Paleo cookies, No Cook cookies, Hippie cookies, whatever you want to call them they're a sweet snack made with 100% real ingredients. And they're surprisingly good for something so good for you. ;)
Today, it is my pleasure, to introduce you to the gooey, sweet goodness of "ies".
What is an ie, you ask? It is a cookie with the cook removed, therefore making it simply an "ie". They're Paleo cookies that you don't bake. They're fast, easy and delicious. I say that as someone who isn't Paleo in any way shape or form. In fact I've been known to eat a mashed potato sandwich on occasion.
In this household these cookies are known as The Hippie Cookies.
Why Hippie Cookies? Because they're made with dates and nuts and all natural hippie type stuff you're likely to come across while traipsing through the forest in your Birkenstocks. Why are you in the forest? I don't know. You're the hippie. You're probably chasing butterflies or trying to find that "special" plant you planted in the spring.
There's no flour or sugar. They get their sweetness from the dates and dried berries and get texture from the seeds and nuts. See? Total hippie cookies.
The Hippie Cookie is also a good name because while you're making them you inevitably get the uncontrollable urge to splash on some patchouli oil and browse Kijiji for a righteous Volkswagen van.
I was introduced to these cookies in a stupid meal plan I was forced to partake in several years ago because the guy who ran my ex-boyfriend's gym thought it would be a good idea for everyone to eat whole foods and no carbs at all, for 2 months. Asshole. These cookies were the only thing that got me through it. If it weren't for these and the bags of potato chips and McCain frozen pizzas I ate once my ex went to bed I don't know what I would have done.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the most delightful part of these cookies is the fact that you don't cook them. Yes. I said delightful.
PALEO HIPPIE COOKIES
In a food processor pulse the almonds, walnuts and cinnamon until they resemble coarse flour.
Like so ...
Add the remaining ingredients and pulse.
It helps to pulse the dates a few at a time.
Once the dates are in ¼ - ½ chunks and the dough forms into a ball, stop mixing
Roll the dough into a long tube. I'm really sorry, but it will look like poo.
Slice the dough whatever size you want.
Form into cookie shape and refrigerate.
Depending on the dates and how long you process the dough for, the ies may become oily. This is normal.
No matter how I tried, I could not make these ies look delicious in a photograph.
They still look like poo. They look better in real life. But not much. They taste much better than they look.
The original recipe called for Medjool dates but those are usually pretty expensive. Approximately the same price per pound as plutonium. So I've substituted with honey or cooking dates and they work perfectly.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dates
- 1 cup almonds
- ½ cup walnuts
- 5-6 Tablespoons dried berries blueberries, goji berries, cranberries, raisins etc.
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon Sunflower Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- In a food processor pulse the almonds, walnuts and cinnamon until they resemble coarse flour.
- Add the remaining ingredients and pulse.
- Once the dates are in ¼ – ½ chunks and the dough forms into a ball, stop mixing
- Roll the dough into a long tube. I’m really sorry, but it will look like poo.
- Refrigerate for an hour to firm it up before slicing.
- Slice the dough crosswise to whatever size cookie you want. I generally cut them to between ¼ and ½ an inch thick.
- Refrigerate.
marilyn
they look disgusting! i will probably have to make some for my vegan nephew when he visits this summer as i am always looking for things to make him. but you are right, there is no way to pretty these puppies up they will always look like poo! nice try though karen with the pretty dish!
Lydia
Definitely trying these - the last picture was great! They don't look like poo there. Trust me, I have 2 kids and a 100 lb dog, I am a poo expert.
Christina
" If you think you might be sharing them with an actual hippie, make ‘em a bit more filled with pot.
"
You make me giggle. :) Thanks for being so awesome.
m
Medjool dates are delicious, and they're really not expensive if you get them at Trader Joes...maybe 3 or 4 dollars for a large box. They're way better than the usual grocery store dates which can be so dry and hard. Look for them!
Karen
M - My fella tried both, and he really liked the taste and texture of the honey dates better. It probably depends on the grocery store and what their bulk department is like! I saw Dirty Jobs this week did a show on growing and harvesting Medjool dates. It's no wonder they're expensive. Lotta work! ~ karen
magali
this post is Karen at her best. loved it! (although the ies don't seem appealing to me because I am not a fan of dates).
Cindy
Once again~ hilarious! A blog post about poo and pot!!! COMEDY! I wear patchoulli oil but I do not associate with wood nymphs or unicorns. I do have a few hippies as friends, however. I'm positive they would like these "ies" so I'll pass along your non-photoshopped blog post even though I'm not sure if they'll have wireless internet out in the woods. :)
Karen
LOL!
Mike, the fella's dad
When he was a young lad your fella was fond of eating uncooked Duncan Hines cake mixes out of the box with a spoon. He's come a long way, or has he? Gotta love that boy.
Jeffrey Lee
First of all, you are a great girlfriend for supporting your boyfriends trainer/asshole food regimine. Second, I love your 'it looks like poo' comments. I know it makes me sound juvenile, but deep down don't we all get a little giggle from poo refererences? Third, I will not try these. I am a firm believer that cookies should be baked, or at least heated on the stove and blended. Taking raw goods and mashing them into a cookie shape makes them...well..not a cookie. A sweet hippie snack maybe, but not a cookie. Plus, they really do look like poo. This is my opinion and I am sticking with it. :)
Pam'a
But they're NOT cookies. They're "ies!"
p.s. VolkswagEn!
Karen
Pam'a - Clearly I was stoned when I wrote Volkswagon.
Pam'a
Well... I didn't want to say anything. Heh.
cred
I can attest that although these look rather unpleasant that they taste yummy. I make something similar but form into balls and roll in coconut. I swear I'm not a hippie.... I don't wear birks or use pot in my version...
terry
Perhaps eating poo is underrated. They sound amazing and I'm going to put them on my list of things to make. Thanks for sharing.
Jo
http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/Fowl_Play_0511.aspx
This came in an email and thought of you
Karen
Thanks Jo! That girls needs a makeover. LOL. I'm halfway done my own coop! It's um, considerably larger. ;) ~ karen
Judy Beeksma
Once again you make me smile and you also have motivated me to make something sweet that might actually be better ofr me than my carb laden chocolate chip cookie recipe!!! Make it a great day...
Jen
Well...I will finally comment too..since you're waiting. I too love your writing! Some funny stuff. Who would have ever though watching you walk around Mike Holmes, and a bunch of guys with tools...ahem....that you were so fun! :) I was introuced to your blog a few weeks back by Nester...but isn't that sad, that another Canadian has to met a great Canadian blogger...by an American! Oh my...there's much work to do. Love your blog....your attitude...can't wait to see the Coop, etc. If you're ever on the East Coast...Nova Scotia per sey....come on over and have a drink!
Karen
Jen - Thanks for the invitation and I will! I've never been to the East Coast and have always wanted to go. :) As far as Handyman Superstar Challenge, they cut out all my "funny". When push comes to shove and they need to cut the time of a television show back, they always cut out the funny. Always. It's considered unnecessary. As opposed to say, watching the guy almost cut his thumb off. Which is necessary. And sometimes funny. ~ karen
mimi
Don't know how you think up all the stuff for your posts, but they are interesting and, yes, funny.
I think these look ok, especially in the last photo.
SK Farm Girl
I have found my crack candy - you and your blog!!! I love the way you story-tell! You are such a real person (as in a real nut bar) with real opinions (you don't sugar coat the unfun stuff) and real projects that can be done without searching the corners of the earth to accomplish a simple project (real common goods hiding at yard sales/thrifty shops/# stores). As I mentioned, your blog is my crack candy. I simply cannot get into bed before reading your stories/projects! You're fantastic girl; keep up the great work! Need an apprentice? I'm well known in my little town as the strange one with even stranger ideas with quirky outcomes :) In the last two weeks I've convinced my neighbour lady (fellow crack pot herself) and my cousin to raiding back alleys for garbage the can be turned into treasure. They're hooked :)
Karen
SK Farm Girl - LOL. Thanks! Oddly .. I think of myself as perfectly normal. And I am! I think. ~ karen
liapez
Ooh, these do look good, and my husband is currently doing the same thing your boyfriend is and it is driving me nuts (I snuck a brownie at work today. Shhhh.)
Karen
Liapez - Ohhhhhhh trust me. Your secret's safe with me. ;) ~ karen
Shauna
Perhaps you could call them "Mr Hanky Cookies" sorry, but Southpark reference!! And it sounds like you are really fond of the gym guy, he was fond of you too till he read this blog :D Thanks for the giggle again Karen
Centi
They look alright. Compared to chocolate cookies... people are just used to waht they lool like.
And don't you worry about the pictures. Nothing's wrong with them.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Mindy
Well, I can't say they look delicious, but they do SOUND delicious! Funny as always.
Brynne
I've been a reader for a while, but I haven't commented yet... Just wanted to let you know that your writing makes me laugh every time. I love it! Thanks for teaching us how to do stuff. I like doing stuff :)
Karen
Brynne - Thanks for commenting! Finally! I've been waiting. Seriously though ... I love getting comments. It's what lets me know people are actually reading what I'm writing. Which in turn motivates me to show you how to do more stuff. ~ karen