Back in my pre-vegan days, I used to love a good cookie swap party. Now that I’m vegan and don’t have many vegan friends close-by, I’m bringing the cookie swap party to Keepin’ It Kind! Each day, for 25 days, one of my favorite bloggers will visit and share one of their favorite holiday cookies! That’s 25 Days of Cookies, my friends! Happy Holidays!
Do you ever meet someone, or in this case, just read his or her writing, and think you may have found your long lost twin? I feel this way about Gabby from The Veggie Nook. It just seems that we have the same demeanor, senses of humor, tastes in TV shows, favorite colors, and even the same major in college (Kinesiology, yo!). I adore Gabby’s blog for the wonderful recipes (because of her, I always put nutritional yeast on roasted squash and sweet potatoes), for her delightful personality, and her super helpful health tips (her oil cleansing post changed my face and my skin forever. Soap will never touch my face again!). I am so happy to have her back at the cookie swap party this year, sharing another one of her tasty treats!
Hello all! I’m so happy to be back at this swap party for the second year in a row. Last year I brought a healthified and veganized version of one of my childhood favourites- nutmeg logs. And this year it seemed only right to revamp another one of my favourites- oreos! Naturally, since 'tis the season, I also added a quintessential holiday flavour- peppermint!
I know oreos are already vegan (don’t you LOVE when things are accidentally vegan?), but they are by no means healthy. Full of refined flours and sweeteners, they are a far cry from merry. And even though the holiday season is a time for indulging, I think we should all give ourselves a gift- the gift of treating our bodies the way they deserve and eating food that is nourishing and healing. The gift of a healthy finish to the year so we can begin the next on solid footing.
And isn’t it just awesome that it’s possible to do that AND have dessert?? Who said healthy meant you couldn’t enjoy the sweeter things in life?
These oreos are raw meaning 2 things (1) the oven is free for other holiday baking and cooking endeavours and (2) they are made of whole food, nutritious ingredients. Plus they are super easy- you just need a food processor to combine everything and a fridge to chill them in. The addition of spirulina is optional for colour- use a natural food colouring instead or just leave them white!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1.5 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil (food-grade) or a tiny bit of peppermint extract
- 1/3 cup coconut butter
- 1/5 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- spirulina or food colouring to desired colour (be careful with spirulina- too much and it will leave a funny taste!)
- 3 drops peppermint essential oil (food-grade) or peppermint extract to taste
Instructions
- Add almonds, coconut, flax and cacao powder to your food processor and process until the almond are broken up into small pieces. Add the rest of the cookie ingredients and pulse until you have a dough-like consistency.
- Put dough in the fridge for 10 min to let it firm up. Remove the dough and roll it out flat. I find ithelps to do this with the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Once flat, cut out circles with cookie cutters (or a bottle lid like I used!) and set aside on a dish. Once all the dough is used but the circles in the frdige to firm them up while you make the filling.
- If you have a mini food processor, combine the icing ingredients in that, adding spirulina and peppermint until desired taste and colour. Then put the icing in the fridge until it's a spreadable consistency. Once cooled, spread onto on cookie and press a second on top. Continue until all frosting and cookies are used. Store in the fridge until ready to eat.
- If you don't have a mini processor, warm the coconut butter slowly on the stovetop until softened then hand mix the other ingredients in. Follow the rest of the instructions from above.
I hope you all enjoy these and I wish you a wonderful holiday season!
Gabby is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner candidate at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, and the author of the blog The Veggie Nook- a spec dedicated to showing you how fun, easy and delicious a healthy, plant-based life can be! It is updated weekly with healthy recipes and holistic living tips to keep you inspired. Food is the foundation upon which health grows! Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete}
These look fabulous! I love mint oreos and the peppermint JoJos from Trader Joe's, but these look just as delicious and they're much healthier!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Thank you Anna! So happy you like them!
janet @ the taste space
Nice! Gabby and I are totally on the same wavelength.. I have been meaning to make something similar for ages! Now I have a Gabby recipe to try, score! 🙂
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Hehehe thanks Janet! I love that- a Gabby recipe 🙂
So lovely seeing you yesterday! Hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Canada! Merry Christmas again and say hello to Rob for me again!
Teresa
Yum, Gabby! These look so tasty! I love the peppermint and the idea of adding spirulina. Plus, I am taking a break from baked flour so these are perfect. Thank you for sharing!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
SO glad you like the look of these 🙂 This time of year it's so important to have some flour-less options- we tend to consume so much of it!
marquis @realrawkitchen
YUM! What a great idea! I recently made some peppermint brownies and it was essentially the same stuff, but I love the Oreo theme.. they are perfect for grabbing at a party. And I love the spirulina idea to give it some green.
And I feel ya on the real Oreos .. when I first began eating a plant based diet and found out they are "vegan" I felt so excited that I had a cheat item that was just a plain ole' regular SAD cookie .. now I have so many amazingly delicious desserts of my own that I don't miss them, but that moment I realized this was a very exciting moment haha
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Haha I think we all go through those moments- oh wait! This really unhealthy things that I've loved my whole life is actually vegan??? AMAZING!
I'm glad I've progressed to healthier alternatives now though 😉
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen
Gabby these look amazing! I will definitely be making them soon. 😀
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Thanks Chelsea 🙂
Heather @TheSoulfulSpoon
Oh yum! Peppermint patties were always my favorite! Definitely going to make some and share Gabby's cookies with my readers!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Thank you Heather 🙂 I hope you and your readers like them!
Suzanne @ hello, veggy!
Mmm, they look fantastic!!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Thank you my dear 🙂
Randi (laughfrodisiac)
Awesome! They sound great.
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Thank you Randi 🙂
amber
Hi Gabby,
These look wonderful and so festive! Thanks for sharing a great recipe just in time of the Holidays.
Big Hugs,
--Amber
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Thank you so much my dear 🙂
Annie
Brilliant! I know these are going to be good!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Hehe thanks Annie 🙂
Heather
I LOVE Gabby, she is so adorable. Her blog has so many tips and tricks; some of my favorite products were first introduced to me by her. These oreo cookies are da bomb!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
well, I LOVE YOU TOO!!!
Hannah
Love love love Gabby. Hi Gabby, if you're reading this! We're meeting after work tomorrow and I can't wait! Hurrah! Love, Hannah.
PS If only you could join us, Kristy.
Gabby @ the veggie nook
We met and it was lovely 🙂 But now I miss you and must see you again soon. Rendezvous as soon as I'm back in TO?
Alisha
These look absolutely fabulous and cannot wait to make them however I was wondering what I could substitute for the coconut butter? earth balance or more coconut oil? (this is all my local store has available) and would cocoa powder be just as delicious instead of cacao? (simply because, YIKES! 8.00 for a little bag?!) thank you!!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Hello! So sorry for my delayed reply! Instead of coconut butter, I would try cashews! Try soaking 1/3 cup for a few hours and blending with almond milk until you get the desired consistency. Cocoa powder should be fine, even though it doesn't have the same health benefits. You might want to adjust the sweetener a bit but you should be good to go otherwise 🙂
Alisha
thank you so much!!