Valentine’s day is just around the corner. You’re probably imagining a romantic day filled with love, teddy bears, flowers and chocolate. That’s right, mouth watering, stomach ache inducing amounts of chocolate. Americans will purchase around 58 million pounds of chocolate during the days leading up to V-day. Oh my goji, that’s a lot of chocolate! Instead of going the traditional route of store bought truffles in heart shaped boxes, branch out and make something healthy and delish!
These gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan bite-sized treats provide healthy plant-based fats, natural sugars, macronutrients, and tons of flavor that will satisfy your sweet tooth, give you a little burst of energy, and keep you away from the truffles! Oh, and did I mention… No baking required?!
If you’re short on time, skip the filling and just make the outer cookies for a fun dessert!
Valentines Day Cookie Sandwiches
Makes about 24 one inch heart shaped sandwiches
1 cup pitted Medjool dates (pitted)
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup walnuts
3 Tbsp raw cacao powder (or 4 Tbsp cocoa powder)
1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Filling:
1/2 cup raspberries
2 Tbsp coconut flour
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp honey or agave
1 tsp vanilla
Blend the sunflower seeds and walnuts in a food processor until finely ground but not a nut butter consistency. Add the cacao powder and vanilla extract and blend again until mixed evenly. Remove pits from dates. Add the the dates and process until a dough like mixture is formed. You should be able to sculpt the dough without crumbling. Remove the dough from the food processor and transfer onto a large piece of wax paper. Cover the top of the dough with wax paper, and flatten with a rolling pin. Place the flattened dough in the freezer (with both sheets of wax paper) while you make the filling. For the filling, combine raspberries, coconut flour, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer the filling mixture onto a large piece of wax paper. Cover the top with another piece of wax paper and use a rolling pin to flatten. Transfer the filling (with wax paper) to the freezer. While the filling is setting, remove the outer dough from the freezer and remove the top layer of wax paper. Using a 1 inch heart shaped cookie cutter, cut the dough into hearts. Remove the filling from the freezer and remove the top layer of wax paper. Using the cookie cutter, cut the filling into hearts. Place one heart of filling over one cookie heart, and top with another cookie heart to form a sandwich. Store in the freezer until served.
Note: I used frozen raspberries in the filling to expedite the setting process.
Jade
February 13, 2013 at 3:55 pm (12 years ago)Honey is not vegan.
Catherine
February 13, 2013 at 5:09 pm (12 years ago)Hi Jade! There has been a constant debate whether honey is vegan or not. Since it does not contain any animal products, I consider it to be vegan, although I know some do not. You could use agave instead of honey to fit this recipe into your lifestyle! xo
Megan
February 13, 2013 at 7:17 pm (12 years ago)Looks delish! I tried your brownie bites over the weekend and they were great! I can’t wait to try this soon. 🙂
Amanda
February 13, 2013 at 9:31 pm (12 years ago)Hey 🙂
I am all out of vanilla (birthday party on the weekend lol) can I substitute it for almond extra or something else or leave it out entirely? Thanks 🙂
Catherine
February 14, 2013 at 2:35 pm (12 years ago)Hi Amanda! You can leave the vanilla out! You could always sweeten with some stevia, agave, or more honey if some is needed 🙂 xo
Jenna
February 14, 2013 at 8:21 am (12 years ago)These look so great and simple and cute!! I was on pinterest looking for vegan valentines day treats and everything seems to be just as sugar-filled and bad for you as their non vegan counterparts! I love your take on Valentines day cookies, these are my favorite type or treats – dense and chewy and nearly impossible to screw up when making. hah anyway, I love your blog, happy valentines day!
Catherine
February 14, 2013 at 2:33 pm (12 years ago)Haha that’s awesome! I’m happy you are excited for this recipe 🙂 xo
Krissy
February 16, 2013 at 2:21 pm (12 years ago)Hi love! These cookies look sooo adorable and I have all the ingredients on hand to make them, except for the coconut flour! I’m not vegan so I don’t really mind if I don’t use coconut flour, so do you think I could use normal plain flour instead? Or does the coconut flour give it some sort of unique flavour/texture? x
Krissy
February 16, 2013 at 2:24 pm (12 years ago)Hi! I wrote another comment just before and not sure if it went through so I’ll just ask again – can you use regular plain flour instead of the coconut flour? I’m not vegan so it doesn’t bother me. Or does the coconut flour give it a unique texture/flavour?
Tess
June 12, 2013 at 9:56 am (12 years ago)Hi! Just wondering how many per serving?