These healthier, grain free and vegan samoa cookies are a delicious treat that everyone can enjoy! Made from simple, wholesome ingredients – your family will love these no-bake cookies!
Are you jealous of all the people ordering Girl Scout Cookies? Me, too…remember that time I made Thin Mints?
Homemade Thin Mints are yummy, and so I started to think of other possibilities. Like Tagalongs, and Trefoils, and then what used to be my favorite one, way back when I was in elementary school…Samoas.
Chewy, caramel, coconutty Samoas. Why not make a healthier version? Then you won’t feel bad if you eat two or four or five of these treats.
These Samoas are made from date caramel (Medjool dates blended with a little water and a bit of salt), toasted coconut, and chocolate chips. To keep these grain free and no-bake, I didn’t include the butter cookie. But, you could definitely modify this recipe by making a sugar cookie base, baking it, and then adding the chocolate, caramel, and coconut.
Wondering about allergy friendly dates?
As always, please do your own research about what is safe for your family.
There are many brands of dates, and each company has different policies and procedures. Many dates are produced in the same facility as tree nuts or peanuts.
SunDate is a date-only facility as of the last time I checked. You can find SunDate brand dates at Meijer as well as at Aldi and other stores.
Made in Nature is a brand that is produced in a fruit only facility and has a detailed allergen statement on their website. They do not carry Medjool dates, but they do carry Deglet Noor dates which will also work well. Every family has different comfort levels, so please read carefully and find a brand that works for you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Healthy No-Bake Cookies (Grain Free, Vegan).
Ingredients
- 8 Medjool dates You can also use Deglet Noor, pitted
- 2 teaspoons water
- pinch salt
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes toasted*
- ¾ cup dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
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If your dates are a bit dry, place them in warm water for a few minutes to soften them before proceeding.
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Place the pitted Medjool dates in the food processor. Add the pinch of salt and a little water. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides and add a little more water if needed.
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Add the toasted coconut and stir with a spoon.
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Roll the mixture into balls, and flatten with your hand. Place the cookies on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Use a straw to poke a hole in the middle of each cookie.
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Place the cookies in the freezer for about one hour.
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Melt the dairy free chocolate chips either in the microwave or on the stove.
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Dip the chilled cookies in the melted chocolate, coating the bottom with chocolate. Place on the cookie sheet again.
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Drizzle the tops of the cookies with the remaining chocolate. (You can use a spoon for this, or put the chocolate into a ziploc bag with the tip cut off.
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Store the finished cookies in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
*If the coconut flakes are not toasted, you can toast them by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them at 300 degrees for about 5-8 minutes. Don't wander too far off, they can easily burn. They are done when they are fragrant and lightly golden brown.
If you’re looking for another fun Girl Scout Cookie copycat recipe, try my nut free Tagalong cookies or my gluten free Thin Mints.
Anne
These are amazing! I eat gluten free and don’t like added sugar so making these using the Enjoy Life brand of chocolate chips was amazing. I put a little extra sea salt in the date mix because I like sweet and salty together and it was great. My husband who doesn’t even like Samoas or coconut told me that he liked these….. and better than the GS version. My jaw dropped ! Looks like I will need to buy more dates because I’m going to be making these on a monthly basis. THANKS!
PS. I had no idea it was so easy to toast coconut flakes. I almost went to the store to by toasted ones but quickly toasted my own.
Kelly Roenicke
YAY! That makes me really happy. Thank you for sharing!
Mia
Thank you so much for the recipe! I’ve made these twice now and they are the delicious! I ate the entire thing myself the first time that I made them, so I knew I had to make them again. The second time that I made them was for my cousins. My 10 year old cousin exclaimed, “These could stop a war!” after he took his first bite. LOL. I will have to try the thin mints recipe.
Tobias
If you melt the chocolate chips in a bain-marie, you will be sure it doesn’t coagulate. Otherwise it’s quite probable that it will do so on the stove.
elena
Hi,
I don’t like dates very much. Do you ha some advice for substitutions?
Tobias
maybe glacéed fruit you like?
Kelly
I don’t know what else would work because the dates are unique in that they become very creamy when pureed with water. I don’t know of another fruit that will get that creamy, caramel texture. Sorry!
Hayley
I loved this! I toasted the coconut using a pan and used almond milk instead of water. It tasted wonderful and like healthy, guilt-free somoas!
Kelly
Yay! So glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!
rachel @ athletic avocado
I love that these only have 5 ingredients! so easy and delish :)
Hannah @CleanEatingVeggieGirl
I LOVE how easy and delicious these sound! It is a total added bonus that they are Paleo-friendly. Scheduling a pin for later right now :)
Lisa
Samoas are definitely one of my favorite girl scout cookies! I LOVE that your version is naturally sweet. Can’t wait to try it!
Kelly
Thanks, Lisa!
Megan
I love, Love, LOVE that these are no-bake!
Kelly
Thanks! Makes it easier!
Elizabeth
Somoas were my FAV!!! I can’t wait to try these cookies!!!
Kelly
I hope you like them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You just made the easiest samoa recipe I’ve seen! Fabulous!
Kelly
Thank you, Rebecca!
Julia Mueller
My gosh, these look perfect! Thin Mints and Samoas are my favorite girl scout cookies, so this post is a huge win for me – Now I know what sweet treats I’ll be fashioning up this week! My hats off to you for creating a healthier version of one of my classic faves!
Kelly
Thank you, Julia! I hope you like them!
Teresa
These look awesome! I can hardly wait to try them!
Kelly
I hope you love them!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
Oh man, I could EASILY eat all of these gorgeous little samoas, Kelly! I can hardly believe you were able to make these grain-free, vegan, and completely guilt-less! Sooooo, I can have the entire batch right??
Kelly
Go for it! :) They are addictive! :)
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
How fun are these cookies?! Samoas are one of my favorites, so this version looks fantastic. I think I would devour the entire batch in no time!
Kelly
Thanks, Gayle!
Kristy @ Southern In Law
Don’t mind me keeping a whole batch to myself ;) These look SO so good! Maybe it’s a good thing I’m the only one in the house who likes coconut, ha!
Kelly
Thanks, Kristy!