Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

I have been using dates quite a but lately in granola bars and I have been wanting to make a dessert with them because they have such a natural sweet flavor so last night Lily and I were playing around and pretending we were on an episode of Chopped and I made these "healthy" date cookies. The dates are fairly sweet so I added the chopped salted peanuts and flake salt as a way to cut the sweetness. I honestly think they are freaking amazing. We made one batch last night and all of them were gone today. They taste like a peanut butter cookie and you honestly won't miss the butter or sugar. Scroll down for the recipe and if you make them please send me a picture! Xx

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups of packed pitted dates (about 10 oz)
1 cup Skippy creamy natural peanut butter
2 1/2 tsps vanilla extract
1 egg (omit for no bake version)*
1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts
Flake salt or Sea salt
6oz Dark chocolate

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor, combine the dates, peanut butter, and vanilla. Pulse until well combined and smooth. About 2-3 minutes. 

3. Add the egg and pulse to combine. Add chopped peanuts and gently spread the peanuts into the dough with a spoon.  

4. Using a melon baller, scoop out the dough to make about 12-15 balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press down each cookie with a fork to flatten and make an imprint on each one. Bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will be chewy. They do not contain flour so they are moist. (TIP: make sure to completely cool them before eating - they are much better when chilled)

5. Remove from oven and let cool. Drizzle with dark chocolate and top with extra chopped peanuts and sea salt or flake salt. The salt is important! The dates are sweet and the flake salt cuts the sweetness. I promise these are amazing!

*You can easily make a no bake version of these yummy peanut butter date cookies. Simply omit the egg and the baking portion and just place the cookies in the fridge for an hour before drizzling with chocolate. They are just as good without the egg and even more simple without the baking!