Congratulations to the winner of my #ChotallyAwesome Chobani Giveaway: Kaitlin!
Don’t forget to check your email to claim your prize! xo
Merry Christmas Eve Eve little bunnies!
Is it just me or has this holiday season been crazy? I’ve been working on a lot of graphic design projects and I’ve barely had time to create new recipes, which makes me bummed. But today, that changed! It’s been a way-too-warm 70 degrees here in southern California, and as awesome as it sounds to have beach weather and sunshine, it makes it feel less like Christmas. I literally don’t even want to turn on my oven to bake anything because it’s too hot in my house, haha.
Instead of traditional gingerbread cookies, I created a no bake, raw, vegan, paleo, gluten-free, gingerbread cookie recipe with no grains or refined sugars! How do you like them apples?! I don’t want to toot my own horn, but toot toot, this is probably the healthiest gingerbread recipe you will find! Minimal dishes required. What whatttttt!
Grab your almond milk, turn on Elf, and prepare to be a man-eater. ha. ha .ha.
But seriously, these Medjool men are so scrumptious!
Raw Gingerbread Men
1 cup + 1/4 cup Natural Delights Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup almonds
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp cloves
Before you begin, REMOVE PITS FROM DATES! Combine all spices and almonds in a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Next add the dates and vanilla extract and blend until well combined. Even if it doesn’t resemble dough, it should stick together when pressing it into a ball. Transfer the ball of dough onto a picee or parchment or wax paper, cover with another sheet of parchment paper, and flatten to 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin. Remove the top layer of parchment paper and cut into gingerbread men or various shapes using a cookie cutter. Continue balling up the dough, rolling it out, and cutting into gingerbread men until there is no dough left. Eat right off of the plate, or store in refrigerator until serving!
Note: If you don’t have a cookie cutter, you can also roll them into 1 Tbsp sized balls as Gingerbread bites!
Have a Merry Merry Christmas my loves!
xo Catherine
Ashleigh
December 23, 2013 at 7:42 pm (11 years ago)Looks amazing! I am going to make them tomorrow! Can I soak the almonds before hand or will that mess up the consistency? I always feel like almonds digest better for me when I soak them! Thanks, love! Happy Holidays!
Catherine
December 23, 2013 at 7:45 pm (11 years ago)Thanks Ashleigh! I haven’t tried them with soaked almonds before, but I feel like it might be okay. As long as they aren’t too soaked and turn into nut butter! I’ve made a similar recipe before and added a little water to the dough recipe and it was just fine! The almonds tend to soften up a bit when they’re with the dates : ). Let me know how they turn out!
Ashleigh
December 23, 2013 at 7:58 pm (11 years ago)Thanks so much! I just bought a ton of Medjool dates for a salad recipe and will have just enough to make these too! I’ll probably only soak them for a few hours, not my usual 8 but I will let you know for sure, Catherine!
Catherine
December 23, 2013 at 8:13 pm (11 years ago)Hahaha gotta love the many uses for Medjools! Can’t wait to hear how they turnout 🙂
Cherillynn
December 23, 2013 at 8:39 pm (11 years ago)Those look like homemade Lara Bars. These just might be exactly what Santa needs.
Catherine
December 23, 2013 at 9:37 pm (11 years ago)Exactly what they are! Basically Larabars rolled out and cut into shapes!
Linda
December 23, 2013 at 9:26 pm (11 years ago)You are such an encouragement to me. I Love all your post! Merry Christmas to you too!
Catherine
December 23, 2013 at 9:37 pm (11 years ago)Thank you so much Linda! That is so sweet 🙂 Merry Christmas! xo
D @ The Kosher Cave Girl
December 24, 2013 at 5:00 am (11 years ago)And they’re totally Paleo too, which means I can enjoy them!! They almost look Gingerbread Larabar men! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Carole (France )
December 24, 2013 at 6:24 am (11 years ago)Hi! Thank you for this recipe. I Will make this today.
I love your blog.
Happy Christmas
Kaitlin
December 24, 2013 at 12:49 pm (11 years ago)So totally excited for this and Chobani!! xoxo
Katherine
January 4, 2014 at 7:02 am (11 years ago)Yum! I just got a new blender for christmas, and I’m hoping it’s powerful enough to handle dates. I kinda wish I got a food processor, but I bet the blender will do just fine. I can’t wait to try this, and all of the other date recipes!!