These sugar-free cookies with orange and dates were created thinking of my little niece, who still can’t have added sugars. I wanted to make something wholesome, pleasantly sweet and suitable for her age… and that’s how this special shortcrust was born, naturally sweetened.
The sweetness comes entirely from the dates and the whole blended orange, which add fragrance and softness to the dough. The result? Cookies crispy on the outside and soft inside, perfect for the family’s breakfast or snack.
They are ideal not only for little ones, but also for those who want to reduce simple sugar intake without giving up flavor. An easy, quick and truly surprising recipe!
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Cooking time: 12 Minutes
- Portions: 70 small cookies
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 44.23 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 7.23 (g) of which sugars 2.31 (g)
- Proteins 0.82 (g)
- Fat 1.56 (g) of which saturated 0.97 (g)of which unsaturated 0.55 (g)
- Fibers 0.42 (g)
- Sodium 1.39 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 14 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
📝 Ingredients for sugar-free cookies
All the simple, wholesome ingredients to make naturally sweet cookies with orange and dates, perfect for the whole family.
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 7 tbsp potato starch
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1 orange (medium)
- 1 1/3 cups pitted dates
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
🍴 Necessary tools
Here’s what you need to make these sugar-free cookies easily and quickly, even without special equipment.
- 1 Rolling pin
- 1 Cookie cutter
- 1 Chopper
- 2 Baking mats
👩🍳 How to prepare the sugar-free cookies
Follow the step-by-step instructions to get soft, fragrant and naturally sweet cookies, ready in a few minutes.
1. Prepare the natural sweet base
Blend the pitted dates together with the orange peeled of its rind until you obtain a smooth, homogeneous cream.
👉 If necessary, use an immersion blender to make it finer.
2. Combine the dry ingredients
In a large bowl pour the flour, potato starch and baking powder. Stir quickly.
3. Add the egg and date cream
Add the egg and the date-and-orange cream, then lastly add the softened butter. Start working the dough.
4. Form the shortcrust
Knead by hand (or with a stand mixer) until you obtain a soft, elastic and compact dough ball.
👉 No need to rest it in the fridge!
5. Roll out and cut
Roll the dough out on parchment paper to a thickness of about 1 cm (approximately 3/8 in).
Cut out shapes with your preferred cookie cutters.
6. Baking
Arrange the cookies on a lined baking sheet and bake in a static oven at 356°F for 12 minutes.
They should be slightly golden.
✨ Useful tips for perfect sugar-free cookies
These sugar-free cookies with orange and dates are a small, wholesome treat, perfect to share with the whole family. Their natural sweetness makes them ideal even for the little ones, especially during weaning, without the need for added sugars.
For a truly perfect result, remember that the thicker the dough, the softer and more pleasant the cookies will be to bite. A texture that makes them irresistible from the very first taste!
You can prepare them in advance and store them for 3-4 days in an airtight container, so you’ll always have them ready for a healthy breakfast or a simple but tasty snack.
Try them and you’ll see: these are the kind of cookies that disappear quickly… one leads to another! 🍪💛
❓ Frequently asked questions about the sugar-free cookies
Are sugar-free cookies suitable for young children?
Yes, these sugar-free cookies are ideal even for very young children, because the sweetness comes only from natural ingredients like dates and orange, with no added sugars.
How to store homemade sugar-free cookies?
You can store the cookies in an airtight container for 3-4 days to keep their softness and natural aroma.
