These 3-Ingredient chocolate cookies are fudgy, nutritious, and seriously easy to make. Made with medjool dates, nut butter, and cocoa powder, I’d say these are a crossover between fudgy chocolate brownies and chewy cookies, just a little healthier.
Unlike many healthy cookies, these do not sacrifice flavour or texture. Every cookie is guaranteed to have a caramelised, chocolatey taste and a soft, fudgy centre.
And the best part? These are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, making them an accessible treat for almost anyone.
These 3-ingredient chocolate cookies require only around 15 minutes from start to finish, making them a perfect healthy dessert when you’re craving something sweet and indulgent.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Pitted Medjool dates. These are key to a sweet, fudgy-like cookie. There’s a reason dates are called nature’s candy. If your dates are quite dry, you’ll need to soak them in boiling water first.
- Natural nut butter. Whether your favourite is peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter, just make sure it’s runny. This will make the cookie dough stick together and provide structure.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. The last ingredient needed to make these chocolatey and rich!
Making these 3-ingredient chocolate cookies
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 170 C.
- Add pitted dates and nut butter to a food processor/blender and blend until a smooth paste forms.
- Add cocoa powder and blend again until the dough comes together.
- Roll the dough into small balls and flatten and shape them on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake for approximately 7 minutes, until set around the edges but soft in the middle.
- Allow them to cool fully and set.
- Enjoy!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Only 3 ingredients required. This recipe is simple and quick – no extra steps or fluffing about. So you can get on with your day while still nourishing your body with a delicious sweet treat.
- A super accessible recipe. These chocolate cookies are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free, making them the perfect treat for nearly anyone.
- Incredibly fudgy texture. If you like a fudgy or chewy texture, this recipe is for you! These healthy cookies will melt in your mouth just like a soft chocolate brownie.
- Ideal meal prep recipe. Make these for a busy week ahead, and store them on the kitchen counter for an easy sweet treat whenever a craving strikes.
Health benefits of these chocolate cookies
- Supporting digestive health. Dates are a great source of fibre – and fibre can help keep things regular, as well as prevent constipation.
- Provides a stable energy boost. The healthy fats from the nut butter and natural sugar from dates give you energy without any unwanted blood sugar spikes and crashes.
- Protects our heart health. Unsweetened cocoa powder can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart failure, as well as improve cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Keeps you satiated. The healthy fats and fibre in these cookies will keep you fuller and more satisfied for longer.
Tips for success
- Use soft (ideally medjool) dates. Fresh, soft dates will give these cookies the fudgiest texture. If your dates are quite dry, pour boiling water over them and let them soak for 10 minutes. Make sure to drain them well before blending.
- Don’t overbake. These cookies should be soft and fudgy in the centre, which means minimal oven time! They’ll only need to bake for around 7 minutes.
- Flatten and shape before baking. These 3-ingredient chocolate cookies won’t spread or change shape when baking. So it’s best to flatten them and shape them as desired beforehand.
- Use a natural, runny nut butter. For your cookie dough to come together seamlessly, the nut butter you pick should be runny and without any additives.
- Play around with mix-ins. Add in some chocolate chips, vanilla extract, or salt for extra oomph.
FAQ’s
Are these chocolate cookies keto-friendly?
No, they’re not. Dates are not keto-friendly since they are largely made up of carbs, so this recipe is not suitable for those on a keto or low-carb diet.
What type of dates work best?
Medjool dates are ideal for this recipe because they’re soft and naturally caramel-like.
Why are my cookies not fudgy?
If your cookies turned out dry/crumbly, you’ve likely overbaked them. Remove them from the oven at around the 7-minute mark.
3-Ingredient Fudgy Chocolate Cookies (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
Method
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 170 C.
- Add pitted dates and nut butter to a food processor/blender and blend until a smooth paste forms.
- Add cocoa powder and blend again until the dough comes together.
- Roll the dough into small balls and flatten and shape them on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake for approximately 7 minutes, until set around the edges but still soft in the center.
- Allow them to cool fully and set. Enjoy!
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