How to Make High Protein Date and Walnut Cookies (Diabetic Friendly, Fruit Sweetened, No Artificial Sweeteners)
- Leigh
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
These soft, moist cookies are simple to make in your food processor, and you can bake them in a regular oven or in an air fryer. The cookies are loaded with protein and fiber and are great if you're on a diabetic diet (they are less likely than many desserts to cause blood sugar spikes) or want to "eat healthy." The not-too-sweet cookies get their sweetness primarily from dates, and a can of cannellini beans and walnuts provide the protein hit. How do the cookies taste? They are good! The cookies taste of maple, walnuts, cinnamon, and little pieces of date provide extra bits of sweetness as you eat the cookies. We like the cookies for a simple dessert or snack with a cup of coffee or tea, and the cookies also make a great after school snack with a glass of milk. Enjoy!
High Protein Date and Walnut Cookies (Diabetic Friendly) -- Makes 12
1 cup of rolled oats (I use old fashioned, but quick oats will work)
1 1/2 cups of pitted dates, divided
15-16 ounce can of cannellini beans with their liquid
1 large egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of maple extract
1/3 cup of canola oil
3/4 cup of ground or chopped, toasted walnuts, plus extra chopped walnuts (1/4-1/3
cup) to sprinkle
1/4 cup of white whole-wheat flour
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Put the oats and 1 cup of the dates into a large food processor and process them for about a minute or until the oats are mostly ground and the dates are little dark specks in the oats. Add the cannellini beans and liquid, egg, vanilla, maple extract, and canola oil to the processor and process them into the oat/date mixture until combined. Add the walnuts, white whole-wheat flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon to the processor bowl and process them into the mixture. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of dates and pulse them into the dough 6-10 times or until the dates are chopped but not fully incorporated--you want little bits of dates to remain intact.
Air Fryer: Cut small pieces of baking parchment to fit your air fryer basket. Drop 2 tablespoon scoops of the dough onto the parchment, leaving a couple of inches between the scoops. With damp fingers, flatten out the dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with additional chopped walnuts, pressing the walnuts into the dough a little with your fingers. Air fry the dough at 320 degrees for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Drop 2 tablespoon scoops of the dough onto the parchment, leaving at least a couple of inches between the scoops. With damp fingers, flatten out the dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with additional chopped walnuts, pressing the walnuts into the dough a little with your fingers. Bake the dough for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
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