Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies Made With Dates & Homemade Chocolate

How These Cookies Became Famous

I baked these chocolate chip cookies made with dates one time and they were instantly loved by every child who tried them – both my own and others in the neighborhood. And since that first time, these perfectly balanced cookies have become one of my regular recipes to make for my kids and as special treats for others.

These cookies started as simply as many of my recipes do – with an idea, healthy ingredients and my usual baking tools. Essentially, most of my recipes begin as an experiment and that’s how these healthy cookies started too. But this experiment turned into more than just a good cookie.

These cookies turned into our go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. They became a giant, heart-shaped cookie for Valentine’s Day. They made the perfect thank-you gift for a neighbor. And, best of all, they make a wonderfully beloved after-school treat for my kids and their friends.

There is just something about a good chocolate chip cookie that is appealing to people of every age, but who wants their kids snacking on sugar-filled cookies? Why not give them a cookie that delights the taste buds with the thrill of homemade dark chocolate chunks mixed into that traditional cookie dough … but without the sugar rush?

That is actually what helped to make these cookies famous (at least in my house and neighborhood). The sweetness of dates makes these cookies just as enjoyable as traditional chocolate chip cookies without the over-the-top sugary taste. And the chocolate chunks made right in your own kitchen are decadent and rich while remaining entirely processed-sugar-free.

Parents have commented to me that these cookies are not too sweet, yet their kids love them so much, they keep asking for more. There is nothing better than a cookie that satisfies kids’ sweet cravings and parents’ health preferences at the same time.

So if your kids are chocolate-chip-cookie enthusiasts but you want to cut down on their sugar consumption, these are the perfect solution.

And by the way, if your kids love cookies and you love that these are sweetened with dates, you might also want to check out my date sweetened cocoa powder cookies and my date sweetened jam thumbprint cookies.

When to Make These Chocolate Chip Cookies

When is the best time to make this healthy chocolate chip cookies recipe? Well, the short answer is, anytime you would normally make a chocolate chip cookie! But more specifically, here are some ideas for when you’re going to want to whip up a batch of these incredible healthy cookies:

Parties. You really can’t go wrong putting out chocolate chip cookies at a party. Most kids love cookies and chocolate chip cookies are just an obvious staple of any party table.

After School. Yes, I do give my kids cookies for an after-school snack and I’m happy to do it! Because these chocolate chunky cookies contain zero processed sugar, are fortified with a little collagen powder for gut health and – with a moderate 3 grams of protein per cookie – they satisfy my children’s hunger pangs with no arguments over what to eat.

Gifting. Need an inconspicuous thank-you gift or get-well-soon treat for a little friend, family member or neighbor? These homemade chocolate chip cookies are just the perfect way to express gratitude or convey empathy to a child (after all, the way to a child’s heart is through his or her tummy).

Holidays. My favorite way to use this recipe for holidays is to make a giant heart shaped chocolate chip cookie for Valentine’s Day. I have made it a couple of times for my kids and they love it. A giant chocolate chip cookie cake would also be a fun way to celebrate your child’s birthday 🙂

I would say that you should just go ahead and keep some of these cookies on hand for a variety of occasions. But I can tell you from personal experience that they are gone within a day or two of being pulled out of the oven, so that might not be possible 😀

Ingredients

• Medjool Date Paste: My homemade date paste recipe is super simple and can be made by literally anyone. However, if you prefer, you can purchase date paste on Amazon or at Middle Eastern grocery stores. You will probably need to soften it up with a little hot water because store-bought date paste has less moisture than homemade.

• Butter: Butter is important for making these chocolate chip cookies moist and chewy. I usually use organic or Irish grass-fed butter.

• Egg: Eggs add a bit of protein for nutrition and they are necessary for binding the ingredients together. Any eggs will do, but I prefer to use farm-fresh eggs whenever I can. If I do not have farm-fresh on hand, I use organic and/or cage-free eggs.

• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds the finishing touch on the flavor of the cookie dough. Make sure you use pure vanilla extract to keep these cookies healthy and free from artificial flavors.

• Flour: I use organic, unbleached flour, but any all-purpose flour will do.

• Baking Powder: A little bit of baking powder gives the cookies just enough rise. Make sure you purchase aluminum-free baking powder.

• Salt: Salt helps to bring out all the amazing flavor of these chocolatey chuck cookies. I use pink Himalayan sea salt.

• Collagen Powder: Optional collagen powder adds some really good gut health benefits. I use the Mama Natural collagen powder because it contains six different types of collagen. That is more than most other collagen brands can boast.

• Homemade Chocolate Chunks: My homemade chocolate chunk recipe is the finishing touch that completes these classic cookies without a single gram of refined sugar. However, in a pinch, you could also use store-bought chocolate chips in this recipe and still reap the benefits of a refined-sugar-free cookie dough base.

Instructions

Step 1

Make the date paste. Don’t worry, I have a recipe for that! And it’s very, very easy. I like to make up large batches of date paste to have on hand for quick and easy baking whenever I need it. Just hop on over to this date paste recipe real quick and start your dates boiling on the stove while you finish reading this recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

Step 2

Make your chocolate chips. Grab the chocolate chip recipe right here. These are also very easy to make. They do need some time to firm up in the freezer though, so go ahead and make those at least a half hour to an hour ahead of time.

Step 3

Time to start putting your cookie dough together.

Mix the softened butter and date paste with an electric hand or stand mixer until fully combined. The mixture will be creamy if your butter is soft and your date paste is cool. If your date paste is still warm from cooking, it might melt the butter and the creamed mixture will be thinner, but this will still work just fine for making the cookies.

Step 4

Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

Step 5

Add in the flour, baking powder, salt and collagen and mix until fully combined.

Step 6

Add the chocolate chunks and mix.

Before adding the chocolate chips, make sure your cookie dough is not warm to avoid melting the chocolate chunks. If it is a little warm from freshly-made date paste, chill it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

When you add the chocolate chunks, do not overmix as this will cause the chocolate to become melty even if your dough is not particularly warm. It’s okay if the chocolate melts a little to create swirls in your dough, but you don’t want the definition between chocolate and cookie dough to be lost.

Step 7

Using a spoon and knife, divide the cookie dough evenly on baking sheets until you have 16 cookies.

Step 8

Bake cookies in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Cookies will be firm on top but still chewy in the center when done.

Substitutions & Tips

• If you do not wish to make your own date paste, you can purchase it from a Middle Eastern grocery store or order it online. If you do purchase date paste, you will probably need to add some hot water to it as store-bought date paste is more dense and less moist than homemade.

• You can use store-bought chocolate chips to make this an even more simple and efficient recipe. If you want to keep the chocolate healthier without having to make them, Hu is a great brand that makes chocolate chips sweetened with coconut sugar.

• Don’t overmix the cookie dough once you’ve added homemade chocolate chunks. Overmixing will cause the chocolate to melt and begin to incorporate into the dough.

• If you want your cookies to be more uniform, you can shape them and flatten them a bit for a more round look. Just don’t handle them too much or the chocolate will melt from your body heat. My 7-year-old daughter managed to make shaped chocolate chip cookies without melting the chocolate too much.

• This recipe can also be made into one giant cookie for a special occasion such as Valentine’s Day or a birthday as well. I have made it into a giant heart-shaped cookie a couple of times. You will need to increase the bake time to 20-25 minutes if you want to do this.

• Feel free to play around with the baking time if your child prefers his or her chocolate chip cookies more or less done.

• Check the cookies 8-10 minutes into their bake time and turn the trays around and/or switch racks so they cook evenly.