Hello! I hope you are well and safe!

I’ve been in the kitchen this week testing new recipes, and I think you are going to love this healthy Dark Chocolate Pecan Biscotti that is sweetened with dates!

There are so many benefits in this cookie that you can enjoy guilt free!

There is raw cacao powder that is full of flavanoids, a powerful antioxidant. How lucky are we that chocolate has this!

A little bit of cinnamon really compliments this Italian cookie, and it is great for regulating blood sugar! Put a little in your smoothies everyday too!

Pecans are heart healthy, boost immunity and are great for skin and hair!

Olive Oil is a heart healthy fat used for baking for many, many years and has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Dates are full of fiber and are a whole food way to sweetened baked goods slowing down the absorption of sugar into your blood stream. The potassium in dates can help maintain bone mass and they also have brain boosting choline!

Eggs are a great source of protein and an important binder in baking. They also have necessary vitamins and minerals in the yolks.

Every ingredient in my cookie recipe has a health benefit. But most importantly, they are delicious!

Here’s how to make them:

Dark Chocolate Pecan Biscotti

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cup of Toasted Pecans

1/2 Cup of Raw Cacao Powder (my favorite)

2 Good Quality Eggs

1/2 Cup of Dates, pitted and chopped

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Lay your pecans out on a baking tray in a single layer, and toast in your oven for approximately 8 minutes, or until the pecans are lightly brown and releasing some of their oils.

While the pecans are toasting, set up your food processor with a blade attachment.

Add the eggs, olive oil and dates to your food processor, and process for a minute. The dates will be in pieces but not completely emulsified with the eggs and oil. Now, add in the raw cacao powder, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract and baking soda. Blend in your food processor, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple times, until creamy.

When your pecans are toasted add them to your food processor with the rest of the dough you have already prepared. They should still be warm. Process by pulsing the pecans into the dough until they are chopped and the dough holds together.

Dump the biscotti dough out onto a parchment lined baking sheet and form it into a rectangle that is about 12″ by 6″. This works best if you use wet hands to keep the dough from sticking to your fingers. Bake in your preheated 350° oven for 20 minutes.

Remove the biscotti log from the oven and cool for one hour.

After an hour has passed. Place your biscotti rectangle onto a cutting board, and using a serrated knife, slice your biscotti on a diagonal into 1 inch slices. Lay back onto your parchment lined cookie sheet cut side down. Put your biscotti back in the oven for 4 minutes. Then, remove it from the oven and flip the biscotti over to the other cut side, and bake for an additional 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Store your biscotti in an air tight container.

God Bless you! Be safe and healthy!