Healthy Vegan Copycat Girl Scout Caramel DeLites

If you’re a fan of Girl Scout cookies but are looking for a healthier and vegan-friendly alternative, you’re in luck! This Healthy Vegan Copycat Girl Scout Caramel DeLites recipe is the perfect solution. Made with wholesome ingredients, this recipe puts a nutritious spin on the classic cookie while still delivering that delicious caramel and coconut flavor you know and love.

What makes these cookies healthier and vegan-friendly? Instead of using refined sugar and butter, this recipe uses Medjool dates and coconut flour for a more wholesome sweetener and flour source. And, with gluten-free flour and unsweetened shredded coconut, this recipe is also suitable for those with dietary restrictions. So why not whip up a batch of these healthier Caramel DeLites and indulge guilt-free?

It’s currently Girl Scout cookie season which means as a troop leader, I am tempted every day by the hundreds of boxes I have lined up in my hallway. My favorite cookies are Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, and Caramel Delites, also known as Samoas.

However, though being constantly tempted, I am proud of myself. Every time I craved cookies and went to open a box, I told myself to go make that healthy copycat version instead.

6 Reasons Why You’ll Love These Copycat Girl Scout Cookies

1-Healthier Ingredients: These vegan cookies are made with more wholesome ingredients, you won’t find white sugar or brown sugar in this recipe.

2-Vegan-Friendly: This cookie recipe is entirely vegan, meaning there are no animal products used in the making of these cookies. It’s a great way to indulge in a sweet treat while still sticking to a plant-based diet.

3-Gluten-Free: With a gluten-free flour blend, these cookies are suitable for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. You can enjoy these delicious treats without worrying about any adverse reactions.

4-Easy to Make: This recipe is simple and easy to follow, making it a great option for anyone who wants to whip up a batch of cookies without spending hours in the kitchen. No-bake recipes are my jam and they should be yours, too.

5-Delicious Caramel and Coconut Flavor: These cookies offer a perfect combination of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors that are sure to satisfy your taste buds. The caramel and coconut flavors are both rich and decadent, making these cookies a perfect indulgence. They are perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth.

6-Copycat Girl Scout Recipe: This recipe is a copycat version of the popular Girl Scout Caramel DeLites also known as Samoas cookies. You can enjoy the same great taste and flavor of your favorite Girl Scout cookie without leaving your home. Did you ever think you would be recreating your own vegan version of homemade Samoas?

The Ingredient List

This recipe has only 6 simple ingredients and can be made in less than 30 minutes. Here is what you will need.

Unsweetened coconut flakes: Toasted coconut is exactly what this recipe needs. It adds the perfect texture and flavor to these cookies.

Dates: You can basically call this date caramel or vegan caramel. It’s simply the easiest way to recreate a healthy version of caramel without all of the processed sugar.

Almond butter: This works as a binder to keep the caramel coconut mixture together along with the dates.

Coconut flour: This gluten-free flour adds more dimension to this cookie. Once you add coconut flour to the caramel mixture, it will be easier to handle and mold.

Chocolate chips: You can use milk or dark chocolate chips, or whatever version you like to cook with.

Coconut oil: This is always my favorite addition to melted chocolate. Plus, the coconut flavor is exactly what the chocolate needs.

How to Make These Vegan Samoa Cookies

Step one: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Make sure you are using soft dates. If not, stop here and place the pitted dates in a bowl of water for at least 3-4 hours.

Step two: Toast the coconut flakes. Spread the coconut into an even layer. Cook for about 5-6 minutes. Once you reach 5 minutes, watch it closely until the coconut looks light brown to golden brown and is lightly toasted.

Step three: To make the cookie base, add the following to a food processor: Cooled and toasted coconut, soft dates, almond butter, and coconut flour.

Step four: Use your hands to mold the cookies into circles about the same size as an actual Caramel DeLite. Lay them out on parchment paper with a pan or plate underneath. (Use the same piece from toasting the coconut, as long as it has cooled back down to room temperature.) You can either place the cookies into the freezer for about 30 minutes to make them easier to work with, or if they are easy to handle move to the next step.

Step five: Use the end of a chopstick to press a hole through the center of the cookie.

Step six: Use a double broiler to melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Once the chocolate chips have completely melted, carefully remove the hot bowl from the stove and place it on a pot holder.

Step seven: Dip the bottom portion of the cookies into chocolate and then set them back onto the parchment paper.

Step eight: Pour the remainder of the melted chocolate into a sandwich ziplock bag. Cut the corner of the bag slightly to allow the chocolate to flow out, but just a little bit. Drizzle the chocolate in lines over the tops of the cookies to resemble the real deal.

Step nine: Place the cookies into the fridge for at least one hour and enjoy.

How To Store These Cookies

These delicious Caramel DeLites should be placed into an airtight container or a ziplock bag and kept in the fridge at all times. You can also freeze them if you would like to.

They will last up to a week in the fridge or up to 3-4 months in the freezer.

Tips + Modifications

You need soft dates for this recipe. I like to place the pitted dates into a bowl of water covering the tops of the dates for at least 4 hours if not overnight in the fridge. And, then I drain the water once it is time to cook with them.

I have never tried it but I am sure cashew butter or sunflower butter will work, as a replacement for almond butter.

You can melt the chocolate in the microwave as well. Make sure to heat it in 10-second increments and then give it a good stir.

Other Vegan Cookies to Try

If you like almond butter, you’ll love these Easy Vegan Almond Butter Cookies.

This is my other favorite coconut sweet treat. Check out these Coconut Cream Stuffed Dates Dipped in Chocolate.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Michelle