Apple Spice Cakie Cookies from Paleo Sweets & Treats + GIVEAWAY!

I am giving away 5! Yes, 5 copies of Heather Connell’s latest book, Paleo Sweets and Treats. Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to enter!

I used to be of the mentality that Paleo treats don’t really have a place in a healthy diet. When I first started Paleo back in 2009, I only knew a handful of people eating this way and those that I did know were avid Crossfitters and athletes. Most of us were transitioning from the Zone diet, so we were already comfortable with a strict way of eating. As the Paleo movement has grown and I have casually coached many people through the transition (including my aunts and cousins!), I have really changed my attitude.

For me personally, I love having cookbooks like Paleo Sweets and Treats to refer to for special occasions. As Indyanna gets older and has birthday parties and events at school, a repertoire full of tried and true grain-free treat recipes is essential. I have also found that for some people Paleo treats play an important role in their transition.

I am so proud of 2 of my cousins for following a Paleo diet for both health and weight loss reasons, with great results so far. However, they were struggling with eating eggs everyday or eating dinner for breakfast or all of the other non-traditional breakfast ideas that us Paleo peeps like to recommend. Armenians don’t eat eggs for breakfast that often, they are usually part of a more leisurely weekend breakfast. A typical breakfast for us is flat-bread or pita-bread and feta cheese with a cup of tea.

When someone has been eating this way for more than 4 decades, it is really difficult to ask them to completely abandon their routine. Some people are able to, while others struggle.

Although, neither of my cousins has a major sweet tooth, they both asked me if I had any recipes for a pastry type of thing that they can occasionally have with their morning tea. I didn’t really have many, since I am not a big baker, so I gifted Heather’s book to both of them. Paleo Sweets & Treats has played a major role in keeping them both on track with their Paleo diets. I am so grateful that resources like this are now available.

{Click here to order your copy of Paleo Sweets and Treats today!}

One of our favorite treats from the book, were these soft cookies, that are almost a cross between a cake and a cookie. I love that they are only sweetened with dates and apples. These cookies burst with fall flavors. We enjoyed them for breakfast with some tea.

Apple Spice Cakie Cookies

Makes 10 to 18 cookies, depending on size of scoop

Ingredients
6 Medjool dates, pitted
1½ tablespoons (22 ml) water, divided
½ cup (125 g) unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon (14 g) extra-virgin unrefined coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon (2.3 g) apple pie spice or ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1¼ cups (150 g) almond flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
½ cup (75 g) shredded apple (about 1 small apple)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a microwave-safe dish, place the dates and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of the water and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove and mash the dates with a fork. Add the remaining ½ tablespoon (8 ml) water and microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove and mash again.
3. In the bowl of a food processor, place the date mixture, applesauce, coconut oil, apple pie spice, and vanilla and process until smooth.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix the date mixture into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add the shredded apple to the bowl and stir until well incorporated into the batter.
5. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into cookie balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Once all the cookies are on the sheet, slightly press down on the tops with damp fingers. Sprinkle with additional apple pie spice or cinnamon. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
6. The cookies are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Cookies may also be frozen for up to 2 months.

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