RECIPE AND PHOTOS UPDATED JANUARY 2019.
I was immediately intrigued by a recipe for Orange Blossom Tahini Cookies at Savory Simple. Beautiful little cookies – but what was hooked me was the use of tahini. I’d only ever used it for savory dishes. I tucked the recipe away and well, kind of forgot about it until I made my date crumble mistake. A tahini-based cookie sounded like the perfect way to use some of that sweet, crunchy (sesame-seeded) mixture. I veganized the cookie recipe, swapped white flour for whole wheat, added almond flour and reduced the amount of sugar and fat – and I added a good handful of date crumble. These cookies have the most tender crumb and they bake up beautifully. The aroma when they bake – out of sight.

Oil-free Tahini-Orange-Date Crumble Cookies
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
Description
I’ve updated an old favorite from 2012 by reducing the sugar (and the number of ingredients) and adding a bit of healthy crunch from the Ezekial whole grain cereal. This easy-to-make cookie has swirls of soft dates and cherry. Tangy ginger and orange zest will make your tastebuds sing!
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup Ezekial 4:9 Original Cereal
- 1/4 cup almond meal
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 1/2 cup maple sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon orange oil
- 1 cup Date, Cherry, Walnut & Ginger Crumble
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, cereal, almond meal, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a food processor, combine the remaining ingredients (except for the Crumble) until smooth. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients, add the Crumble, and stir until thoroughly combined.
Drop big spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets and press gently to flatten and shape. Bake cookies for about 15 minutes, switching pans halfway through for even baking. Let sit on pans for a few minutes before transferring cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Keywords: cookies, easy, quick, dessert, tahini, dates, dried fruit, oil-free
Now I have to make your crumble so I can make those cookies Annie! They look so good I could eat them for breakfast!
Breakfast would work!
Thanks for the shout out Ann! Loving the cookies – only ever used tahini for humus, clearly it’s time to get a bit more creative 🙂
My pleasure! The challenge is great idea!
You had me at date 😀
These cookies look so soft and chewy and perfect for breakfast!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Haha! I’m seeing a breakfast theme running through these comments! Guess I lack imagination – but I’d sure eat ’em for breakfast now that you mention it!
They look beautiful!
Thanks for the inspiration!
LOOK at that sugar on top!! HEAVENLY!! I thing these cookies sound fabulous. You could sell these at all coffee shops. In fact, I want to open a food truck and when I do, I shall have you sell these!
Ooooh, that sounds fun!!
Oh yay! You posted the cookie recipe. I have made cookies with tahini before and yep — they are good. Love the heartiness of these with all the nuts and dates.
Haha – yep, here it is! I’ll be making more tahini-based cookies, that’s for certain! Hope to see one of your recipes – hint, hint!
Great idea to use tahini in the cookies, never tried that! They look divine!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Anne!
Ooh! Never would’ve thought to add the tahini! Gorgeous cookies, Ann!
I know, right?? Had to give it a try.
I love how you tweak the recipe- looks delicious.
This is so like one of my own recipes, except that I use lots of orange zest and cardamom for the flavours. Can’t wait to try this, and it gives me an excuse to make your crumble. Yay!
These are beautiful cookies already–but what isn’t improved by orange zest and cardamom? So many of my favorite flavors. Thank you both for the wonderful ideas!
Oh gosh – lovely! Cardamom is a fave flavor of mine.
What a great way to use that crumble you made! Great flavour combination!
Congrats on the awards 🙂 well deserved!
God luck with the challenge! If I had a bit more time I’d totally take part- maybe I’ll do my own challenge week when I have a few days off.
Never used tahini in a sweet dish before? My oh my… you’ve been missing out! Tahini, figs, walnuts and bananas is a favourite combo of mine, especially over soy yoghurt, mmm.
These cookies look fantastic… I wish my oven didn’t suck so much… it scorched pretty much 98% stuff that goes into it. Bah. When I’m rich and get a new oven I WILL make these!
I’m a tahini newbie, I guess! Hmmm, your yogurt concoction sounds yummy!
These look absolutely scrumptious ^^
Thank you so much!
I shall make this. And I shall eat this. And it will be wonderful.
Indeed! It shall be done!
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