These healthy and simple (but incredible!) 4-Ingredient Samoas might just taste better than the real deal. Shh…. don’t tell the Girl Scouts. Vegan, gluten-free and paleo-friendly.
I’m excited to share these 4-Ingredient Samoas. They are created in honor of everyone’s favorite Girl Scout cookie. Okay, so maybe Samoas aren’t everyone’s favorite, but they’re definitely Isaac’s and I’s favorite!
Thin Mints are a close second over here. If you’re on team Thin Mint, I highly recommend you check out my recipe for healthier Thin Mints!
I actually already have a recipe for samoas energy bites, but this version is a bit more simple in terms of the ingredients (just 4) and looks almost exactly like the real deal. The idea for these babies was actually inspired by Meaghan of Plant & Simple Eats. She brought similar cookies to an Instagram meet up we had awhile back and I knew I wanted to make my own version!
These samoas couldn’t be easier to make so instead of having to wait for Girl Scout cookie season every year, you can make these year round. YES!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY SAMOAS:
Healthier 4-Ingredient Samoas
Traditional Samoas, as much as we love them, are highly processed and made with lots of saturated fats and artificial flavoring. I decided to skip all of those extra ingredients like white sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk and made the base out of just medjool dates and toasted coconut. The medjool dates add such a nice caramel flavor and these samoas legit taste like the real deal! Some have even said they taste better than the real deal. Shh…. don’t tell the Girl Scouts.
dark chocolate (chips or a chopped bar) – I like to use Lily’s dark chocolate chips to keep this recipe lower in sugar, vegan and dairy-free.
coconut oil – this is used to help make the melted chocolate thinner, which makes it easier to dip the samoas. The coconut oil also helps harden the chocolate in the freezer. You can skip it, but your melted chocolate will likely be pretty thick. I recommend using refined coconut oil if you don’t want any coconut flavor!
How to Make 4-Ingredient Samoas
Toast coconut – 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.
Process – Add dates and toasted coconut into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until mixture is combined and starts to form a ball of dough.
Form cookies – Remove from the food processor, 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.
Chill– Place all cookies on a sheet lined with parchment and transfer to the freezer to harden up a bit.
Melt chocolate – 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.
Coat– 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.
Freeze – 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.
Enjoy – If you want to enjoy them right away, let them sit out on the counter for a few minutes.
What to Do If Your Dates Are Dry
Fresh Medjool dates are usually soft and give easily when squished. If your dates are older or just seem dry and hard, you may want to soak them before using. Simply place them in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften and rehydrate them. Drain well and pat dry before using.
How to Store Samoas
If you want to enjoy right away, let your samoas 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 or in the freezer for up to three months… but I bet they’ll be gone before then Ha!
If you make these 4-ingredient samoas be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how they turned out for you. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and our readers!
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
Toast coconut: 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.
Process: Add dates and toasted coconut into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until mixture is combined and starts to form a ball of dough.
Form cookies: Remove from food processor, 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.
Set: Place all cookies on a sheet lined with parchment and transfer to the freezer to harden up a bit.
Melt chocolate: 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.
Coat cookies: 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.
Freeze: 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.
Enjoy: 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.
Samoa’s have been a long time favourite but after relocating to Australia 9 years ago it’s been a while since I could get my fix. These are just as good as (if not better than) the original!! I’ve quadrupled the recipe twice to take the cookies to events and they’ve been a raging hit both times. This recipe is amazing, I can’t recommend it enough!!
Ahh yay!! That makes me SO happy to hear, Brooke!! I’m glad you loved these samoas. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me. 🙂
Could the dates be substituted with anything else? My family members are diabetic and we try to use Monk Fruit or Stevia sugar replacements (that don’t raise blood alcohol levels). Any suggestions would be helpful, please!
Hey Angelisa, I’m not sure what would be a good substitute for the medjool dates besides another dried fruit like raisins or figs (but neither of those will have the same caramel taste). The dates are a main ingredients in this recipe so I don’t recommend swapping it with something else.
Holy smokes these are the BEST cookies I have ever had!! What an incredibly easy to follow recipe that produced the most scrumptious cookie! I was so impressed with these (I am with all of your recipes) but this one just hit the spot! Thank you for a healthier alternative that is not hard to replicate. I will definitely be making these again and doubling the recipe because they are too good! I LOVE all of the ingredients and think these are a FANTASTIC alternative to processed girl scout cookies. I will be recommending these to all of my clients. Thank you so much!
Wowza! These were so good, and completely satisfying. It’s cookie time abs these are my FAV so finding this recipe was perfect timing. Thank you!
Danyial
Absolutely love this healthier version of samosas… super easy to make and extremely yummy!!! This will definitely be a staple in our family “baking”!!! Thank you!!!!
Awesome recipe! My recommendation is to first process the dates until they are a paste and then add the coconut in and blitz just a bit. This way you still get a little texture from the coconuts. If you stick them in the food processor together, the coconut flakes disappear and you lose the texture of the coconut.
Hey Cory – Sounds like your dates were a tad dry. You can always add a little bit of water to the mixture to help it stick together. In the future, if your dates are dry you can soak them in water for a few minutes before using.
How can you call this a “HEALTHY “ recipe? With 17 net Carbs are still “ way too high!” We all know that carbs turn into sugar when they’re digested! 😩 Better go back to the drawing board on this one!
If you replace the white flour for almond flour and replace the sugar with coconut sugar then , you’re well on your way to a healthy recipe! By adding nuts and omitting the dates/“ FOR VERY HIGH SUGAR AMOUNTS,you can then, reduce the amount of high carbs tremendously! Dried fruits are notorious for being extremely high in carbs! Thank you! Deb! 💞
Absolutely better than original Samoas! Thanks for such a simple, delicious alternative! I was a bit skeptical at first that only 4 ingredients could be so good but they hit the mark!
Hey Debbe’- I think you are the one who needs to go back to the drawing board and come back with a “healthier” recipe that tastes this good and close to the Girl Scout version. Until then your opinion about what is healthy is irrelevant if you’re not going to step up with a substitute.
💖 Tara
Hey Debbe – In my opinion this is a much healthier treat than the original Samoas. In this recipe we’re using healthier, all-natural ingredients and only 4 of them. A regular Samoa cookie contains preservatives, corn syrup, white sugar, palm oil and other ingredients that aren’t the greatest.
Wow, thanks for a great recipe. I agree too, these are much healthier than your traditional Samoa. It is funny what the masses consider “healthy” in our society. Thanks again.
Perfection! Super easy! Super yummy!
One of The best no bake cookies ever!
Will be making these regularly! I am in love with all the recipes I have found on EBF and so happy to make them for my babygirl who is almost turning one this year. I will definitely be trying out the smash cake recipe. Thank you Brittany & EBF.
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear. So glad you loved this recipe. Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it! PS – can’t wait to hear what you think of the smash cake recipe, definitely come back and let me know!!
Samoas were always mine & my fiance’s favorite girl scout cookies but last time we had them they tasted so artificial to us. Today I made these as a pre-birthday surprise treat for him and he loved them! Much more wholesome than the original but even tastier! I will be making these again and again.
Omg I made this recipe tonight after having a major sweet tooth all day and the cookies are AMAZING!!! Seriously better than girl scout cookies(sorry girls!!) and I don’t feel bad about eating them!
These are AMAZING. I usually don’t “bake”, but these are SO easy and absolutely delicious. My husband said they are better than Girl Scout cookies and I agree! Now I’m figuring out how to hide my stash from him and the kids! Haha!
Woo-hoo!! That makes me so happy to hear, Jacki. I’m so pumped these cookies were a hit. Thanks for trying them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
I have made these twice and they are absolutely delicious! Majool dates are so good! My friends and family are obsessed with them! Will definitely make them again!
subscribe
Buy Now →
Leave a Comment
Delicious! And they did not last long around my house!
★★★★★
We love these, the toasted coconut is amazing taste. For sure double the recipe as one batch doesn’t last long with six people in the house.
★★★★★
Woo!! So glad you’re a fan of these, Liesel!! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Loved it! Forgot to toast the coconut and it was still delish!
★★★★★
So glad you loved these, Katherine!! Thank for the review. I appreciate it!
Samoa’s have been a long time favourite but after relocating to Australia 9 years ago it’s been a while since I could get my fix. These are just as good as (if not better than) the original!! I’ve quadrupled the recipe twice to take the cookies to events and they’ve been a raging hit both times. This recipe is amazing, I can’t recommend it enough!!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! That makes me SO happy to hear, Brooke!! I’m glad you loved these samoas. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me. 🙂
Could the dates be substituted with anything else? My family members are diabetic and we try to use Monk Fruit or Stevia sugar replacements (that don’t raise blood alcohol levels). Any suggestions would be helpful, please!
★★★★★
Hey Angelisa, I’m not sure what would be a good substitute for the medjool dates besides another dried fruit like raisins or figs (but neither of those will have the same caramel taste). The dates are a main ingredients in this recipe so I don’t recommend swapping it with something else.
Holy smokes these are the BEST cookies I have ever had!! What an incredibly easy to follow recipe that produced the most scrumptious cookie! I was so impressed with these (I am with all of your recipes) but this one just hit the spot! Thank you for a healthier alternative that is not hard to replicate. I will definitely be making these again and doubling the recipe because they are too good! I LOVE all of the ingredients and think these are a FANTASTIC alternative to processed girl scout cookies. I will be recommending these to all of my clients. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Omg yay!! This makes me so happy to hear!! So glad you loved this recipe, Malisa. Thanks for the review. I SO appreciate it. <3
I love this recipe. I have made it several times. YUMMY!!!
★★★★★
So glad you loved this recipe, Terri. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Wowza! These were so good, and completely satisfying. It’s cookie time abs these are my FAV so finding this recipe was perfect timing. Thank you!
Danyial
★★★★★
Yay!! So pumped to hear you loved these cookies. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Absolutely love this healthier version of samosas… super easy to make and extremely yummy!!! This will definitely be a staple in our family “baking”!!! Thank you!!!!
★★★★★
So glad you loved them, Jenny. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!!
Awesome recipe! My recommendation is to first process the dates until they are a paste and then add the coconut in and blitz just a bit. This way you still get a little texture from the coconuts. If you stick them in the food processor together, the coconut flakes disappear and you lose the texture of the coconut.
★★★★★
Help! The date and coconut mixture is not coming together. It is very crumbly. Don’t know how I can mess up such an easy recipe!
Hey Cory – Sounds like your dates were a tad dry. You can always add a little bit of water to the mixture to help it stick together. In the future, if your dates are dry you can soak them in water for a few minutes before using.
How can you call this a “HEALTHY “ recipe? With 17 net Carbs are still “ way too high!” We all know that carbs turn into sugar when they’re digested! 😩 Better go back to the drawing board on this one!
If you replace the white flour for almond flour and replace the sugar with coconut sugar then , you’re well on your way to a healthy recipe! By adding nuts and omitting the dates/“ FOR VERY HIGH SUGAR AMOUNTS,you can then, reduce the amount of high carbs tremendously! Dried fruits are notorious for being extremely high in carbs! Thank you! Deb! 💞
★
Absolutely better than original Samoas! Thanks for such a simple, delicious alternative! I was a bit skeptical at first that only 4 ingredients could be so good but they hit the mark!
★★★★★
Woo!! So glad you loved these, Erika. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Hey Debbe’- I think you are the one who needs to go back to the drawing board and come back with a “healthier” recipe that tastes this good and close to the Girl Scout version. Until then your opinion about what is healthy is irrelevant if you’re not going to step up with a substitute.
💖 Tara
Hey Debbe – In my opinion this is a much healthier treat than the original Samoas. In this recipe we’re using healthier, all-natural ingredients and only 4 of them. A regular Samoa cookie contains preservatives, corn syrup, white sugar, palm oil and other ingredients that aren’t the greatest.
Wow, thanks for a great recipe. I agree too, these are much healthier than your traditional Samoa. It is funny what the masses consider “healthy” in our society. Thanks again.
★★★★★
You’re so welcome, Candice!! I’m glad you love this recipe. 🙂
Perfection! Super easy! Super yummy!
One of The best no bake cookies ever!
Will be making these regularly! I am in love with all the recipes I have found on EBF and so happy to make them for my babygirl who is almost turning one this year. I will definitely be trying out the smash cake recipe. Thank you Brittany & EBF.
★★★★★
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear. So glad you loved this recipe. Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it! PS – can’t wait to hear what you think of the smash cake recipe, definitely come back and let me know!!
Absolutely insane how close the flavor is. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Woo!! So glad you loved this recipe, Morgan. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Oh my gosh these are AMAZING!!! Even my super picky 5 year old loved these! I will definitely be turning to these over Girl Scout cookies!
★★★★★
Woo!! So glad you loved these cookies, Reesa. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Obsessed with these! My family cannot get enough of them and my friends love them too! Love a healthy cookie recipe that is so easy to make.
★★★★★
That makes me so happy to hear!! So glad these cookies are a hit. Thanks for leaving a review. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Samoas were always mine & my fiance’s favorite girl scout cookies but last time we had them they tasted so artificial to us. Today I made these as a pre-birthday surprise treat for him and he loved them! Much more wholesome than the original but even tastier! I will be making these again and again.
★★★★★
I’m so glad these cookies were a hit!! Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review, Molly. I so appreciate it. 🙂
I LOVE these! So simple and so delicious! Thank you!
★★★★★
So glad you’re loving these, Viviane!! 🙂
Hi! Can you use fresh coconut?
Fresh coconut won’t work as well. It needs to be dried coconut.
Omg I made this recipe tonight after having a major sweet tooth all day and the cookies are AMAZING!!! Seriously better than girl scout cookies(sorry girls!!) and I don’t feel bad about eating them!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! Aren’t they SO good?! I’m pumped you loved them. 🙂
Even better than samoas!!
★★★★★
These are AMAZING. I usually don’t “bake”, but these are SO easy and absolutely delicious. My husband said they are better than Girl Scout cookies and I agree! Now I’m figuring out how to hide my stash from him and the kids! Haha!
★★★★★
Woo-hoo!! That makes me so happy to hear, Jacki. I’m so pumped these cookies were a hit. Thanks for trying them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
Best guilt-free dessert ever! And I almost always have these ingredients on hand. They are a must try if you like samoas.
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Samantha!! 🙂
Could not wait till it cooled off so yummy. Canʻt wait to make again.
★★★★★
I have made these twice and they are absolutely delicious! Majool dates are so good! My friends and family are obsessed with them! Will definitely make them again!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! So glad these samoas have been a hit. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Amber. I so appreciate it!