Hidden Gem “Butter” Cookies

April 7, 2011 By Leanne Vogel July 19, 2015

I’ve been having crazy dreams lately, and no, not about food… although this next recipe did come to me in a daydream! I’ve been waking up with a peaceful mind, clear head, and focused intentions. What have I been dreaming about you ask? Yoga.

I haven’t visited my mat since November, but after a couple of nights of the same dream, I was convinced I was trying to send myself a message. So, I shuffled around my schedule and headed to the first yoga class I could find. The class was full of balancing poses [my favorite!]. Each movement flowed into the next with purpose, intention, and grace. My body + mind was sucking up every ounce of clarity that it could squeeze out of the experience. When the class was done, I had the same sense of bliss that I’d had in my dreams, only stronger. It was exactly what I needed at that very moment. Sometimes I get so busy that I forget what’s important to me, what keeps me balanced, and what I enjoy doing. I’m so happy that my body worked hard at reminding me how important yoga is to my overall health. So in keeping with my journey of honoring my bodies queues, I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to set aside a bit of time each week to focus on my practice again, starting with another class today at noon. Here’s to a calm, blissful, and intentional Thursday!

Hidden Gem “Butter” Cookies

Author: Leanne Vogel

Recipe type: Vegan, Gluten free, Dairy free, Refined sugar free, Yeast free

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 12 mins

Total time: 42 mins

Serves: 12 cookies

These cookies may look like your average run-of-the-mill cookie from the outside, but don’t let that fool you. One bite and you’ll be welcomed to a soft and sweet date center!

Ingredients

2½ cups almond flour
3 medjool dates, pitted, quartered and rolled into a ball
¼ cupcoconut oil, melted
¼ cup coconut sugar
1 flax egg [1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoon water]
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat. Set side.
In a small bowl, whisk almond flour, sugar, and salt until combined.
In a larger bowl, combine coconut oil, flax egg and vanilla extract. Add dry to wet and mix until incorporated.
Separate dough into 2 balls, cover with parchment paper, and place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Once complete, spoon 2 tablespoon of dough in your hand and flatten, then place 1 date ball in the middle and fold the dough over top. Roll the dough in between your hands to make a ball [make sure you can’t see the date!], then press down to make a bit flatter. Place on the prepared cookie sheet and continue with the remaining dough.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
Remove from oven and let cool.

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Do you practice yoga? If so, what’s your favorite pose? Hands down, my favorite is: Lord of the Dance Pose [or Natarajasana] Do you listen to the messages your body sends you? Do you set aside time for yourself on a daily basis to connect to yourself before you continue on?

This entry was tagged: cookies, medjool dates, yoga