No-Bake & Healthy Thumbprint Cookies

When it comes to eating healthy, we often confuse calories with unhealthy food. Yes, you should definitely limit your calorie intake if you are on a diet. However, it is equally important to see that whatever calories you consume, are full of good carbs, good fat, protein and fiber – eating 300 calories of pure fat is way more unhealthy than eating 400 calories packed with all the good nutrients listed above. And so I was very happy to find this recipe for easy and deliciously healthy No-Bake Thumbprint cookies (recipe & photo courtesy of Whole Foods Market) Dr. Joel Furhman, the author of the famous cookbook Eat For Health, has personally created this gem of a recipe, worthy enough to preserve in your cookie recipe collection.

Packed with flavorful and extremely healthy nutrient-rich foods like Dates, Oats, Coconut, Almond flour and Orange Juice, it is a dessert that you’d be proud to serve or savor yourself. Use your favorite jam or fruit preserve to top the Thumbprints – these make for a great entertaining idea, or a perfect bite for budding children. These are gluten-free too, and for another variation, try these Vegan Thumbprint Cookies

No-Bake Thumbprint Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients
3/4 cup pitted dates
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups smooth almond butter
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup 100% all-fruit preserves, such as cherry, strawberry or apricot

Method
Put dates into a medium bowl, cover with hot water and set aside to let soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid, and then drain the dates well.

In a food processor, pulse oats until coarsely ground; transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Transfer dates and reserved 1/2 cup soaking liquid to food processor and purée until smooth. Add date mixture, almond butter, coconut, orange zest and juice, cinnamon and salt to bowl with oats and knead together to make a dough.

Roll the dough into 24 balls, transferring them to a parchment paper-lined sheet tray as done. Make an indentation in the middle of each cookie by pressing down with your thumb. Spoon a bit of fruit preserves into each indentation and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Related Recipes
Healthy Buckwheat Cookies
Old-Fashioned Shortbread Cookies
Soft & Chewy Orange Cookies