Cacao Dusted Peanut Butter Cookies

Mmmm, the warm, cozy smell of peanut butter cookies baking in the oven. What other scent is more beloved? Don’t let these healthy, almost raw cookies fool you – they spent not a nanosecond in the oven. They are also gluten and wheat free, without flour, refined sugars, eggs, or butter. What?? Not exactly like mom or grandma would make, but trust me, they are delicious! Raw folks can use raw peanut butter if available, or try subbing in smooth, raw almond butter instead. Let’s chat about dates and why I love them. Dates, a staple of the Middle East for thousands of years, are the fruit of the date palm tree, now cultivated worldwide including the U.S. Dates are high in anti-inflammatory polyphenols as well as magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, and other essential nutrients. They are also high in fiber, including beta-D-glucan. Most dates have a rich, tantalizing, caramel-like flavor and are nourishing and comforting.

I chose cashews instead of almonds because cashews are softer and their delicate flavor won’t compete with the peanut butter. Cashews also contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and minerals including magnesium. While this recipe uses only a food processor and not a warm, comforting oven, you get to eat cookies immediately! (Although, they do hold up much better when chilled for a while.)