How to Make Simple, Fruit-Sweetened Banana, Chocolate Chip, Date Cookies (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners)

These cookies are good, simple to make, and loaded with "good for you" things. The cookies are sweetened primarily with dates and bananas, not refined sugar. They also have a substantial amount of protein in them, thanks to chickpea (besan) flour and some chopped pecans. Whole-grain oats and white whole-wheat flour contribute more nutrition to the cookies. In moderation (as always) the cookies are great if you're on a diabetic diet or want to "eat healthy." How do the cookies taste? For treats that are "healthy," the cookies are actually pretty good! They are soft, squishy pillows with a bit of banana flavor, little hits of sweetness from the dates, some crunch from pecans, and dark chocolate chips that provide a nice contrast and a bit of extra sweetness. Enjoy!

How to Make Simple, Fruit-Sweetened Banana, Chocolate Chip, Date Cookies (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners)

Fruit-Sweetened Banana, Chocolate Chip, Date Cookies (Diabetic Friendly) -- Makes about 20

3 medium mashed bananas (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup of canola oil

1/4 cup of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup of chickpea (besan) flour

1/4 cup of white whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup of oats (I used old fashioned)

1/2 cup of chopped pecans

1 cup of chopped, pitted dates

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips

Stir together well the bananas, oil, milk, and vanilla. Add the besan flour, white whole-wheat flour, oats, pecans, dates, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and stir everything together until well combined. Stir in the dark chocolate chips.

Air Fryer: Cut pieces of baking parchment to fit your air fryer basket. Drop 2 tablespoon scoops of dough onto the prepared parchment, leaving a couple of inches of space between the dough mounds. With damp hands, flatten the dough mounds to about 1/2-inch thick. Air fry the cookies at 310 degrees for about 10 minutes or until mostly set. Let them cool for at least five minutes before removing them from the parchment to cool completely.

Oven: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with baking parchment. Drop 2 tablespoon scoops of dough onto the prepared parchment, leaving at least a couple of inches of space between the dough mounds. With damp hands, flatten the dough mounds to about 1/2-inch thick. Bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes or until mostly set. Let the cookies cool on their parchment for a few minutes before removing them to cool completely.

How to Make Simple, Fruit-Sweetened Banana, Chocolate Chip, Date Cookies (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners)