These much-loved, vegan tahini date cookies are easy to make with just 3 ingredients: oats, dates and tahini!

Stack of 4 tahini date cookies sitting on a cooling rack.

About the Recipe

You will love these popular, healthy and delicious tahini date cookies!

There’s not much to them but the combination of tahini, dates and oats is to-die-for. They’re soft, buttery and just so yummy.

These cookies are great for households with allergies too as they’re naturally gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free. They’re also naturally sweetened by the dates so have no added sugar.

The cookies are just perfect as is, made simply with oats, dates and tahini, or you add extras like chocolate chips and walnuts.

For a similar cookie made with maple syrup instead of dates, check out my 3-ingredient oatmeal cookies or try these flourless oatmeal cookies made with nut butter, oats and banana.

For a real treat, dunk the top of each cookie in melted chocolate and firm in the fridge. It’s amazing. Either way, they’re perfect anytime of day for a wholesome and satisfying snack or dessert.

For more simple desserts, you might enjoy these healthy baked pears or stuffed apples. For more gluten-free cookies, you might like these sesame tahini cookies or matcha cookies made with almond flour.

Ingredient Notes

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

Oats, dates and tahini in bowls. Text overlay labels each ingredient.
  • Oats: You can use rolled oats, large flake oats or quick oats. Even minute oats would work since we’re just blending them up anyways.
  • Dates: Any variety works as long as they’re soft and not overly dry. I like medjool dates, sayer dates or deglect noor. If your dates are very dry, you can soak them in hot water for 10 minutes and drain well before using.
  • Tahini: Use creamy, drippy tahini for best results. Good tahini should be completely smooth and not overly bitter. I like Arz Fine Foods or Soom tahini. You can also use almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter in this recipe.

Variations & Additions

  • The dough makes a great base for chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, sesame seeds, coconut, pumpkin seeds, cranberries or chocolate chips. Add up to 1/2 cup of your choice of add-in.
  • For flavour enhancement, you can add a pinch of salt and up to 1 tsp of vanilla and/or cinnamon.
  • 1-2 tsp of espresso powder is yummy to make them coffee-flavoured!
  • Other flavours that are nice in these cookies are orange, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Before You Start: Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a large food processor and mix into a thick, crumbly dough. You should easily be able to press the dough together between your fingers.

Quick Note: If the dough is too crumbly to press together, which can happen if your dates and/or tahini is too dry, add 1-2 tbsp warm water and process again.

Oats, dates and tahini in a food processor.

Step 2: Shape the dough into 12 cookies and place on a parchment or silicon mat-lined baking tray.

Quick Note: The cookies will not change shape at all during baking so be sure to shape them into the cookie shape you want before hand. You can make them thin or leave them on the thicker side, up to you!

The cookies have a soft, dense texture kind of like baked oatmeal. They get a bit brown and crisped on the outside but the inside will stay dense and soft. For a somewhat crisper outside, shape them on the thinner side.

Bowl of cookie dough beside a baking tray of cookies.

Step 3: Bake for 10 minutes then let cool on the pan for 15 minutes and enjoy!

4 oat date cookies stacked on a plate. More cookies sit around the stack.

Recipe FAQs

What is the texture of tahini date cookies?

These cookies have a soft, dense texture and are not like a traditional cookie. They get a bit browned and crisp on the outside but the inside will be dense and soft.

Do I have to use tahini?

No. You can substitute the tahini with any other nut or seed butter such as almond butter, peanut butter, or for another nut-free option, sunflower seed butter.

Recipe Notes

  • Dates: This recipe works best with soft, moist dates. If your dates are overly dry, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe.
  • For best results, use an inexpensive kitchen scale to measure the ingredients. This is not totally necessary but I always recommend following my exact measurements if you can! Plus it makes baking super easy because you can just add the ingredients straight into the bowl to the specified weight.
  • For an extra treat, try melted some dairy-free chocolate and dipping the top or half of each cookie into the chocolate then firming on a pan in the fridge. So good!
Cookie broken in half to show inside. Cookie rests on a white dish towel.

Storing

  • Let cool completely before storing.
  • Room Temperature: In an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • Fridge: In an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  • Freezer: In an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Stack of 4 tahini oat cookies on a plate. 2 cookies rest beside the stack on the plate.

Vegan Tahini Date Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 55 reviews
  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These vegan tahini date cookies are perfectly sweet with hints of caramel thanks to naturally sweet dates. If you love tahini or even if you’ve never tried it, you’ll love these simple, healthy cookies!


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup (150 g) oats
  • 1/2 cup (140 g) tahini
  • 1 1/2 cup lightly packed (260 g) soft pitted dates
  • optional: 1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until it forms a thick dough you can easily press together between your fingers.
  3. Shape into 12 cookies and place on a parchment paper or silicone mat-lined baking sheet. The cookies will not change shape during baking so be sure to shape them into cookies beforehand.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes and let cool on the pan for 15 minutes before handling.

Notes

These cookies have a soft, dense texture kind of like baked oatmeal. They get a bit brown and crisped on the outside but the inside will stay dense and soft. For a somewhat crisper outside, shape them on the thinner side.

For best results, use a kitchen scale to weigh ingredients.

Tahini can be substituted with any other nut or seed butter as long as it’s not too dry.

Additions: Try up to 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips or cacao nibs and/or up to 1 tsp of cinnamon.

Dates: It’s important to use soft, moist dates in this recipe. If your dates are overly dry, soak in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe.

Storing: Let cool completely then store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, fridge for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months. 


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 224
  • Sugar: 13 g
  • Sodium: 5 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 6 g

Originally published on October 25, 2017.