A Cleaner Version of a Favorite…..
After a busy morning of running errands here I am. I started this recipe yesterday and wound up finishing it this morning, and the photographing it this afternoon. It isn’t that this recipe takes a long time to make things just kept coming up. I am sure that anyone reading this can relate. From start to finish these cookies probably took about an hour, and that includes the 30 minutes’ chill time that the dough requires to not turn into a mushy mess in the oven.
I’ve been planning this recipe in my head for over a week now and thought that it was time that I got it put together. They turned out so yummy, ok maybe a little to yummy. I made sure I put off trying them until after I took pictures, but then I will admit that I ate three of them! They are made of good ingredients, and sure beat out any boxed cookie ingredient wise, but be careful because they are addictive. Ok, you have been formally warned and it is totally up to you now to maintain some control when you make them. 😉
I took inspiration from a Twix candy bar. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one, but I know that they are full of iffy ingredients and are 80 calories for a fun size bar. These cookies are 106 calories per cookie, BUT they don’t have a bunch of unnecessary preservatives. Don’t fear the calories. Often times when we eat REAL food the calorie count can be higher. We all need to enjoy a treat once in a while, and if we are going to do it why not do it right? All the flavor without all the yuck.


Now no booing for this not being “real” caramel. I used my date caramel recipe and it turned out great. You can eat a few cookies without feeling loads of regret for eating a bunch of empty calories. I did use all-purpose white flour, but you can absolutely use white wheat. These are fairly simple, and well worth making. They aren’t overly sweet, but they have a flaky, crumbly butter exterior with a sweet gooey center, and the drizzle of dark chocolate really set them off just right. Make sure you don’t keep them all to yourself unless you have the self-control of a saint. Be sure to share, and after you do you can sit back, relax, and enjoy!
“Twix” Shortbread Cookies
By Angie Gouchenour
8 servings
Ingredients
Cookie
¼ c butter – room temperature
2 Tablespoons Truvia zero calorie sweetener
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
½ cup flour
Caramel filling
3 Medjool dates + 2-3 teaspoons date water
1 teaspoon corn starch
Topping
½ square dark chocolate
Directions
In a small bowl cream together the butter, Truvia, and vanilla
Combine flour with butter mixture until a soft dough forms; wrap in wax paper and chill for 30 minutes
While the dough is chilling pit and boil the dates
Remove the dates from the water when they are softened and blend them in a blender with 2-3 teaspoons of date water until smooth
Dump the rest of the date water and return pureed dates to the pan and stir in the corn starch
Heat for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly until thick; refrigerate
Preheat oven to 350’f
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll 8 little dough balls and place them on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper
Place in the preheated oven for 10 minutes
Remove and indent the center (I used the back of a rounded Tablespoon) and fill with approximately ½ teaspoon of date caramel
Place back in the oven for 5 minutes; Remove and transfer cookies to a cooling rack
While the cookies are cooling melt the chocolate in the microwave stirring once (30-60 seconds)
If you don’t have a cake decorating kit, or a plastic baggie, take a piece of parchment paper and roll it into a cone, tape the side, and fill with chocolate. Carefully make stripes across the cookies
Place the cookies in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes until the chocolate is set
Enjoy!
106 calories per cookie
These look really good – and I love dates. This definitely goes in the recipe’s to try category!
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Thank you! 🙂 They are a great option to take the place of caramel.
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So awesome!! I love Twix but only allow myself some around the holidays lol now I can have them whenever! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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Thank you! You are welcome. I hope you enjoy them. 🙂
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Hi, Nice to meet you 🙂 I found your blog through meet & great. Just came around to say a Hi. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Have a great day!
Arcane owl
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Thank you for stopping by! Have a wonderful day. 🙂
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Most welcome 🙂
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OMG. My favorite candy …in a shortbread cookie! NEED!
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Enjoy!
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