Healthier Desserts Serires (classic and basic dessert recipes made healthier and easier)

Oh hey there, just dropping this healthy vegan samoa macaroons recipe! Yep, your favorite Girl Scout cookie turned into a healthy vegan macaroon. Need I say more?

This cookie is sticky, gooey and slightly cakey. It’s laced with a rich caramel flavor and coated with dark chocolate. It’s basically the ultimate healthy after-dinner dessert.

Samoa Macaroons Ingredients

Coconut Shreds: Use unsweetened shredded coconut to keep these healthy.
Almond flour: helps give the macaroons a slightly cakey texture.
Medjool Dates: Is the main sweetener in these cookies and provides tons of healthy sugar, fiber, nutrients and additionally helps bind the cookie together.
Tahini/Nut Butter: Adds in healthy fats and tons of flavor. You can use tahini, sunflower butter or any type of runny nut butter you like.
Salt: Do not skip this! Salt is essential for amplifying the flavors in the cookie, without it the flavors wouldn’t shine!

What You Need to Know

First things first, let’s discuss the dates. It’s SO important that you soak the dates for at least 10 minutes. However, if your dates are on the drier side, I recommend soaking them for at least 20-30 minutes. It’ll just make it easier on your blender.
When you drain the water from the dates, make sure you drain ALL of the water. Too much liquid is the enemy for these macaroons, so try to drain all of that water away!
Whether you use nut butter or tahini, try using something that will contrast nicely with the caramel and coconut flavors. Example, peanut butter might not taste the best (crazy, right? That peanut butter might not taste good!)
Last tip, when you’re mixing up the final macaroon dough, if it seems too sticky and wet, add in a bit more coconut shreds. You’re looking for a sticky dough, but one that doesn’t seem “wet” – hopefully that makes sense!
Ok I lied, this is my last tip. I like to melt the chocolate for these vegan macaroons in a double boiler, but you can always heat it up in the microwave. Just try to use a shallow bowl that will make it easy to dip the cookies in.

But Are These Samoa Macaroons Actually Healthy?

You’re probably thinking no. How could caramel coconut macaroons with chocolate be healthy!

Well, I’m here to tell you that these macaroons are in fact super healthy AND packed with tons of nutrients. Crazy right?

Pencils out, because I’m about to drop some nutrition facts.

Chocolate: has a ton of antioxidants, such as flavanols, catechins and polyphenols. In fact, they have more antioxidants than even blueberries! These are essential for fighting against free radicals (harmful cancerous cells) in the body. Additionally, through a series of chemical processes, chocolate helps relax your arteries, which helps blood flow more easily and also lowers blood pressure. So lowered blood pressure and easier blood flow (aka more energy and focus).
Coconut: is especially high in manganese which is essential for metabolizing carbs – making it the perfect ingredient to pair with dates! Additionally, the fat in coconut is in the form of MCT’s (medium-chain triglycerides) which are used much quicker for energy than other fats. Lastly, coconut is rich in copper and iron which help form red blood cells (means better immunity), as well as selenium which protects your cells.
Dates: Don’t be afraid of dates, they are so good for you! They have so many benefits, such as antioxidants, antibacterial properties, and a host of vitamins and minerals that are essential. Dates have a compound called phenolic that have shown to be effective in reducing bacteria growth. This means that dates will help you strengthen your immune system. Lastly, dates have vitamins X, B6, and A which are essential to the body!

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