Remember that delicious bowl of healthy cookie dough dip that I posted yesterday? What if I told you that you could turn that fun vegan dip into actual ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies with the addition of some fairy dust (a.k.a. baking powder and baking soda)? Well, I’m about to make your wildest dreams come true. Get your ovens ready little bunnies. It’s cookie time.
Speaking of cookie time, whenever I hear that phrase I instantly think of the movie “Troop Beverly Hills!” OMG such a good movie. Definitely watching it this weekend with a Chocolate Chip Chickpea cookie… or two! Have you ever seen “Troop Beverly Hills?” Such a classic!
As usual, these cookies are healthy, but give regular fatty refined sugar cookies a run for their money! Here is yet another flour-less vegan recipe that doesn’t contain any oil, refined sugar, or butter for all of you healthy bunnies that want a little something to indulge in.
It’s cookie time, it’s cookie time, it’s cookie timeeeee!
Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
Makes 24 cookies
1 15oz can of chickpeas
1 + 1/4 cup pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup chocolate chips (of your choice, you could use carob chips for a vegan option)
3 Tbs almond butter
2 Tbsp rolled oats
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove pits from the dates and place in a bowl or jar with 1/2 cup of water. Cover the bowl or jar and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (or overnight). Strain and rinse the chickpeas. After dates have soaked, combine the chickpeas, dates (including their soaking liquid), almond butter, oats, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a food processor, excluding the chocolate chips. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula as needed. Remove dough from the for processor and gently mix in the chocolate chips. Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, or line with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into 1 inch balls and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cookies are firm in the center. Remove from oven and let cool.
Note: If you were hesitant about the Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip, this is a great recipe to test it out. The dough does have a different type of flavor than your average cookie dough, but the baked cookies taste like “regular” chocolate chip cookies, without a doubt. Make a batch of cookies and sample some dough to see if it’s dip worthy for your taste! If not, turn it into cookies. Simple!
Recipe adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie.
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints
June 15, 2012 at 1:45 pm (13 years ago)Hey girl…just read your bio. Congrats on your weight loss. You really look great. Just saved you to my favorites. I’ll be back. Always on the look out for inspiration.
Catherine
June 15, 2012 at 2:17 pm (13 years ago)Thank you so much, Becky! You are so sweet! Health & Happiness xo
Malissa
February 26, 2014 at 8:51 am (11 years ago)Hi! I love your site…I just got my 1st Vitamix!!! So I’m looking for all kinds of ways to use it, so any tips??? I really want to “master” the chickpea cookie idea, but I’m not sure on the liquid ratio for making cookie dough in Vitamix?? Any suggestions???
Thanks so much!
Larissa
June 15, 2012 at 4:18 pm (13 years ago)Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this! I bake all the time, but I’ve always wanted to find a cookie recipe for my work that I won’t feel guilty for making for the people in the office who are on diets (everyone). I’m definitely going to whip a batch (or 2) up!
Catherine
June 15, 2012 at 6:14 pm (13 years ago)You’re welcome! Everyone will love them! Health & Happiness xo
Maria
June 15, 2012 at 7:40 pm (13 years ago)Wow! This sound incredible! Can’t wait to try them!!! I just discovered your blog, will be back soon for sure. 😉
Catherine
June 15, 2012 at 8:17 pm (13 years ago)Thank you Maria! Health & Happiness xo
Hayley
June 15, 2012 at 10:31 pm (13 years ago)Love Beverley Hills Troop! 🙂
can’t wait to try these, thanks for the inspiration x
Catherine
June 16, 2012 at 10:19 am (13 years ago)Such a good movie! Do The Freddieeee!
Health & Happiness xo
Pam
June 22, 2012 at 2:01 pm (13 years ago)Love, love, love these cookies…my husband had five devoured before I could stop him!!
Catherine
June 22, 2012 at 2:23 pm (13 years ago)Hahaha that’s hilarious! So glad you both loved the recipe! Health & Happiness xo
Hannah
June 26, 2012 at 4:23 pm (12 years ago)These cookies are lifechanging. They are just as delicious as the butter and flour kind and yet they are so healthy with barely any sugar! I am blown away by these incredible cookies and this blog has become my favorite healthy food blog. Thank you!!
Catherine
June 26, 2012 at 5:03 pm (12 years ago)I’m so glad you loved them Hannah! They seem like a really odd combination of ingredients, but they are SOOOOO good! I’m so glad you had a chance to try them out 🙂 Health & Happiness xo
Casey
June 27, 2012 at 2:37 pm (12 years ago)Hi Catherine! I love your blog so much! You are so inspiring & fun to read, and I adore the way you have fun with your food & still keep it healthy! I’m trying to make this recipe, but I could only find dried dates at my grocery store. Do you think they’ll work as long as I soak them, or is there something else I could substitute? This is the first recipe I’m trying from you, and I can’t wait to cook more! Watch out, carrot cake oatmeal, here I come!! 🙂
Catherine
June 28, 2012 at 5:19 pm (12 years ago)Hi Casey! Are the dates completely dried, as in crunchy/crispy? Or are they more of a raisin type of texture (still mushy in the middle)? The dates I used are dried, but not dried like a banana chip would be. They are still gooey and smoothy in the middle!
If they are completely dried out, I am not sure how they would work since I have not tried them before, but it’s worth a shot. he soaking liquid would definitely help revive them too. Let me know!
Hopefully that made sense haha it’s hard to describe dates!
xo
Colleen
June 28, 2012 at 3:37 pm (12 years ago)Ha, I completely forgot to tell you that I will be mentioning you again in my blog–I made these cookies! LOVED them. Admittedly, I made a few changes to your recipe because I like things a little sweeter: I added coconut, cinnamon, a bit of stevia and honey, and a little more chocolate chips. But I think your original recipe is so clever! Dates are fantastic. And who knew chickpeas could be so delicious as a dessert?! Thanks again!
Catherine
June 28, 2012 at 5:15 pm (12 years ago)Aww thank you Colleen! You are so sweet, and I am loving all of your swaps! Keep up the healthy cooking! xo
Nilam M.
June 29, 2012 at 10:29 am (12 years ago)I LOVE how you use so many of the same ingredients to create so many different types of foods. Makes it so easy to use all of the leftover ingredients to make something new! Clever 🙂
Catherine
June 29, 2012 at 10:40 am (12 years ago)Thank you! 🙂
Stephanie
June 29, 2012 at 4:27 pm (12 years ago)These are just absolutely amazing!
Catherine
June 29, 2012 at 9:57 pm (12 years ago)So glad you love them!
Lisa
July 2, 2012 at 3:41 pm (12 years ago)I was just wondering about the dates, is whole foods the only place that carries that particular type of dates?
Catherine
July 2, 2012 at 6:13 pm (12 years ago)Hi Lisa! Dates can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores! They are usually in clear plastic boxes near the fresh fruits! You should be able to find them almost everywhere! xo
Melissa
July 2, 2012 at 5:54 pm (12 years ago)Omg I finally had time to make these today and I could not stop eating them! Tomorrow I’m going to try the thin mint smoothie. I’ve had several of your recipes and everyday I get excited to try a new one.
Catherine
July 2, 2012 at 6:09 pm (12 years ago)Aren’t they yummy? You cannot even taste the chickpeas! Totally addicting!
Nicole
July 3, 2012 at 10:36 am (12 years ago)I just stumbled upon your blog yesterday. My story is very similar to yours. I grew up with two older brothers that were naturally thin and fit. Unfortunately, I was/am the “chubby bunny” in my family. I recently graduated from college and I am facing the same challenges you faced with my body. I went to culinary school and I am an aspiring pastry chef (so gaining weight in college was inevitable)luckily sweets have gotten to be almost sickening over the past 4 years but some desserts are so tempting. I’ve been attempting to diet for just about my whole life but always fail at it. I was going strong for about a month, then fell off course for a week or so. Your blog has defenately inspired me to get back on the right path. Fingers crossed I can stay strong..
Catherine
July 3, 2012 at 11:13 am (12 years ago)Hi Nicole! Thank you so much for sharing your story! Take everything one day at a time and always remember that you’re one step closer than you were yesterday! Change can be really hard at times, and if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you, so always keep that in mind if you hit a rough patch! If you are tempted to eat off of your “plan” go for a walk, read a book, or call a friend to distract you! Craving usually end after 15 minutes! You can do it! Health & Happiness xo
Somer
July 4, 2012 at 8:53 am (12 years ago)Hi Catherine, I just wanted to say THANK YOU. Your story is so inspiring and relatable for me, and it’s really given me a lot of much needed hope and encouragement on my journey to a healthier lifestyle. I’m also in LOVE with all of your recipes! I think you are so smart; instead of just trying to avoid the temptation of an unhealthy food you love, you find a healthy way to replace it! I’ve seriously been bookmarking your recipes all morning. Can’t wait to make this one, cookies are my weakness!
Catherine
July 4, 2012 at 9:46 am (12 years ago)Thank you so much for the compliments Somer! I am so happy that you found my blog and are loving my recipes! Health & Happiness xo
Sarah
July 4, 2012 at 1:19 pm (12 years ago)Am I able to omit the dates? I am not a fan and would prefer not to include them but on don’t want to mess up the cookie 🙂
Catherine
July 4, 2012 at 9:47 pm (12 years ago)Hi Sarah! The dates add sweetness and texture to the cookies, so I am not sure how they would taste without them.
Erin
July 4, 2012 at 7:40 pm (12 years ago)Hello! So I just made these… they taste good but they never got firm in the middle, even when they started to burn on the bottom! Any suggestions!? I really want to make them again because I love a healthy, vegan cookie and they totally taste yummy, but the texture isn’t quite right.
Cheers!
Catherine
July 4, 2012 at 9:32 pm (12 years ago)Hmm you could try cooking them at a lower temperature for a longer amount of time? Let me know if that helps!
Nicole MacIntyre
July 7, 2012 at 10:09 am (12 years ago)Catherine, Made these today and was very impressed. I’ve featured your recipe on my parenting blog. These would be a great healthy treat for kids.
http://brooding.thespec.com/2012/07/chocolate-and-chickpeas.html#
I love your blog, keep up the great work.
Nicole
Catherine
July 7, 2012 at 10:57 am (12 years ago)Hi Nicole! Your blog is too cute! Thank you so much for posting my recipe and for the link love 🙂 I’m so glad you loved the recipe! xo
Indian American Mom
July 16, 2012 at 7:27 pm (12 years ago)Nicole, great blog! Love the layout and healthy recipes. I tried making this but it didn’t turn out right. Part of it is my fault for putting in too much water (I didn’t read that I was only supposed to soak the dates in 1/2 a cup of water until I had already poured all of it into the blender) and then compensating with a bunch of oats. But the cookies fell apart and had a strange taste/texture.
Just wanted to give you some feedback on this recipe. I’m looking forward to trying the others (which I’m sure are delicious)!
Catherine
July 16, 2012 at 11:36 pm (12 years ago)Oh no! I hope that your next round of Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies goes more smoothly 🙂 Health & Happiness xo
Erin
July 22, 2012 at 7:19 pm (12 years ago)Hello, can you confirm the quanity of the almond butter. Is it Tablespoon or Teaspoon?
I am guessing it’s Tablespoon due to the order it’s in, but just want to confirm before I make these.
Thank you 🙂
Catherine
July 23, 2012 at 10:59 am (12 years ago)Hi Erin, yes it’s Tablespoon! (3 Tablespoons of almond butter)
Julia
July 25, 2012 at 9:35 pm (12 years ago)I’m baking these right now!!! The cookie dough is so delicious. I’m new to your blog and I absolutely love it! Your openness about going overboard with losing weight is one of the things I like the most about your blog. That and the fact that your recipes look so unique and healthy! And who can say no to little bunny rabbits?!
Catherine
July 25, 2012 at 9:38 pm (12 years ago)Aww thank you so much Julia! I am so happy that you found my blog and really appreciate the kind words, you are so sweet! Let me know how your cookies turn out, I hope you love them! Health & Happiness xo
Julia
July 26, 2012 at 12:45 pm (12 years ago)THEY WERE AMAZING!!! I love that they’re so filling!
Catherine
July 26, 2012 at 1:27 pm (12 years ago)Yayyy! Glad you loved them! xo
Staci
July 29, 2012 at 2:19 pm (12 years ago)Unfortunately, my food processor is ridiculously small. I think I could just process everything individually and then use a mixer? I just made the raw brownie bites and they were delicious. I really want to make these for my family and hope it works! Thank you for making this all available. Have already lost 6 pounds by loosely following the rabbit food pyramid and am doing the cleanse next week! 🙂
Catherine
July 29, 2012 at 5:34 pm (12 years ago)Hi Staci! Congratulations on losing 6 lbs, thats fantastic! You could definitely process the ingredients in batches and mix them together! I have a mini food processor so I have to do that at times 🙂 xo
Holly
August 5, 2012 at 4:46 pm (12 years ago)First of all, WOW my house smelled so good while these were cooking! I used homemade peanut butter instead of almond butter, and added a little cinnamon, because I love cinnamon in anything dessert-y.
I only used about half the batter and then got to thinking of what else I could use it for. So I scooped it into a ziplock bag, cut the corner off and piped small dots onto wax paper. I froze them for cookie dough bites! And even better, I’m thinking of adding a few bites to some banana “nicecream” for my kids 😉
Thanks so much for your awesome recipes. I’ve tried about 5 of them in the last 2 days and they’re all awesome. One question though….the chickpeas are a substitute for flour basically right? Do you think you could sub them in other things and if so do you have any idea what the ratio might be?
Catherine
August 6, 2012 at 1:58 am (12 years ago)Ohh my gosh I must try the dough frozen! Great idea! I have made chickpea cupcakes before but they came out a bit dense, I am still trying to figure out the perfect ratio for chickpeas in place of flour, but I will definitely post it when I get it perfect 🙂 xo
Gloria
August 13, 2012 at 12:41 am (12 years ago)I love these! I have more dates soaking in the fridge as we speak because they are in such demand by friends and family. I loved my partner’s reaction when I told her the ingredients. Chickpeas? Really? Yep! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Catherine
August 13, 2012 at 1:40 am (12 years ago)I love it!!! So happy they’re a hit! xo
Amanda
August 15, 2012 at 8:01 am (12 years ago)I made these for my co-workers and everyone LOVED them! I am the employee wellness specialist so I typically get a few “eye rolls” when I bring in healthy treats, but no one was rolling their eyes this morning 🙂 Thank you for the recipes! Trying the black bean brownies next!
Catherine
August 15, 2012 at 8:53 am (12 years ago)Hahaha love your story, that’s hilarious! So happy everyone loved them! xo
Heather
September 14, 2012 at 1:17 pm (12 years ago)I have been following your blog since early July and am completely inspired by your recipes and clean eating. I have lost/gotten rid of almost 12 lbs and dropped one size since!
Yesterday I made these cookies, I thought they were okay, but my kids were SUPER impressed!! Yeah ;D
Thank you for sharing your story and your food!
Noel
October 6, 2012 at 9:47 pm (12 years ago)Catherine, your blog and your story is amazing and totally relatable. Checking out recipes and entries on your blog has become my new obsession! I myself have been trying to lose 10 lbs for about 5 years and have never been able to stick to it! I know it sounds dumb. But you have totally motivated me! I have been trying to stick to the Rabbit Food Pyramid and have felt a HUGE difference in my energy (and digestion! Whoa baby!). Thanks again! Also, I was wondering, where can you find medjool dateas? And, why do you use chia seeds so often and where can I find those??? Thanks again. Keep blogging!
H
October 8, 2012 at 7:35 am (12 years ago)Awesome cookies! Thanks for the recipe. I’d add to the instructions that they need to be flattened a bit before baking. Not sure about everyone else’s, but mine retained their shape, so needed some flattening in order to cook properly. I’ll definitely make these again!
Anyone tried freezing the dough balls and baking later?
Danielle
November 9, 2012 at 7:09 am (12 years ago)Do you have the nutritional info for this recipe? thanks!!
Jill
November 21, 2012 at 6:27 pm (12 years ago)I made a similar, but not identical, recipe recently and they did not store well. (They were mushy the next day.) I’m about to try your recipe. What’s the best way to store them please? Thanks! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Cathy
February 28, 2013 at 4:30 pm (12 years ago)I freeze all my homemade cookies. They will last for weeks.
Anita
February 20, 2013 at 12:09 am (12 years ago)I tried these tonight (midnight baking!) and they are great! I put in much more vanilla (5 capfuls) and put in a mix of prunes and dates since I did not have enough dates. I will definitely make these again.
Best part: I felt too full after 2 cookies to eat the other 10, as I normally would 🙂
Beatrice
February 27, 2013 at 12:45 pm (12 years ago)Just made these and they are yummy. Made a few adjustments as on a 2 week kick start plan and wanted to make them as nutritious and healthy as possible. Instead of oats used dessicated coconut, added cinnamon, and used ratio of 50:50 for raisins:dates which I soaked rather than just dates. At the ‘dip’ stage these are yummy! Next time I will make sure I add the raisins last like the choc chips in this recipe as they are quite decorative! Only problem I have is that they leave a certain dryness in the mouth afterwards- any ideas how to improve? The mixture was just right in terms of liquid, so not sure how to fix it.
Thanks 🙂
P.S. great blog and a great motivator!
Cathy
February 28, 2013 at 4:28 pm (12 years ago)I made these cookies tonight and they are amazing! They are a guiltless, filling and sweet. I am in the process of giving up sugar and not to mention, I am a cookie monster. These were the perfect solution.
H
March 4, 2013 at 7:58 am (12 years ago)I make these all the time and find they taste better cold. My kids like them more when I add a bit more flour. I make them with sunflower butter so that they are nut-free and the kids can take them to school. Next, I will try them with cocoa instead of chocolate, maybe increase by a few dates for more sweetness, just so that I can remove all of the processed sugar. Thanks for a great recipe!
Tzivi
October 30, 2013 at 9:32 am (11 years ago)What would you suggest to use instead of the oats to make it gluten free?? I REALLY want to make these!
Sima
February 6, 2014 at 11:12 am (11 years ago)I want to mail these. How do you think they will hold up? BTW I love your website, you are such an inspiration!
adriana
February 21, 2014 at 1:08 pm (11 years ago)can i ommit the oats?
adriana
February 21, 2014 at 1:08 pm (11 years ago)can i ommit the oats
Catherine
February 21, 2014 at 1:46 pm (11 years ago)Hi Adirana! I’m sure it would be fine without the oats : ) They just give bait of texture! Let me know if you give it a try!
Karin
March 2, 2014 at 5:30 pm (11 years ago)Hi! I would so love to try these but as we don’t use canned food, I was wondering if you know how much dry chickpeas make 1 can of 15 oz!
Thanks so much for your reply. I can’t wait to make them.
Catherine
March 2, 2014 at 6:09 pm (11 years ago)Hi Karin! It’s a little over 2 cups, so two big cups of cooked chickpeas should work perfectly!
Becky & 3 boys
April 30, 2014 at 3:15 pm (11 years ago)I have my two youngest boys home and ready to make a treat. I am always trying to “trick” them to eat less sugar and closer to healthy rather than the junk. So, our first batch (minus several dough samples) are cooking up right now. Because the boys needed the treats NOW, I used honey rather than the overnight dates. The 20 min wait is perfect. “That is how long my reading homework takes.”-Lucas, age 8. Can you guess what I just made him do while he waits for the cookies?
Catherine
April 30, 2014 at 3:25 pm (11 years ago)Hahahaha tat is too cute!!! Loved the little homework story! <3
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan
July 18, 2014 at 7:55 pm (10 years ago)These do sound pretty amazing! And look at that texture!!
fortheloveofpb
September 29, 2015 at 4:35 pm (9 years ago)Hi there! Just wanted to let you know that I made an oatmeal recipe inspired by your cookies. I linked your recipe in the post and mentioned how delicious it is. The post is here, http://fortheloveofpb.com/2015/09/27/peanut-butter-cookie-dough-oatmeal/, if you’re interested!
Catherine
October 4, 2015 at 4:24 pm (9 years ago)So awesome!!! Thanks so much for sharing! xo