Almond Raisin Pecan Cookies

Tonight for dessert we enjoyed Almond Raisin Pecan Cookies! The almonds create a buttery like texture. They include many treasured ingredients for a new favorite cookie! Better yet they are gluten-free, vegan, oil-free and refined-sugar free with only 105 calories per cookie.  Who doesn't love a homemade warm cookie right out of the oven? Almonds, raisins, pecans and cinnamon are swirled together to create a cookie that begs to be enjoyed.

The cinnamon spice creates a warm feeling that fall is in the air. The dates bring memories of our summer harvest and sweeten the cookies. The mashed bananas are just the right oil replacement. Plump raisins and golden pecans are folded in for a delicious one of a kind cookie.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the dry ingredients together in a bowl and mix well.
3. Take 1/2 cup of dates with 2 tbsp hot water and pulse in a food processor until it forms date paste.
4. Combine the date paste, mashed banana and vanilla in a small bowl and mix well.
5. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until combined well and gently fold in the raisins and pecans.
6. Place on a pre-greased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 8-12 minutes or until the edges are golden / desired consistency. ENJOY!

This recipe was modified for an oil-free - syrup-free batch from Curius CaveManda's recipe! With out her genius base, these cookies would not exist. Thank you CaveManda!

With love,
Christa


Update 2015 - We had the nicest act of kindness from the manager where we live. Gerald suggested cookies! We gave him a couple as we were leaving to say thank you and let him know they were free of oil, refined sugar and dairy. When we returned he said he could hardly believe it. "The most delicious treat yet no oil or sugar? How could this be?" This recipe is an older one but still stands tall!