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Healthy and simple (but incredible!) 4-Ingredient Samoas that might just taste better than the real deal. Shh…. don’t tell the Girl Scouts. Vegan, gluten-free and paleo-friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted medjool dates
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate (chips or a chopped bar)
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Spread the shredded coconut onto a baking sheet for toasting. Place in oven for 5-10 minutes, until coconut is a light golden brown color. Make sure to stay in the kitchen watch the coconut, as it can easily go from toasted to burnt. Alternately, you can toast the coconut in a pan on the stove-top.
- Add dates and toasted coconut into the bowl of a food processor (affiliate link). Pulse until mixture is combined and starts to form a ball of dough.
- Remove from food processor (affiliate link), roll 1 Tablespoon size pieces of dough into a ball and then shape into a round cookie. Using a straw or chopstick punch a hole in the middle of the dough. Move the straw or chopstick around a bit to make the hole wider, if needed. At this point you’ll likely need to reshape the cookie a bit.
- Place all cookies on a sheet lined with parchment and transfer to the freezer to harden up a bit. While cookies are in the freezer, add chocolate and coconut oil to a shallow microwave-safe bowl and melt in 20-30 second increments until the chocolate is melted enough to drizzle.
- Grab cookies from the freezer and dip each one in the chocolate to coat the bottom. Place cookies on the parchment and use remaining chocolate to drizzle over top the cookies. Transfer cookies back into the freezer for 10-15 minutes to let the chocolate harden. Once they’ve hardened you’ll be able to easily remove the cookies from the parchment paper. If you want to enjoy right away, let them sit out on the counter for a few minutes. For enjoying later, store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to one week.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 4mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: healthy homemade samoas
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These look good but I’m pretty sure it would cost less to buy the actual girl scout version. It also seems a little deceiving that the calories/fat/sugar nutritional values are almost double the girl scout version. I think most people would assume they can eat more of these since they are being labeled healthy. Also, dates are expensive. Have you thought of a similar recipe using a healthier flour substitute instead (i.e. ground oats, buckwheat, whole wheat)? I honestly think the nutritional values would be a little better. Kudos to coming up with a gluten free version and vegan option but I’d only ever make these to serve to someone with those dietary needs. I get the convenience and ease using 4 ingredients (albeit expensive) I just hope people don’t mistakenly assume these are healthy. In my opinion, these are for people with dietary restrictions.
I love these cookies and so does my family! I love to make these for my sweet tooth! I let some others try them this week and they couldn’t believe how good they were and with way healthier ingredients than true Girl Scout cookies!
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Kimberly! I’m so glad you and your family love these cookies. Thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. <3
Judging whether or not something is healthy based on the numbers in the nutritional facts is how people wind up thinking a can of diet cola is healthier than a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Samoas contain sorbitol, dextrose, sorbitan tristearate, carrageenan, artificial coloring, and artificial flavors; these cookies are made from four all natural ingredients, and will have significantly less long term impact on your body as they can be processed naturally and easily, unlike the chemicals in a boxed of processed cookies. If you are counting calories and carbs, you shouldn’t be looking at cookies at all, in my opinion. Or come up with your own recipe, if you think these are so bad for you.
Brittany, these are excellent. I made them in less than an hour and my coworkers loved them! Recipe has been added to my rolodex for future use!
I am neither counting calories or carbs but I have a basic understanding of cooking/baking. I never necessarily said these are unhealthy. My point is this recipe includes ingredients that are either expensive or mostly reserved for people with dietary restrictions. With that said, this recipe beats the real cookie in sodium but contains more sugar and carbs. My comment was more intended for those thinking just because something is labeled healthy or has minimal ingredients doesn’t mean you don’t need to do your research or overeat the product. Alot of people just assume when something is labeled “healthy”, it can’t contain ingredients you may not had an adverse reaction to. Same concept with people assuming “gluten free” is good for them. It is intended for people with gluten sensitivity. If you don’t have it, you have no medical reason to seek out such products. “Watching your carbs” and having celiac disease are two very different things and shouldn’t necessarily be approached in the same manner. My rant is over. My comment wasn’t intended to be malicious, it was intended to be informative because people just assume when they read a buzz word like “healthy” and “gluten free” it can be consumed without limit. While I am perfectly capable of creating my own recipe using the above ingredients, it was merely a suggestion for those of us who do not have these same dietary restrictions. I wouldn’t buy such expensive ingredients for a cookie recipe which yields very little.
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Spenser! I’m so glad these cookies were a hit! 🙂
These cookies are SO good!! I made them for our annual cookie contest since I can’t have dairy or soy. Only FOUR ingredients and all good stuff!! It took me a little longer to make them because we have limited freezer space, but other than that I am really excited about them! Thanks for the great recipe!!
★★★★★
Yay! I’m so glad you love these cookies, Dawn!! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful to other readers so I appreciate it. <3
Wow, yum! These were a crowd pleaser, even to those who do not like coconut!
★★★★★
Woot woot!! That makes me so happy to hear. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating, Jen. I really appreciate it! <3
I just tried these and didn’t really like the taste and texture much. They aren’t very similar to real samoas
★★★
Hi Dawn, I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy this recipe, but I appreciate your feedback.
These are amazing! Perfect fix for a craving for sweets. Subbed the chocolate for unsweetened carob chips as I am cutting out all non-natural sugar right now.
OMG these are amazing!!! Just served them at a casual luncheon and EVERYONE loved them!!! Making more tomorrow! : )
Better than the “real” thing! I made these the second my friend sent me the recipe. Amazing! I also experimented with spreading a very thin layer of chocolate on the tops dipping them into more toasted coconut. Even closer to original taste. I burned my first batch of coconut quickly. Watched the next batch more carefully. But then I saw how good they were so I ordered toasted coconut online immediately so I could make them again easily. I had to ration the first batch to my friends and family! Next time I doubled the recipe!
★★★★★
I made these yesterday they came out tops! I suppose the only drawback if any is that Medjool dates are a bit spendy but no other date will do for this recipe! One store had Noor dates in bulk (not sure how much per lb but probably not a lot) the other had Medjool dates for $9.99 a pound and I got slightly over a pound (for $10 something). It is enough for two batches because there were at least 2 cups of dates in it. I finally found unsweetened coconut at the same store as I got the Medjool dates, and from the store which had the Noor dates (a dry date not suitable for these cookies) there were sugar-free dark chocolate melties (which I’ve bought before for recipes) in the bulk section. The cookies are supreme and came out so well. Will definitely make this recipe again!
★★★★★
If there is a trader joe’s Near you, they have the best prices on medjool dates.
★★★★★
These cookies are fabulous! My kids helped me make them and gave the cookies 2 thumbs up. I’m not a huge fan of coconut myself, but I think they are delicious! These won’t last long in our house, that’s for sure!
★★★★★
Absolutely delicious and my yield was 14, so mine must be a bit smaller. Even easier to shape the second time around. Thanks Brittany!
★★★★★
OMG!!! I just made this recipe and I am hiding the cookies from my husband and son. They are so delicious and super easy to make.
★★★★★
These came out really well! I made them for a vegan friend’s birthday and he loved them. Everyone loved them and said they liked them better than actual Girl Scout cookies! I will definitely make these again! I was also very happy to be able to provide an option for people with gluten sensitivities! My co-worker was dancing and eating these cookies because she was so happy to be able to partake in the festivities. 🙂
★★★★★
Any nutritional facts
Yes. The nutrition facts are right below the recipe. 🙂
These cookies are absolutely amazing. So healthy, not too sweet, and so quick and easy to make. Thank you for an amazing recipe.
★★★★★
These are incredible and SO EASY to whip up. I put off making them for so long because I am not used to buying/using medjool dates, so I thought it would be overwhelming to take the pits out and overly sticky/messy in the food processor but it was a breeze. These will be a staple in my house.
★★★★★
So so delicious! I am so excited about these cookies. I love them and will be making more again soon. I love your recipes. Thank you for sharing another amazing one. I made your thin mints a couple weeks ago and commented on how delicious those were and now these are another family fav!
★★★★★
Wasn’t so sure about these bc Samoas are my Girl Scout jam but these are AMAZING and healthy!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
★★★★★
substitutions for the dates ?? prunes or soaked raise s work?
I haven’t tried the recipe with anything but madjool dates. I think it could work with another dried fruit but you won’t get the same caramel flavor that the dates provide.
I’d like to try these, but I don’t like shredded coconut. Could I sub in coconut flour? If so, how much? Thanks!
I’ve never made them with coconut flour so I’m not sure!
These are so yummy and easy! Only 3 minutes needed to toast the coconut. I also soaked my dates in warm water for a few minutes before processing. Delicious eaten out of the freezer for 1-2 mins.
I saw this recipe and headed straight to my kitchen because I knew I had all of the ingredients. They were so quick and easy and turned out fabulous! What an awesome recipe. My coconut did burn after only 3 minutes so I would suggest a lower temp and really watch it. I did big flakes though so maybe those burn faster. Thanks!
★★★★★
These are soooo good! I’ve made them twice and once for the holidays. They are really easy. I just make them in smaller batches and they are easy to make. My husban even loves them and he’s a cookie connoisseur. Make sure you put them in an air tight contianer and refrigerate for the best results!
At 135 calories….how can this be for weight loss or healthy eating,
Did i get something wrong.
Made these tonight and they were amazing!!
★★★★★
Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Lea. Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, I so appreciate it! <3
Hi Irene. They’re definitely not a low calorie food — just a healthier treat made with real food and simple ingredients. I’m sorry if you were expecting something else.
These look amazing, but 17gm of sugar per cookie is a lot. Do you have any lower sugar options? Could you use cocoa and coconut oil for the top, or would that not be thick enough?
hi…is the chocolate vegan?
Yes! As long as you use dairy-free chocolate chips.
What is the gadget you used in the video to drizzle the chocolate?
It’s just a plastic bag with the corner snipped off. It makes it so easy to drizzle chocolate.
I made these today and OMG! LITERALLY THE BEST TASTING COOKIE I HAVE EVER HAD! Way better than a Girl Scout cookie! Thanks for sharing! I have a feeling im going to be making this recipe a lot this Summer
★★★★★
My husband went out to get me the ingredients i needed basically as soon as I saw this recipie. Two hours later the cookies were made and WOW theyre phenomenal! Thank you!!
Hooray!! So excited that you were able to make these so quickly. Glad you loved them. 🙂
Jonathan doesn’t even like sweets and he loves these. They are even better than Samoas. Not too sweet and coconutty!
★★★★★
Yay!! I’m so glad that you all enjoyed these. They’re definteily a favorite over here too! <3
Just made these, and they are crazy awesome delicious! I made a note to triple the recipe because we ate them immediately. I added 1/2 tsp of vanilla and topped them with a bit of sea salt. Great recipe!!
★★★★★
Delicious! I tried to make the holes, but they crumbled so I tried again and left them as little domes from being packed in my tablespoon. Maybe my dates and coconut were still too chunky? But it didn’t matter, because they look and taste delicious. I’m storing them in a glass container in the freezer – I love frozen samoas!
★★★★★
I dont like Coconut , Could I used oatmeal instead coconut?
135 calories each cookie? That’s a high calorie count for just one. Am I missing something?
I just made these and tried one as I took them out of the freezer.
I haven’t had a samoa cookie in 10 years and you think these 11 will last a week in the fridge??
???. Definitely 5 stars! Thank you for coming up with the great recipe!!
★★★★★
I just made these….absolutely delicious! thank you
★★★★★
These were delicious and husband approved!!! Added a little bit of coconut oil to help form the dough and freezing them was definitely key for me to get them to hold together:)
★★★★★
These were AMAZING! My husband who is a strict chocolate chip cookie eater, even enjoyed these (repeatedly). Wonderful!
★★★★★
I’ve made these 3 times in a week and a half.. #cantstopwontstop
My team at work can’t believe these are healthy! I’m almost mad at how good they are because now they expect me to share 😉
★★★★★
Amazing!!! I absolutely love these and so does my husband. Who was very skeptical to even try them. After he did, he was hooked and said “How can these be so darn good with only those ingredients?” He has already asked me to make more. Thanks for coming up with and sharing!
★★★★★
I made a double batch, and they are so yummy! my husband liked them too! 🙂 I added a little coconut oil to my date and coconut mixture to help it bind together better.
★★★★★
Just made these and might decide to keep them all for me! I tripled the batch – made about 35 cookies. They are SO amazing. Better than the originals (sorry Girl Scouts) – try them right out of the freezer – YUM!
★★★★★
I tried these and my dates and coconut would not form a dough. It was just a bucket of “crumbs”. Any recommendations?
It’s likely that your dates were a little dry. Try adding a little water to the mixture, 1 teaspoon at a time until it starts sticking together.
I’ll try these cookies very soon. How many cookies does it make?
Thanks!
The recipe makes about 11 cookies.
Looks so yummy!
★★★★★
These look so amazing! If I don’t have a food processor, is it possible to use a blender instead?
I haven’t tried these in a blender yet. What kind of blender do you have?
I’m making these today for my son’s after-school snack. Mmmm
Yay! I can’t wait to hear how they turn out. Please come back and give the recipe a rating. 🙂
These looks so good!
These look so yummy, I have been looking for some new gluten free snacks to get making so these will be perfect – it can be so hard to make them taste good but these sound amazing. Thanks for the inspiration, I better get cooking!
Holly from The Art of Being Holly xo
I am feeling very hungry now Also excited about your ebook
A-mazing …easy to make and delicious! Have passwd on this recipe many times..everyone loves them!
★★★★★
These cookie look so delicious! I love how easy it is to make them!
★★★★★
These sound awesome! Can’t wait to give them a try.
These sound amazing! Thanks for sharing! Also, I’m super excited about your ebook!
Wow! And it’s no-bake. Thank you!
Yes!! No bake recipes are the best!
???? I’m so excited to try these! Samoa cookies are my absolute favorite, but I’ve shed away from making them because of long, tedious recipes.