Cookie dough is just one of those things that takes a dessert to the next level. If I had to choose between a scoop of ice cream or a scoop of cookie dough ice cream, I would hands down choose cookie dough ice cream every time. I posted a recipe for nut-free cookie dough balls a while back, but sometimes I just want to reinvent my recipes – so today I’m sharing another cookie dough recipe that I really love and hopefully you will too!
Having this cookie dough around will come in handy when you have a craving for something sweet because it kills those cravings right away and actually leaves you satisfied. When you’re using healthy alternatives like whole food sweeteners (dates), you leave out the processed junk like refined sugar. Anything processed will just guarantee another snack attack and we don’t want that. So why not get the job done the first time around with something that tastes better and is better for you!
Feel free to play around with the measurements I used here. Raw desserts are so versatile and experimenting is highly encouraged! If you want to be conservative about the amount of nuts you use in your recipes, reduce how many cashews you use and substitute more oats. Since I try to keep my overall diet low-fat, I go back and forth between the amount of nuts I use in my desserts. If I’m eating more avocados in my salads then I try to balance the amount of fats I consume elsewhere. Balance is the key!
Whether you prefer your cookie dough straight from the spoon or blended into a blizzard, you can’t go wrong with having it around. I personally love keeping my cookie dough chunks in the freezer and grabbing a few to snack on whenever I please, but this doesn’t mean they don’t make frequent appearances in my smoothie bowls! :) I hope you enjoy these little bites of heaven, make sure to tag me on social media if you try my recipes! #rawmanda
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup cashews
- 5 - 7 medjool dates
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup mini vegan chocolate chips (or cacao nibs)
- 1 tablespoon almond milk, as needed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Blend all ingredients (except for dates, almond milk and chocolate chips) in a high-speed blender or food processor until you get a fine consistency like flour.
- Add in half of the dates and process until well combined, then add the remaining dates until you have a uniform dough. Pour in almond milk, as needed, to help blend.
- Transfer your cookie dough into a mixing bowl and stir in chocolate chips.
- Scoop dough out and press firmly into the bottom of a parchment-lined loaf pan. Place in the freezer for about an hour and then slice it up into little cubes to snack on. Alternatively, you can put your cookie dough into a jar and eat it by the spoonful!
Hello!
When you say cashews, do they need to be raw or can the be roasted and unsalted? Which did you use?
Thank you!
Dana
Hi Dana! Thanks for stopping by. I always use raw cashews :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this yummy recipe ! Wasn’t sure if I was ever going to find a recipe that tastes like the cookie dough from years ago but…..Woo Hoo….you did it. Next time I will put half the coconut sugar because the dates make it sweet enough. Very grateful for finding your blog.
❤️
Lee Anne
Hi Lee Anne!
Thank you so much for all the sweet feedback :) I’m so happy you love the recipe. Have a wonderful day love!
Wow thank you for this recipe! It’s soooo good. :)
So glad you enjoyed it, Gillian! Thanks for taking the time to let me know :) Have a great day! Xx
made these over the weekend. I added raw vegan protein powder and made them into balls and froze them overnight in the freezer. They are truly AMAZING. Ive tried cooking raw before but was disappointed with the recepies I tried. You’ve got me interested again. Going to try making the other stuff posted here. You ROCK!
Woooo yay! So glad you weren’t disappointed :) Have a wonderful weekend Sara!! XO
This Homemade Cookie Dough was SOOO GOOD!!! I Love your recipes. Thank you foe sharing your amazing creativity with the rest of us.
Hi Marquee,
What a sweet message! I love your enthusiasm for the Cookie Dough!! It’s definitely one of my faves. Have a wonderful weekend! XO
Heyy, i love all your recipes! Was just wondering whether there is a substitute for coconut sugar as im a student and its quite pricey! Xx
Hi Bejal!! I would recommend buying it it in bulk You’ll save a lot of money that way. Definitely don’t substitute for refined or processed sugars.. they are cheap for a reason and wreak havoc on your body! Hope you enjoy the recipe! XX
Hey Manda! I can’t wait to try this because i am a cookie dough FANATIC and this looks SOOOOOO good! I don’t have any cashews but i have a giant jar of cashew butter. How much cashew butter should i substitute for the cashews? 1/2 cup butter for 1 cup cashews? any suggestions?
Hi Josie,
I love your enthusiasm!! I would start out with 1/2 cup and add as needed – should work out great :) Let me know what happens – Enjoy! xoxox
Just made this, and it was simply delicious!!!! I would love to roll them in some shredded coconut!!! <3 Keep on vegan on!
Hey Allyson!
So thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the cookie dough!! Rolling them in shredded coconut sounds fantastic – thanks for taking the time to write a review and letting me know that you enjoyed the recipe. Xoxoxox Amanda
just made these..
I used a cashew /macadamia nut mix for the 1c of cashews & raw cacao nibs.. and omg, literally tastes like my old fav unhealthy fat girl days munchie snack of raw toll house chocolate chip dough. this is literally heaven. thank you so much
Hi Kyra!
I just laughed out loud reading this comment, you are hilarious! Thank you so much for trying out my recipe :) I’m super happy you enjoyed the cookie dough!! Xx
This looks so good, but I can’t eat oats, any substitute suggestions? Coconut flour? Can’t do the kama, has to be gluten free and grain free. Thanks! :)
I haven’t tried the recipe without oats. I would try a nut-based flour like cashew or almonds, keep in mind the recipe will taste different but still delicious! xo
Just made these yesterday as a little afternoon snack… Definitely a high quality healthy cookie dough recipe, just not my cup of tea. Mom tried it when she got home and was IN LOVE & extremely thankful for my afternoon recipe session! Always works out when one out of the two of us likes something! Thank you for this amazing recipe (that my mom adores)!
Hi Emily!
Thanks for your comment. I’m thrilled that your mom was in love – that makes me so happy. Hope you both have a wonderful day!
X Amanda
Just made this and wow.. Thank you.. Day made ❤️ Love that you are self taught, what a gal
Awe!! Thank you so much Kate! Xx
This recipe sounds delicious! Unfortunately, I’m allergic to nuts so the cashews are a no go for me. Is there a way to leave these out/substitute them with something? Thanks!
Hi Lori,
Thanks for the sweet comments :) Try my nut-free cookie dough recipe! https://rawmanda.com/no-bake-cookie-dough-balls/
Enjoy! Xx
Hi Amanda!
Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to try it but what can I substitute the cashews with? I was going to try and make it with out that ingredient as see how it comes out.
Love your blog!
Ellie
Hi Ellie!
Try out this nut-free cookie dough recipe :)
https://rawmanda.com/no-bake-cookie-dough-balls/
Enjoy!
Xx Amanda
This looks SO delicious :) I am a total sucker for cookie dough. As I said before, I’m not vegan but I do genuinely love vegan recipes for what they are (and not because of what they try to be). Like you, I think oats are the best ingredient ever, they make things so dense and fudgy and they taste amazing themselves too, so I love how you prioritize using them instead of nuts (which are like, super expensive). Sometimes when I’m in the mood for peanut butter oatmeal, I skip the milk altogether and just add a banana + peanut butter to make a cookie dough :)
I made the besttttt fudge browies ever once using a combo of oats + sweet potato (no flour) and some oil. All of your recipes make me want to try them again only using cashew butter instead of oil!
Love your blog, gal!
Hey Tashiana!
Thanks for stopping by :) Sounds like I need to check out your recipes, sweet potato fudge brownies sound like heaven! I’m glad you’re will me on finding alternatives to using nuts – they definitely are very expensive and can add up over time. Hope you’re having a wonderful day!
X Amanda
I haven’t used quick oats before so I’m not sure if you will get the same results, but I imagine that it will still be delicious! Xx
Thank you soooo much for this recipe- the cashews and the vanilla together give it such an awesome flavour! Will definitely be making these again :)
Hi Zoe! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe :) So happy that you plan to make them again too! Have a wonderful day Xx
What can be effectively substituted for the dates?
Hi David, I think using a liquid sweetener such as agave, maple syrup or coconut nectar would give you tasty results, but the consistency would definitely be different. Play around with what you like and see what happens – that’s what I always do :) Enjoy! Xx
This is absolutely PERFECT! I have to try this as soon as I get some more medjool dates! :D
Hi Cassie! Thank you so much :D I hope you enjoy the cookie dough <3
How long can we keep it in the fridge? Thanks!
2 weeks or longer if you store them in the freeze! x
I soaked the cachews in water first and instead of oats used “kama” flour https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama_(food). So delicious. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Marju! Very happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for your feedback :) glad those substitutions worked out so well! Enjoy! xx
OH MY GOSH! I love you blog! Keep it up ;D
Thank you so much Aubrey!!! xx
Ahh this looks amazing. I was just scrolling through your lovely IG account and had to visit your amazing blog to see how to make this awesome bowl! Congrats on 135k my dear! So excited for you : )
Hi Lauren! So glad you found me :) Thanks so much for the love xoxoxo
Manda, this looks fantastic! I am going to make the chocolate cherry ice cream AND the cookie dough. I think the cookie dough will be perfect in my cashew coconut ice cream I make. Thank you for the inspiration every day!!!
Awe! Thanks so much for the love :) That cashew coconut ice cream sounds dreamy, I’ll have to try it out soon!! xoxo