Soft Date and Sesame Cookies

Ingredients of the soft date and sesame cookies

Cookie dough

• 1 3/4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of organic sesame tahini
• 1 3/4 cups Mazafati fresh organic dates (with pits) or Medjool (preferably refrigerated - see tips and tricks for dried dates) 
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt 
• 1 tbsp. organic whole white chia seeds
• 1 tsp. Ceylon cinnamon

Icing

• 1/2 cup of organic dark chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. organic sesame seeds

Instructions for the soft date and sesame cookies

• Put the rolled oats in a small food processor. Pulse until flakes are broken into small pieces (but not flour). Set aside in a mixing bowl.
• Stone dates. Add to food processor and purée. Set aside in the oat bowl. 
• Add tahinithe chia seedsseeds sea salt and cinnamon. 
• Mix all ingredients with your hands until you obtain a uniform paste (running your hands under cold skin beforehand will help prevent the ingredients from sticking). 
• Form the dough into a ball, cover with cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 1 hour or more (you can even do steps 1-5 a day ahead!).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the dough from the fridge and roll it out flat with a rolling pin to the desired thickness (about 1/2 inch is ideal for thick, chewy cookies).
• Using a cookie cutter, the rim of a glass or a knife (see Tips & Tricks section), cut out the desired shapes from the dough. Make sure shapes are more or less equal to ensure even baking. 
• Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
• Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies.
• Remove from oven and set aside for 5 minutes. 
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over very low heat. Stir constantly.
• Using a fork, coat the cookies with a thin dark chocolate coulis, or simply dip them in the dark chocolate. Then sprinkle with sesame seeds. 
• Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to cool. 
• That's it! Now you can enjoy them guilt-free! 

Tips and tricks for soft date and sesame cookies

• For a less sweet recipe, leave out the melted chocolate.
• For a more dynamic experience, place a bowl of melted dark chocolate surrounded by cookies in the center of the table for a reinvented chocolate fondue! This way, everyone can eat their cookies their own way!
• These cookies can be scooped into balls to create perfect energy balls! They're perfect for weekday snacks, or to take along on a family or romantic outing. Their high carbohydrate content can be useful during sporting activities, especially prolonged efforts such as hiking, cross-country skiing, etc. Simply roll the cookie dough into balls and coat with the filling of your choice, so they don't stick together (sesame seeds, shredded coconut, cocoa powderetc)!
• For another dessert recipe featuring tahini, see our vegan apple and maple iced fudge. 

Substitutions for soft sesame date cookies

• On the whole, sesame is excellent for your health when consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced and diversified diet. However, like most oilseeds, it can trigger allergic reactions. If in doubt, replace the tahini with the nut butter of your choice! After dipping the cookies in chocolate, sprinkle with nuts/seeds related to the nut butter chosen (almond butter & sliced almonds, peanut butter & roasted peanut pieces, etc)..
• If you can't get your hands on fresh dates, you can rehydrate dried dates by soaking them in hot water for about 30 minutes. Discard the water and continue with the recipe.  

Enjoy!

Valérie Gendron-Legault