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These healthier samoas cookies can be made at home so you can enjoy Girl Scout cookies all year long! This version is made with 7 healthy ingredients, requires no baking, and tastes just like the real deal. These cookies are packed with coconut, caramel, and chocolatey flavors that you are going to love!
My mother-in-law was not that into cookies but from what I can remember she loved Girl Scout cookies, especially SAMOAS! So this healthy samoas cookie recipe is for her. You are going to love that these cookies are a no-bake healthy dessert that tastes just like traditional samoas. They are slightly healthier but still have that chewy texture with the caramel, coconut, and chocolate layers that have made them so popular.
You may also love these chocolate date cookies that are so good and kid-friendly.
This homemade Samoas cookie recipe could not be easier to make. Simply toast the coconut (in 5 minutes) then combine it in a food processor with the dates, nuts, flaxseed, and maple syrup. Form and chill the cookies then dip them in decadent, melted dark chocolate. Add a drizzle of chocolate for that signature samoas cookie look and enjoy!
Jump to:
- Taste and Texture
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- How To Make Healthy Samoas Cookies
- Recipe Tips
- Storing Homemade Samoas Cookies
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Healthy Samoas Cookies
My family goes crazy for these cookies, even the kids love them for a healthy dessert or snack. They are only 100 calories per serving and are full of fiber, healthy fats, and key vitamins. Much healthier than the traditional samoas cookies that are made with palm oil, corn syrup, and cane sugar and are loaded with fat and sugar. Sorry, Girl Scouts but your cookies are not very healthy. So we reinvented a version you can make at home and enjoy all the time, guilt-free!
Taste and Texture
These Samoas cookies have a chewy texture, with nice caramel, and coconut flavors with bites of dark chocolate on the bottom and chocolate stripes on the top. They taste a lot like the traditional samoas cookies without the crunchy cookie crust in the middle but still all of the flavors we all love!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Medjool dates – you want to use pitted Medjool dates for this recipe since they are full of beautiful caramel flavors and the sticky texture when blended helps hold the cookies together very nicely.
- Cashews – raw cashews are best but salted, roasted will also work. I added the nuts to give the cookies some crunch since we left out the crunchy cookie layer. You could also use almonds or pecans.
- Almond butter – just a bit of almond butter to help bind the ingredients together. Peanut butter or sun butter also works!
- Shredded coconut – unsweetened shredded coconut adds an amazing coconut flavor to these samoas cookies that the traditional version also has.
- Ground flaxseeds – the flaxseeds add some good fat and fiber but also help bind everything together. You could also use almond flour.
- Maple syrup – just a little bit to bring out the caramel flavor of the dates and add a nice hint of sweetness to the cookies. Agave will work but the maple syrup gives the cookies this nice caramel flavor when combined with the dates.
- Dark chocolate – any chocolate chips or chocolate bar will work. I chose to use dark chocolate since they are lower in sugar and adds more healthy fats to this recipe. For even less sugar, use Lily’s dark chocolate chips.
Get the complete list of recipe ingredients and instructions, plus nutrition in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
- Measuring cups/spoons
- Baking sheet + parchment paper
- Food processor
- Ice cream scoop
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula
How To Make Healthy Samoas Cookies
These homemade samoas cookies come together quickly for a healthy, sweet treat the whole family will go crazy for!
Add the shredded coconut to a lined baking sheet and spread it out in an even layer.
Toast the coconut in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes. Then let it cool.
Pulse the nuts and dates in the food processor.
Add the remaining cookie ingredients plus the coconut and pulse until it forms a thick cookie dough that has lots of texture and is slightly sticky.
Use an ice cream scoop or measuring spoon to measure the dough in 1-1.5 tablespoon portions, roll each cookie into a ball then press it into a disk that is about ¼-inch thick. Place the cookies onto a parchment line baking sheet.
Use a straw, the end of a chopstick, or a wooden spoon to poke a hole in the center of each cookie, then chill them for about 30 minutes.
Add the chocolate chips to a medium bowl along with the coconut oil, if using. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals until it is fully melted.
Remove the cookies from the freezer carefully dip the bottom of each cookie into the melted chocolate and drizzle more chocolate over the top of each one.Place the cookies back into the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
Recipe Tips
- Watch the coconut so it doesn’t burn! It can burn very easily.
- Do not skip chilling the cookies after you form them; this helps them stay together when you dip them in the melted chocolate.
- Use 1-1.5 tablespoons of the mixture to form them into cookies so they are all even in size and shape.
- Let the Samoas chill after you dip them in the chocolate and drizzle them so the chocolate can be set before you serve them.
Storing Homemade Samoas Cookies
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days after you make them. Freeze cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat them, defrost them overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are samoas cookies called samoas?
Nobody knows where the name came from and in some areas, they are not even called Samoas, they are called Carmel De Lites.
What makes these cookies healthy?
This samoas recipe is made with all healthy ingredients, is lower in cholesterol and sugar than the traditional version and they are vegan + gluten-free.
Can you make this recipe nut-free?
Yes, you can! Use sun butter or coconut oil in place of the almond butter. The taste will be slightly different but the cookies will still be so delicious.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes To Try!
- Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Gluten Free Easter Cookies
- Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
- Healthy Fruit Pizza Cookies
Check out all of my healthy desserts on PMG!
Did you try these healthy Samoas cookies? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
Healthy Samoas Cookies
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- Author: Amy Estes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12–14 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These healthier Samoas Cookies can be made at home so you can enjoy Girl Scout cookies all year long! This version is made with 7 healthy ingredients, requires no baking, and tastes just like the real deal. These Samoas are packed with coconut, caramel, and chocolatey flavors that you are going to love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup shredded coconut – unsweetened
- ½ cup raw cashews
- 1 cup pittedMedjool dates
- ¼ cup ground flaxseeds/flaxseed meal
- 1.5 tablespoons creamy almond butter
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil – optional
- Sea salt – optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spread the shredded coconut in an even layer on a small baking sheet. Toast the coconut in the oven for about 5 minutes, until golden. Then remove it and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Line a medium baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Place the cashews into the food processor and pulse a few times to mince, then add the dates and pulse to break them down.
- Add the flaxseeds, almond butter, and maple syrup. Pulse the mixture a few times until a thick, sticky, crumbled dough forms.
- Add the toasted, cooled coconut to the mixture and pulse a few times to blend it all together.
- Roll the cookie mixture into balls (about 1-1.5 tablespoons each), then press them into rounds that are about ¼-inch thick and place them in a single layer on the lined baking sheet.
- Use a chopstick, straw, or the end of a wooden spoon to poke a hole in the center of each cookie. Chill the cookies for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, place the chocolate chips with the coconut oil (if using) into a microwave-safe dish and microwave the chocolate in 30-second intervals until it is fully melted.
- Carefully dip the bottom of each cookie into the melted chocolate and place it back onto the baking sheet. Drizzle more chocolate over the top of each cookie to give it that signature Samoas look.
- Chill the cookies for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to harden and set and enjoy!
Notes
- Watch the coconut since it can burn easily.
- Do not skip chilling the cookies before you dip them in the chocolate since chilling them will help them hold together better.
- This recipe makes 12-14 cookies that are 1-1.5 tablespoons each.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Healthy Desserts
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
