Cookies are just incredibly, incredibly delicious. They are such a crowd pleaser and extremely moreish. Easy to throw a batch together with a bit of a healthier vibe going on too. Sneaky baking at it's best.
Date And Chocolate Cookies
But first some Half-Term fattening up.......
This half term has seen me grow literally fatter than ever before. This holiday business always sees me eating like an out of control fat b.tch. On the way in I try to steel myself for what is to come. It's not as if I am not aware of these treacherous holiday perils. There is quite simply nothing for it but surgical intervention. I need stapling and such other bariatric metalwork if I am to be stopped. The merest waft of food cooking is enough to stimulate extreme salivation and bring a terrible rabid and ravenous glint to my eye. I'm sure I tilt my head to one side too. I'm thinking Tubbs in " The League of Gentlemen ".
Nothing is ever enough either. I found myself buying crisps at the kids swimming tonight. I couldn't stop.....I had two packets, one after another, followed by half a packet of skittles and as many fruit pastilles as I could scrounge off my daughter without upsetting her. She is a softee so that was about five. My son is a much tougher proposition, he said I could have one of his monster munch but on second thoughts broke it in half.........I knew it was all over, even I draw the line at making them cry.........
I also feel compelled to bake goodies in the holidays. It actually consumes me. I am constantly looking through recipe books to find tasty treats for them to consign to childhood memory. Of course this is absolutely Thicky McNicky. The reality is that I have two children and ninety nine percent of recipes cater for about twelve....so who the flip is going to be eating/inhaling the majority?!!!! I am baby.......
Date Cookies Recipe
Of course I am the author of my own gluttonous descent and obvs I won't be changing anytime soon so........... here is a most fabulous recipe for Date Cookies with or without Chocolate.
Oh my days these cookies with dates are good, crisp on the outside and chewy in a sticky toffee/figgy kind of way in the middle.
They are, like most delicious things, very moreish. I think I am about ten down so far today......
Without the gluttony they must be almost healthy. One thing I would say is that they are just as nice left plain and not dipped in chocolate.
I think I might even prefer them that way. Also for an adult twist you could use dark chocolate instead of the milk that I have used here.
Either way who knew a date cookie could be such a wondrous thing.
Date Cookies
It is such a no nonsense recipe. I use my food processor in a one bowl whizz sensation. It is a large one but a medium bowl size one would suffice too.
You do really require one here if you want to take things easy. It's about as simple as it gets.
I roll them into walnut size balls and then squash them with a fork. Strangely satisfying.
I make about 18 cookies so 9 on each baking tray.
Bake for about 10-12 minutes. Be sure they have quite a bit of colour from baking on them. It helps with the caramel flavour.
Ready For The Oven
I melted milk chocolate and dipped the cookies in leaving them to set on a wire rack. I poured the melted chocolate into a small mug for the dipping but found as the level lowered I needed to use a butter knife to help the chocolate along..........Bob's your Uncle and Fanny's your Aunt.
IF YOU LIKE THIS COOKIE RECIPE THEN YOU MAY LIKE THESE
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Shortbread
Date and Chocolate Cookies.
These cookies are absolutely delicious. My complete favourite at the moment. Crisp on the outside and figgily chewy on the inside. They taste like a nostalgic childhood memory. I like them as much without the chocolate as with and that really is a declaration of love.
Ingredients
- 140 grams pitted dates
- 4 tbsps maple syrup
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 280 grams plain flour
- 180 grams caster sugar
- 120 grams butter soft
- 150 grams quality milk chocolate melted
- 1 large egg
Instructions
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Put the dates and maple syrup in a small saucepan and mix to coat the dates. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for a couple of minutes. Let cool for five minutes.
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Whizz to a pulp in the food processor. Add all the rest of the ingredients and whizz again until it all starts to come together. It will be like sticky sandy rubble.
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Tip into a large bowl and knead for a minute until it starts to really stick together. Cover and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180 C.
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Roll the dough into walnut size balls and place on a lined flat baking tray. It makes about 18 cookies so I did it in two batches.
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Flatten the balls slightly and then further more with a fork. They ended up being about 5 cm across. Bake for about 10 - 12 minutes. Watch them closely so they do not burn.
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Place on a wire rack to cool.
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Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a simmering gently saucepan of ¼ full water. Don't let the bowl touch the water.
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When cool dip the cookies in the melted chocolate and place back on the wire tray to set. I used a small mug but had to use a butter knife when the level got too low in the cup to still come far enough up the sides of the cookie. The chocolate I used seemed very forgiving and it went on a treat.
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Apply to Stupidly Culpable Face.
Recipe Notes
I prefer these beauties with a little colour to them. It brings out the maple syrup flavour.
Here are some more super fabulous bakes
I have linked this post with We Should Cocoa over at Tin and Thyme, Brilliant Blog Posts over at Honest Mum, Friday Frolics over at Life, Love and Dirty Dishes and Cook, Blog, Share over at Recipes made Easy.
PIN ME FOR LATER
HELEN
These look fab - and so moreish!
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Thanks Helen-I've eaten over half of them ???I have no shame ??
joskitchenlarder
Perfect bite size morsels! Love them! x
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I think I can fit five in at a time Jo ???
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
'The League of Gentlemen', now that made me chuckle - I've not seen that programme for years! Love these biscuits too Jenny, they sound divine. Infact I have a pack of date in the cupboard calling out to be used ....!
Thanks so much for linking up with #BakingCrumbs, it's always so lovely to see your bakes & read your anecdotes 🙂
Angela x
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Thanks Angela!I love them too-there is a new series just out.I keep meaning to watch it.Honestly these cookies are amazeballs!!I think even better without the chocolate!xx
Island Living 365
Like you my cooking gets way of control over the holidays! I would like to say its for the children but I think it's my attempt at staying sane! 🙂 Thanks for joining us at #FridayFrolics
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Oh I'm glad it's not just me.That makes me feel much better!
Recipes Made Easy
Oh I so want to try these they sound delicious and nice and easy. Right up my street . Thank your for linking to #CookBlogShare
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Thanks Jacqui-they really are.Im still thinking about them now!Thanks for hosting xx
Life Love and Dirty Dishes
My youngest is like your son. I think I would have to be on my death bed for him to share food. And even then he would still begrudge it!!! Thanks for linking up to my final #FridayFrolics and for all of your support with the linky. I have loved reading your posts and will continue to do so. Thanks for the giggles.
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Thankyou so much.Your kind support has meant a massive amount to me it really has.Thankyou for all the Friday Frolics hosting you have done.I loved it!xxx
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
These little biscuits look lovely and sound super tasty too!
Lucy @ BakingQueen74
Such a funny and familiar story! I haven’t had time off over half term but if I had it would have been spent eating a lot. The cookies look amazing, I like the dipping in chocolate too!
choclette
Ooh, I'm with you on fabulous. I adore dates, but I've never eaten them quite like this before. They sound absolutely scrumptious and you've made them look quite sophisticated too by dipping in chocolate - mmm! I am soooooo going to have to give your recipe a try. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
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Thanks so much.They are delish!!
Corina Blum
I need to make these! They look fantastic and healthier than the doughnuts I ended up making with my littlest one today!
Kate - gluten free alchemist
Ha ha! Yes I too I am the author of my own gluttonous descent!
These look and sound amazing. I can't imagine they would be too difficult to de-gluten?! x
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Shouldn't be a prob to substitute gluten free flour.Will try it sometime x
Jhuls
Whoa!! These look amazing!!! I am going to save this recipe and will have to try soon. Pinned! Thanks for sharing! x