Chocolate Chip Date Cookies (cf, df, gf, sf)

 

 

 Living without processed sugar has become

relatively easy.

I always knew that it affected me

(my skin, my gut),

but it wasn't until I did an elimination diet

a couple of years back that I realized

how addicted to the stuff I was.

Thanks to some mighty creative bakers who are happy to share,

white sugar is just not part of my diet anymore. 

In fact, about a month ago,

I treated myself to a French Cruller at a local coffee joint,

and it was shocking to my tastebuds.

After you stop eating processed sugar,

it's like overload when you partake of it.

 

These chocolate chip cookies were fabulous

and absolutely no sugar was involved

(even the chocolate chips are sugar free!).

I tweaked the original recipe to my liking.

I'll take any excuse to add nuts to recipes,

so I added walnuts here.

I could see shredded coconut fitting in nicely as well.

Next time, I think I will add some oats

to replace some of the almond flour.

You can find the earnest baker's version here.

 

 One of the sweeteners in the recipe was date syrup,

and fortunately, it was easy enough to find out how to whiz it up in a blender.

It's as simple as combining these ingredients:

1 1/4 C dates

1 1/2 C water

1 teaspoon lemon juice.

 The mixture will keep for 3 weeks in the fridge.

This recipe made much more than I needed for the cookies,

so I will be using it to bake more treats for my son,

who has taken himself off of sugar.

 

If you're still consuming sugar of any kind,

be prepared because these may not be sweet enough for you.

As for me, I think I've found a new secret ingredient.

 

Chocolate Chip Date Cookies

(theearnestbaker.com)

 

1 3/4 C almond flour

1/2 C arrowroot powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 Tablespoons maple syrup

2 Tablespoons date syrup

1/4 C coconut/light olive oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 medjool dates, chopped

2 handfuls chocolate chips

(I use Lily's)

1 handful walnuts, chopped

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together dry ingredients,

then add syrups, oil and vanilla.

Fold in dates, nuts and chocolate chips.

 

Use small ice cream scoop to place on baking sheet.

Bake 7-9 minutes until golden,

then remove from oven and flatten with a fork.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

It's a Date!

 Over the last couple of months,

I've been searching for a better way to eat.

Considering that I've been a fairly "clean" eater for decades,

it surprised me to find that I could tweak my diet even more.

With the recent elimination diet that my naturopath guided me through,

I found that giving up nuts, seeds, sugar and all things gluten was pretty tough.

Although I'm still avoiding gluten anything,

I have been able to add back a substantial list of items 

that came up negative on my sensitivity panel.

Gratitude prevails for being able to once again 

consume cocoa, coffee, nuts, seeds and certain grains (not wheat).

The book featured here has been a Godsend.

Dana Shultz is a master at what she does,

which is create gloriously simple recipes

for those of us who find ourselves wanting to eat better,

but still harboring cravings for traditional comfort foods.

If you are at all interested in improving your health

without having to sacrifice taste and ease of preparation,

please run, don't walk, to your nearest book source,

and pick up her fabulous cookbook.

You can also check out her amazing website:

Minimalist Baker.

Rest assured, her repertoire consists of savory dishes

as well as sweet treats. 

Most of my cookbooks were given away years ago,

but this is one I will be purchasing anew.

The recipes are simple, have few (real) ingredients,

and most take under 30 minutes from start to finish.

I look forward to exploring these recipes.

In fact, until recently, I've been absolutely burned out

with regard to cooking or baking.

This book and website have motivated and excited me

to try new ways to enjoy old favorites.

Medjool dates

I've watched my sugar intake for years,

allowing myself a handful of dark chocolate daily,

knowing that my consumption was far less than most folks.

I'm a label reader, and quite particular about what I buy.

Being able to scratch cook has always been my goal,

and it's the only way I can imagine feeding my family.

One fruit I had never tried before was dates.

Since creating some of the concoctions on Dana's website,

I've discovered what a fantastic sugar substitute they make!

Dates are a great source of fiber, rich in calcium and phosphorus,

and are more easily processed by the body than standard sugars.

Does this mean I'll never again eat sugar?

Nope, but it will no longer be a daily staple.

This is the latest sweet treat I've made using dates.

The recipe can be found here.

I actually used less dates than suggested when I made it,

and it was still mighty sweet.

It's not clear if it's because I've been sugar-free

for going on 7 weeks, or if the dates are just that sweet!

I hope you'll check out these resources.

Dana has found her calling.

And I'm so grateful she has.