Date-Sweetened Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Refined Sugar-Free)

Call me crazy, but you will not find me disappointed upon being deceived by an oatmeal raisin cookie masquerading as a chocolate chip cookie. I know this is the ultimate dessert betrayal for some, but I love oatmeal raisin cookies. Then again, my favorite cake has vegetables in it, so I might not be in the majority opinion here.

One of the biggest surprises since launching this blog has been the overwhelming popularity of my Date-Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. I had found success in refined sugar-free pies and cakes, but cookies were a much bigger challenge. For pies, it’s easy to swap out refined sugar for natural liquid sweeteners (maples syrup, honey, etc.) because you can simply increase the thickening agent in your pie filling, usually flour or cornstarch. Refined sugar-free cakes are just a balancing act: if you add liquid sweeteners, you need to decrease liquid elsewhere, but this can easily be achieved by reducing the amount of oil or milk in your recipe.

Cookie dough is another story because texture is so important, but I think I’ve cracked the code with dates, which are the primary sweetener in these refined sugar-free, date-sweetened oatmeal raisin cookies. The chewy texture of dates lends itself well to cookies without adding extra liquid to the dough. However, for those following a low-FODMAP diet, be forewarned that dates are a high-FODMAP food, so enjoy these cookies in moderation.

These date-sweetened oatmeal raisin cookies do not spread very much on their own. Make sure your butter is truly softened to room temperature before you start to get maximum spread during the short bake time. After dropping the batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet, flatten the cookies a little bit with your finger or the back of a spoon before placing them in the oven.

The trick to perfectly baked cookies — slightly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside — is pulling them out of the oven when they still look and feel slightly underbaked because they will continue to set up as they cool down. These oatmeal raisin cookies are done when the bottoms are golden brown and the tops are dry and semi-set to the touch. They will still feel a little soft and spongy. If you like a crunchier texture, leave the cookies in the oven for a few additional minutes until they appear fully baked.

Date-Sweetened Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Refined Sugar-Free)

Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these refined sugar-free oatmeal raisin cookies are sweetened with dates and maple syrup.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 38 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 20 cookies

Calories 136 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 10 medjool dates pitted and soaked in hot water
• 1/2 cup butter softened (room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

 

• Soak the dates in hot water for 10-20 minutes.
• Rough chop the softened dates, transfer to a food processor, and blend until they resemble a thick paste. If the dates are still hard and clumpy, try adding 1 tbsp of the soaking water to help the mixture along.
• Add softened butter to the food processor and pulse until dates and butter are combined, being careful to not overwhip the butter (this will add too much air to your cookie dough and result in a cakier cookie).
• Transfer the date butter to a stand mixer or large mixing bowl and add vanilla extract and maple syrup. Stir until just combined.
• Add egg and continue mixing until just combined.
• Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and oats and stir until the dough comes together, again being careful not to overwork the mixture.
• Fold in the raisins.
• Drop by generous rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased baking sheet, then gently flatten each cookie using your index finger or the back of the spoon.
• Bake at 350^°F for 8-10 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown and tops are dry and semi-set to the touch.

Notes

It's crucial that all ingredients be at room temperature for this recipe. These cookies don't spread as much as a normal chocolate chip cookie, so the butter needs to already be quite soft in order to get maximum spread during the short bake time.

Keyword Dates, Oatmeal raisin cookies