Vegan Samoas (Coconut Caramel Girl Scout Cookies)

It’s officially Girl Scout cookie season and outside the local markets are leaders and their troops selling all kinds of boxed up treats. This was something I always looked forward to and my favorite flavor was the caramel delights, aka Samoas. Although many Girl Scout cookies are vegan, unfortunately this flavor is not. I set out on a quest to replicate this cookie at home and these taste exactly like the real ones. These lasted one day in my house. By using dates and sea salt to recreate the caramel flavor, you get a much healthier version. I used cashew butter to bind these but you can use whatever type of but butter you have on hand.

Vegan Samoas (Coconut Caramel Girl Scout Cookies)

Recipe Type: Sweets

YIELDS 8 cookies

PREP TIME 15 min

COOK TIME 05 min

TOTAL TIME 20 min

1 1/2 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
1 cup pitted dates
2 tbsp cashew butter
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup vegan chocolate chips, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Add the coconut to a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes, until it turns golden brown.

3. Remove from oven and add to a blender with the dates, cashew butter, sea salt, and vanilla. Pulse to form a sticky dough.

4. Roll out 8 cookie balls between your hands and drop them on to a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Press them down to flatten them and poke a hole in the middle using a reusable straw. You will have to press them together at this stage to shape them as desired.

5. Put the cookies in the fridge to chill while you melt the chocolate.

6. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler.

7. Remove the cookies from the fridge and dip the bottoms of each into the chocolate. Place back on the wax paper.

8. Pipe the leftover chocolate over the cookies.

9. Place back in the fridge to set before serving.

Also by Lauren: Vegan Gingerbread Bundt Cake

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Photo: Lauren Sacerdote