Looking for Cookies to Make for the Holidays?

PUMPKIN AND PEANUT BUTTER COCOA COOKIES

So you are going to a Holiday party, getting together for a family gathering or just baking with the kids and you’re looking for a delicious recipe, I have one for you. Are you ready for Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Cookies?cookie

I was waiting at the juice bar at Whole Foods a couple weeks back, when I spotted this recipe. It is part of the Health Starts Here program at Whole Foods.

Not only are these cookies delicious, but they aren’t horrible for you. This recipe has peanut butter, which is high in protein. It also has dates, which are high in fiber and help with your cardiovascular health.dates

The recipe is great, but we did add chocolate chips to it. It gave us something to munch on while we made the cookies and they always taste better with chocolate chips in them. Plus the kids asked for the addition.kids

Hope you have a happy holiday season and of course, enjoy that vegan thing.

Ingredients

1 cup Unsalted Dry Roasted Peanuts
1/2 Rolled Oats
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/4 Tsp Fine Sea Salt
3/4 Cup Pumpkin Puree
1/2 Cup Unsalted Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Dates (Pitted and finely chopped)
1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions

Combine peanuts and oats in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse about twenty five times to create a coarse meal. Add cocoa and salt and pulse a few more times to combine. Put pumpkin puree and peanut butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed for about two minutes until peanut butter and pumpkin are incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary. Add vanilla and dates and mix for about a minute until combined. On low speed, slowly add dry ingredients to peanut butter mixture. Mix until completely combined, forming dense dough. Add a cup of chocolate chips and mix together. Scoop up around a table spoon of dough and roll them into balls. arrange them on the baking sheets about an inch apart. Press down on the balls with the back of a fork in one direction and then the other, forming a checkerboard design on each cookie. Bake for around twelve minutes or until cookies are firm and dried. Cool cookies on sheets for about two minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Jeff Peterson

About Jeff Peterson

Jeff Peterson anchors Good Day Maine on CBS 13 from 4:30-7:00a.m and on FOX 23 from 7:00-8:00am. Back in 2012, he decided to become vegan. Jeff has lost over 50 pounds and his cholesterol has dropped dramatically. Besides having kids, It's the best decision he's ever made.