_edited_edited.png)
Moist and chewy cookies are packed with chocolate, nuts and dried fruit for a delicious treat that doesn't use refined sugar.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full disclosure for further information.
There are women out there who absolutely love the experience of being pregnant. The glow, the feeling of creating life, the transformation of your body as it creates this tiny human. I am not one of those women. By the end of the second trimester I. was. over. it. Yes, I was creating new life, but I was also breaking a sweat just from trying to get my shoes on and I was having actual dreams about eating sushi off a conveyor belt. I would say things to my belly like, “I’m ready whenever you are!” and “I can’t wait to meet you!” hoping he would get the hint.
At 36 weeks it was too early for me to try and do things to jump start my labor, but there were things I could do to prepare for it. My incredible doula gave me exercises I could practice on a birthing ball as well as different labor positions to learn. There is a lot of research on the benefits of walking during the third trimester of pregnancy, so I made sure to get a daily walk in even if I was cranky and tired. I also learned that if I wasn’t already incorporating dates in my diet, now was the perfect time to start.
A study from the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who ate six dates a day beginning four weeks before their due date were significantly more likely to:
Go into spontaneous labor
Not need prostin/oxytocin
Have a shorter labor
Another study found that the average cervix dilation among women who consumed dates during late pregnancy was higher than women who consumed none. Cervix dilation is important as the more dilated your cervix is, the more likely you will be able to deliver vaginally. This was the information that immediately had me adding dates to the grocery list because I have always been terrified of surgery, and one of my biggest fears was having to give birth via cesarean.
Other health benefits of dates:
They are high in fiber which can help with constipation after pregnancy
They are high in antioxidants to keep your immune system in tip top shape and prevent you from getting sick
They contain phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium- minerals that are important for preventing bone-related conditions like osteoporosis.
They are a healthier alternative to refined sugar. This is especially helpful if you have gestational diabetes and want to satisfy your sweet tooth without spiking your blood sugar.
How do I substitute sugar with dates in baking?
Date paste! This is simply a mixture of dates and water that is blended to a thick, smooth consistency. For the majority of baking recipes, you can swap refined sugar one-for-one with date paste (for example, one cup of date paste for one cup of sugar). It can take several minutes of blending to get a smooth consistency, but it will get there!
Seven days after I started eating my six dates a day my water broke. As much as I want to think it was the dates, I think my baby just got the hint that I was ready to have him out of there. Now I have a precious baby boy AND a new favorite sugar substitute for baking! What can I say, life is good.
What ingredients do I need to make this recipe?
For the cookie base:
Pitted dates
Eggs
Coconut oil
Vanilla extract
All purpose flour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Kosher salt
For cherry chocolate chip cookies:
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Mini chocolate chips or finely chopped milk chocolate
Dried cherries
For white chocolate cherry pistachio cookies:
White chocolate chips
Dried cherries
Pistachios
Helpful products for making this recipe:
How many servings does this make?
You will get about 18 three-inch cookies from one batch
How can I customize this recipe?
I’ve included two of my favorite ways to make date cookies, but you can do a variety of different mix-ins to make them your own. Just make sure you end up with about ½- ¾ cup of your favorite finely-chopped ingredients. Here are some suggestions:
Walnuts
Pumpkin seeds
Butterscotch chips
Dried cranberries
Raisins
How much date paste does this recipe make?
You will get about one cup of date paste, which is enough to make one batch of each type of cookie.
How do I store extra date paste?
Store extra date paste in the fridge, and use within one week. You can also freeze it and thaw in the refrigerator the night before you plan to use it.
Can I make naturally sweetened date cookies ahead of time?
This is a great freezer dough! Simply store in an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap in the freezer. The dough will keep for about six months. Thaw the dough in the fridge the night before and bake as directed.
How long do date cookies last?
These cookies are very moist, so I would make sure to eat these within 3-5 days after baking (moist cookies can mold faster at room temperature).
Is it safe to eat dates while pregnant?
Yes! Dates are high in antioxidants and fiber and they contain bone-strengthening minerals like phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Naturally sweet, they are also a healthy substitute for refined sugars.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Let me know!
Mention @preggokitchen or tag #preggokitchen
Did You Like It?
Please leave a comment and five star rating below!
Ingredients:
For the date paste:
1 cup of tightly packed dates (about 8 ounces by weight)
½ cup water
For the cookie base:
1 egg
½ cup date paste
5 Tablespoons coconut oil
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For cherry chocolate chip cookies:
⅛ cup (2 Tbsp) cocoa powder
¼ cup mini chocolate chips or finely chopped milk chocolate
¼ cup dried cherries, finely chopped
For white chocolate, cherry, and pistachio cookies:
¼ cup white chocolate, finely chopped
¼ cup dried cherries, finely chopped
¼ cup pistachios, finely chopped
Directions:
For the date paste:
Blend dates and water in a food processor or blender until it reaches a smooth consistency and set aside. This could take several minutes so be patient!
For the date cookies:
In a large bowl, beat the egg and then add the melted coconut oil and vanilla extract
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder (if making the first recipe), baking soda, baking powder, and salt and then mix into the wet ingredients
Add the date paste and combine until a ball of dough forms
Knead your mix-ins into the dough
Roll the dough back and forth on a flat surface to create a log shape that’s about 9-12 inches long.
Place the dough in your slice-and-bake cookie mold and let them chill for 30 minutes- 1 hour in the fridge. If you don’t have a cookie mold, wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cut the chilled cookie dough using the pattern on your cookie mold. If you aren’t using a mold, use a sharp knife to cut them into ½ inch thick rounds
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place cookies at least 1 inch apart
Cook for 8-10 minutes and let them cool on a cooling rack before enjoying
To store:
1. You can keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge.
Sources:
Al-Kuran O;Al-Mehaisen L;Bawadi H;Beitawi S;Amarin Z; (n.d.). The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and Delivery. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21280989/
Kordi, M., Aghaei Meybodi, F., Tara, F., Nemati, M., & Taghi Shakeri, M. (2014, July 1). The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on cervical ripening in nulliparous women. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health. https://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_2772.html
Razali N;Mohd Nahwari SH;Sulaiman S;Hassan J; (n.d.). Date fruit consumption at term: Effect on length of gestation, labour and delivery. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28286995/
Shojaei, B., Loripoor, M., Sheikhfathollahi, M., & Aminzadeh, F. (2021, July 30). The effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of labor and delivery: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of education and health promotion. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8395880/