(Note: this post was originally published on May 31, 2020. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)

Almond Butter Cookies for Outdoor Adventures

Imagine you're on a long, hard hike and in need of a snack. What do you usually reach for? A packaged protein bar perhaps? What if I told you that you could instead snack on a homemade, delicious cookie that has more protein and better ingredients than any bar you'll find at the store?? Well it's true, and I can't wait for you to bring these granola cookies on all your adventures this summer.

These vegan almond butter cookies are without a doubt my favorite hiking treat. They're soft and decadent and nutty, with a perfectly chewy inside and a satisfyingly crunchy granola topping. They're thick and hearty and easy to transport. The dough is just dates, almond butter, and granola, with only the tiniest bit of maple syrup for sweetness. Thanks to their nourishing ingredients and easily-portable nature, these almond butter cookies are THE perfect treat for all your summer adventures.

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A Special, Local Granola

I'm very excited to be bringing you these granola cookies in collaboration with True North Granola. True North is actually based in my hometown, and I remember when they started selling their amazing homemade products at the farmers' market. In the past decade they've blossomed into a very successful small business and have a wonderful line of delicious granolas and nut mixes to suit absolutely any diet.

For these cookies, I chose to use True North Granola First Date granola because it's vegan and sweetened with only dates (genius!). It's the perfect fit for these cookies, which also get their sweetness from dates. However, I think you could integrate any one of their products into these granola cookies with great success, and using different granola flavors could change up the flavor of the resulting cookies. If you try these nourishing treats with other granola flavors, please let me know in the comments below.

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Nourishing, Vegan Ingredients

Why have I named these "adventure cookies"? Because they're easily portable and can be munched with one hand as you walk, hike, browse the farmers market, paddle your canoe, ride your bike, etc. No need to tote around a bunch of complicated snacks.

Nutritionally speaking, they're definitely adventure fuel too. They're loaded with protein and healthy fats thanks to the nutty granola and the almond butter, as well as fiber from the dates. I challenge you to find a protein bar that has simpler, more nourishing ingredients than these clever almond butter cookies.

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Variation: Fruit-Sweetened Granola Cookies

As written, these vegan almond butter cookies call for sweetening the dough with a small amount of maple syrup. However, if you want to avoid all added sugar, you can omit the maple syrup and let the dates in the dough be the only sweetener. If you have trouble getting the dough to come together without the added moisture from the maple syrup, just add another few spoonfuls of almond butter.

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Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's what you'll need for these vegan almond butter cookies, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

• Dates. Double check that they're pitted! Pesky pits often hide in supposedly "pitted" dates, so it's important to check every single one; just cut each open quickly on its way to the food processor.
• Natural, drippy almond butter. This provides much of the fat and moisture in these almond butter cookies. Or, if you have allergies, any nut or seed butter will work fine.
• Granola. The star of the show! I designed this recipe to celebrate True North First Date Granola, but any one of their wonderful granola options will work. You'll use some of the granola in the batter and put some additional granola on top of the cookies. I suggest choosing a granola without chocolate if you'll be taking these cookies on warmer-weather adventures.
• Maple syrup. I prefer to sweeten these cookies with maple syrup since it's so perfect alongside granola. Honey would work instead, or you can omit it for an entirely fruit-sweetened version.
• Baking powder
• Salt. Only if you used unsalted almond butter.

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Closing Thoughts

We'll definitely be bringing these easy, nourishing almond butter cookies on all of our summer hikes. They're everything I want in a hiking snack: delicious, satisfying, protein-rich, hearty, non-sugary, and portable. You could even enjoy one or two for breakfast, perhaps with a dollop of yogurt on top for extra protein.

I think this recipe is excellent proof that cookies can be good for the body. Sure, our classic perception of a cookie is something laden with refined flour, lots of sugar, and butter or oil. But it doesn't have to be that way! These vegan almond butter cookies are fruit-sweetened, high-protein, and made with only whole-food ingredients. They're great fuel for all your fun summer activities, and I'd argue that they're even tastier than a classic cookie.

I hope you'll give these unique granola cookies a try. I'd love to hear about the adventures you take them on too, so don't forget to leave a comment below.

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Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

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‍Disclosure: This recipe has been developed through a paid partnership with True North Granola. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.