Unbaked Nut Cookies

Two days ago I was fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving with my New England family, and amongst the wonderful people, fun games, good talks, and bouts of laughs was, of course, tons of food. I, being one of the bakers of the family, offered to bring homemade snowflake rolls with freshly whipped honey butter. But, along with these I decided to bring a new raw dessert that I experimented with that morning so that my foodie family could be taste testers. I chose to make a raw cookie that really could have been eaten as an appetizer or dessert, or on normal days, as a snack. The cookie came out delicious, very cute, and was approved by the family with a rating of "two thumbs up." So, I would like to share this recipe with you all so that you can put it in your next batch of holiday gift Christmas cookies. Friends and family will be surprised at how yummy and healthy these unique cookies are. Just don't tell them at first that they are raw, because a raw cookie doesn't sound so appetizing...then again don't we all just love raw chocolate chip cookie dough!

Unbaked Nut Cookies - 12 tiny cookies

1/2 cup almonds

1/4 cup walnuts

salt to taste

cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

1/2 cup pitted medjool dates

1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

1 Tablespoon agave nectar - can omit or add more to taste

1/4 cup raisins, dried cherries or chocolate chips

1/4 cup ground almonds, walnuts or toasted coconut (to roll cookies in)

In a food processor fitted with an S blade process nuts, salt and spices until coarsely chopped. Add dates, extract, and nectar and process just until the mix sticks together. Add dried fruit or chocolate chips and pulse briefly just to mix.

Next, scoop out about 1 Tablespoon of the mix into your hands, squeeze firmly, roll into little balls, and flatten to make a tiny thick cookie shape. Roll cookie in ground nuts or toasted coconut and place in Tupperware. Refrigerate cookies for a couple of hours before serving so that flavors can combine and cookie is firm. These cookies will keep for awhile if you don't devour them immediately!

Happy Holidays!

"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for those dispensations which appear dark and frowning." Albert Barnes