Meatless Monday - Dark Chocolate

Welcome to another edition of Meatless Monday A-Z.

 Today's food is Dark Chocolate.

 

Instead of using dark chocolate as an ingredient, I decided I would cook something that mimicked the taste of dark chocolate.

Dark Chocolate Date Cookies

1 & 1/2 cup dried dates

1 & 1/2 cups strong coffee

1 cup wholemeal flour

1 cup oat bran

1 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon bicarb soda

1 Tablespoons ground flax seeds 

1/4 cup agave nectar

1/2 cup almond milk (or other plant milk of choice)

Chop the dates into small pieces and place in a bowl with a lid. Pour the coffee over the dates and allow to soak for at least 1/2 hour.

Mix the flax seeds with 2 Tablespoons water & allow to sit for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, oat bran, cocoa powder and bicarb soda. Mix well. 

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the agave, almond milk and flax mixture.

Fold the dry ingredients in until all is moist.

The mixture will be sticky and will just come together. 

Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls and flatten onto the baking sheet.

Bake at 180C for 12-15 minutes until cookies are cooked through.

Makes 20 cookies

These cookies are very true to dark chocolate flavour, because often dark chocolate is strong but not very sweet.

These cookies have no added sugar so they aren't overly sweet. I think they taste better the next after being baked.

This mixture also works as a  fudge-type slice. You can press it into a 20cm square baking tray & bake for 20 minutes before slicing.