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Perfectly sweet, a little salty, and ready in 25 minutes, these chewy date cookies make the best mid-day treat or gift for friends. And to contrast with that chewy texture, they’re packed with crunchy pecans and almonds for a truly loaded cookie.

Chewy date cookie on a baking sheet.
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Yeah, yeah, chewy chocolate chip cookies are delicious. But have you ever tried chewy date cookies? These treats are just as sweet as the chocolate chip classic, but dates contain loads of nutrients (think fiber, protein, potassium, and healthy, natural carbs).

Dates are packed with antioxidants, making them the perfect addition to any sweet treat. When paired with pecans and almonds, they provide the perfect touch of sweetness to create a sweet, crunchy, chewy cookie. They’re a must for this year’s holiday cookie exchange!

Reader rating

★★★★★

“I made these today to take to an elderly friend tomorrow who lives a good homemade cookie with her coffee, I know she’s going to love these! I’ve already ‘sampled’ three! I couldn’t stop at just one.” —Yvonne

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Chewy date cookie on a pink background.

here’s what you’ll need

This is an overview – jump to the recipe for exact measurements!

  • Butter and Sugar: The base of any great cookie is butter and sugar. This recipe uses unsalted butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. As they are whipped together, air pockets are created in the butter, and then the sugar fills those gaps. As it bakes, the sugar solidifies, creating structure.
  • Egg: Eggs add some protein and help with structure. I’ve also included a vegan egg substitute option below!
  • Almond Extract: This ingredient really gives these cookies that nutty flavor! In a pinch, you could use vanilla extract instead.
  • Dry Ingredients: All-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt are all you need for this cookie. Salt helps to amplify the flavor of these cookies, and it also helps to keep the dough tender!
  • Chopped Dates: Feel free to use any variety of dates you like. I usually try to find pitted dates, so I don’t have to remove all the pits.
  • Nuts: I use a combination of chopped pecans and almonds for this recipe. Peanuts, cashews, or pistachios will work too.
Ingredients needed to make date cookies.

Let’s make them!

Chewy date nut cookies are great in a pinch – they only require ten hands-on minutes of work. (Jump to the recipe for the full printable recipe!)

Step 1: Heat The Oven
First, preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).

Step 2: Soften The Butter
Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in 10-second bursts until soft (but not melted).

Step 3: Mix The Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugars together. Add the egg and almond extract, beating briefly to combine.

Step 4: Mix The Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, stir the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Step 5: Combine The Ingredients
Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients, folding to combine. Then, fold in the chopped dates, pecans, and almonds.

Mixing the dough for cookies.
Feel free to add a few extra dates if you really love them!

Step 6: Roll and Bake
Next, roll the dough into 18 large balls and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies look puffy and are just barely golden. Do not over bake.

Cookie dough on a baking sheet.

Step 7: Squish
Finally, while the cookies are still soft, lightly flatten each one with a spatula. Allow them to cool before removing them from the sheet and serving.

Squashing cookie with a spatula.
The edges of the cookies should be just set. If you like a crispier cookie, you can bake them longer, although they will continue to set up while they cool.

Vegan-ize These cookies

Wondering how to skip the dairy and eggs? Here are some alternatives!

  • Butter: You can replace the butter with your favorite plant-based version. I recommend using vegan butter sticks (rather than spread) to achieve a similar consistency.
  • Egg: You can replace the egg by creating a chia egg! Simply mix one tablespoon of chia seeds with three tablespoons of water. Allow it to sit and form a “gel,” and then add it to the batter where it calls for the egg.
Chewy date cookie on a baking sheet.

Chewy Date Cookies (With Almonds & Pecans)

4.77 from 17 ratings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 18 cookies
Perfectly sweet, a little salty, and ready in 25 minutes, these chewy date cookies make the best mid-day treat or gift for friends. And to contrast that chewy texture, they're packed with pecans and almonds for a truly loaded cookie.

Ingredients 

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ sticks, 171 g
  • ½ cup white sugar, 100 g
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, 100 g
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp almond extract, 5 mL
  • 1 ¾ cup flour, 210 g
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ¾ cups chopped dates, 120 g
  • ¾ cups chopped pecans, 120 g
  • ¾ cup chopped almonds, or use more pecans, 120 g
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Instructions 

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
  • Butter: Place butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 10 second bursts, until butter is soft but not melted.
  • Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together softened butter and sugars. Add the egg and almond extract, beating briefly to combine.
    Mixing wet ingredients for cookies.
  • Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt.
    Mixing dry ingredients for cookies.
  • Combine: Add dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients, folding to combine. Fold in chopped dates, pecans, and almonds.
    Mixing ingredients for cookies.
  • Bake: Roll the dough into 18 large balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until cookies look puffy and just barely golden (do not over bake).
    Cookie dough on a baking sheet.
  • Squish: While cookies are still soft, lightly flatten each with a spatula. Allow to cool before removing from the sheet and serving.
    Squashing cookie with a spatula.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature for 5 to 7 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 25.4g | Protein: 2.8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5.2g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 14.5g | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
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4.77 from 17 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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36 Comments

  1. R M Fernley says:

    Sara, what do you consider a “large” ball of cookie dough? Thanks!

    1. Sarah says:

      A good 2 tablespoons 😀

  2. Donna says:

    Wld u pls e-mail me yr recipe for Chewy Date Cookies. I have 3 times to forward it fr LIVEEATLEARN, and it just won’t work! My 92 yr old neighbour gave me Bulgar Flour, and I want to make him cookies. I am not familiar w/ Bulgar wheat. Thanks, Donna

    1. Sarah says:

      Just emailed you! 😀

  3. Susi says:

    How much salt do you need?

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      You’ll need ¾ tsp salt for this recipe! 😀

  4. Avi says:

    4 stars
    Very nice cookie not too sweet. I substituted pecans for hazelnuts. My husband said I had too many almonds.

  5. GB says:

    5 stars
    These are wonderful. We dipped them in milk. Perfect. So easy to make. Thanks

  6. Ann-Margaret says:

    Hi. Wondering if these cookies can be frozen??? Thank you

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Yes! These do well frozen 😀

  7. Janis Turner says:

    3 stars
    Not done in 10! Tasted like cookie dough!

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      These are meant to be a very soft, dough-like cookie 🙂 You’re welcome to bake them for longer if you prefer a crispier cookie.

  8. Cheryl Wolff says:

    Do you have any gluten free cookie recipes or may I use a gluten free flour in the date cookies recipe?

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      A gluten-free all-purpose flour blend should work with this one!

  9. Pamela Joy says:

    5 stars
    These look amazing, and as I always have all of these ingredients on hand at all times, I will be making them very soon! I know we are going to love them!

  10. Yvonne says:

    5 stars
    I made these today to take to an elderly friend tomorrow who lives a good homemade cookie with her coffee, I know she’s going to love these! I’ve already ‘sampled’ three! I couldn’t stop at just one. I followed the recipe exactly as written. These may move up to my number one favorite from now on. Something told me to double the recipe -and I did! So glad I made extra. I have another cookie lover friend I can now share a few with as I eat the rest! lol

    1. Sarah Bond says:

      I can’t wait for her to try them! So glad to hear you loved them – enjoy!