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Vegan Samoa Cookies - Gluten-free Girl Scout Cookies

These healthier gluten free samoa cookies also happen to be vegan! Made with a grain free shortbread cookie, date caramel, toasted coconut and dark chocolate, they are a luxurious treat!

Course Dessert
Cuisine Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan
Keyword coconut, cookies recipe, dates, girl scout cookies, gluten free
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 158 kcal
Author Denisse

Ingredients

for the shortbread cookies:

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract*
  • 1 1/2 cups almond flour
  • 2/3 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

for the date caramel:

  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup Natural Delights Organic Medjool Dates pitted and roughly chopped
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract*
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
  3. Add the coconut flour, almond flour and salt. Stir until combined, then turn out onto a clean surface and knead a few times to form a ball of dough.
  4. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness using a rolling pin. Cut into two inch rounds with a cookie cutter and cut another small hole in the center of each circle (I used a pastry tip) transfer to two baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden around the edges, rotating the pans halfway through. Remove from oven, transfer to a cooking rack and let cookies cool completely.
  6. Spread shredded coconut in an even layer on a parchment linked baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 5-6 minutes or until golden. Let cool.
  7. Add chopped dates to a bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for at least 5 minutes, then drain and transfer to a high powered blender. Add salt, coconut milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Blend on high until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed.
  8. Transfer date caramel to a medium bowl. Add toasted coconut and stir to combine. Spread date caramel mixture evenly over the cooled cookies. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
  9. In a small microwave safe bowl, add chocolate and heat for 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each interval, until melted. Dip the bottom of each cookie in the melted chocolate and return to the baking sheet. Drizzle melted chocolate over the tops of the cookies. 

Return to the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to set. 

Store cookies in a covered container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Recipe Notes

  • make sure to use alcohol free vanilla extract to ensure cookies remain gluten free