Make your own homemade Healthy Samoa Cookies to enjoy Girl Scout cookies all year long! This recipe uses just 5 ingredients and tastes exactly like the real deal. They're full of delicious chocolate, caramel, and coconut flavor!
Delicious homemade samoas cookies
One of my favorite times of the year is late winter to early spring, and not because warmth is around the corner. Yes, I'm a warm weather optimist, but there's something that I deem a bit more important this time of year. Girl Scout Cookie season!
Yep, you heard me. I'm a huge fan of Girl Scout Cookies. I like all of them - the Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos... However, each season there's always a cookie that stands out among the rest and in my opinion deserves the title of The Ultimate Girl Scout Cookie. "Which flavor," you ask? The Samoas! There's something about the chocolate, caramel, and coconut combination that is just to die for!
I love supporting my local Girl Scout troop, but I thought that now was the perfect time to attempt to make my own samoas. As with all of my dessert recipes, I gave it my best attempt at a healthy twist.
I must say, my healthy samoa cookies definitely stack up against the originals! They're flavorful, chocolatey, carmely, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Get ready to have a stash of your very own homemade samoas!
If you are as much of a Girl Scout fan as I am, you need to bake my Copycat Healthy Thin Mints next!
Ingredients used to make healthy samoa cookies
Only five simple ingredients are needed to make homemade samoas! We'll be using one of my favorite sweet ingredients (dates) along with some delicious dark chocolate!.
Additionally, we'll be using desiccated coconut. If you're unfamiliar, desiccated coconut is just dried and shredded coconut and is commonly used in baking.
Here's a complete list of what you'll need to make these samoas:
- Desiccated coconut
- Cashews
- Medjool dates
- Dark chocolate
- Coconut oil
Tools used to make samoas
You will need a baking sheet, parchment paper, and a food processor to make these cookies. The processor will be used to grind the cashews, dates, and coconut, but you can use a blender if you don't have one.
How to make healthy samoa cookies
It's never been easier to have Girl Scouts cookies on command! With this recipe, you can enjoy your favorite treats all year long. These treats should take about 15 minutes to prep, along with about 60 minutes of refrigeration.
To start preparing your samoas, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Then, line the baking sheet with the coconut. Toast it for 5 minutes, or until it's slightly golden brown.
While the coconut is toasting, place cashews in a food processor and blend until they're finely ground.
Add the coconut and dates to the food processor and blend until all three ingredients are very well combined.
Next, roll the dough into balls and flatten them on the baking sheet. Using a straw or chopstick, poke a hole in the center of the flattened dough.
Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. While freezing, melt the chocolate and coconut together in the microwave.
Using a fork, lower the samoas into the melted chocolate and coat the bottom. Then, drizzle more of the chocolate and coconut mixture on top as desired.
Finally, let sit in the freezer for 30 minutes, and then enjoy!
Step-by-step Instructions on how to make Copycat Samoas
Healthy samoa cookies
My samoa cookies recipe is a nutritious alternative to the classic cookies that we all love. By using the below ingredients, I was able to keep the nutrient and tastiness levels high!
- Medjool dates: Dates are a seriously overlooked fruit. Truth be told, they're a taste powerhouse! These dates help to give the cookies their consistency while also supplying a lot of caramel flavor. They're an all-natural sweetener!
- Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate is notoriously the healthiest type of chocolate. In fact, it's actually good for you! It's a wonderful source of antioxidants and has a bunch of health benefits.
- Coconut oil: Finally, coconut oil is an ingredient that you see pop up in most of my baking recipes. I use it so often because it's a healthy source of fats and a great alternative to canola oil, olive oil, etc.
How to give your samoas a twist
Give these cookies a twist
There's one way to put a spin on this recipe. Once you've blended the desiccated coconut, dates, and cashews, don't form them into individual balls. Instead, press the mixture flat along the bottom of a casserole dish. Then, pour your chocolate and coconut oil mixture on top and spread it around evenly. Top it off by sprinkling extra coconut flakes on top, and now you have samoa bars.
How to store homemade healthy samoas
Samoas should be stored in the refrigerator. Keep them sealed in a secure container for freshness. If you'd like to freeze them, feel free. Just be sure to thaw before eating!
Try these cookie recipes next!
If you liked these Samoas, you'll have to try some of my other dessert ideas too! From white chocolate and pumpkin to double chocolate mint and peanut butter, I've got you covered.
- Monster Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Double Chocolate Mint Paleo Cookies
- Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Healthy Samoa Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toast coconut for 5 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
- While coconut is toasting, place cashews in food processor and blend until finely ground.
- Add in coconut and dates to food processor and blend until very well combined.
- Roll into balls and flatten onto baking sheet. Using a straw or chopstick, poke a hole in the center of the flattened dough.
- Place in freezer for 30 minutes. While freezing, melt chocolate and coconut oil together in microwave.
- Dip the bottom of the samoas in the melted chocolate using a fork to lower it into the chocolate. Then drizzle more on top for design. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
- Let sit in freezer for 30 minutes before eating. Store in fridge or freezer.
Jill says
These are phenomenal. I made them and everyone in my family LOVED them! They taste nearly IDENTICAL to actual GS cookies!
Erin says
Hi Jill, so happy you loved the cookies!!
Allie says
I LOVE these cookies! I keep them in my freezer all of the time for a quick snack or dessert. Simple ingredients and easy to make!
Erin says
Hi Allie, so glad you loved them!!
Genevieve says
The easiest and most delicious cookies! I will be making these a lot 🙂 thanks so much for the recipe!
Erin says
Hi Genevieve, so glad you loved them!!
Liz says
WHY ARE THESE SO GOOD?!! Some of the best cookies I've ever made and they literally only have 5 ingredients. What have I been doing wrong my whole life lol. Will be making these over and over and over
Erin says
Hi Liz, so happy you love them so much!! 🙂
Katie S says
OH MY GOD!! I was looking for a gf and vegan dessert to bring to my relatives house, and I stumbled upon these. I love all things coconut and chocolate, so I was super excited. I gave one to my mom and she said it was one of the best things that I ever made. I am literally speechless. I will be making these like every week.
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you loved it so much! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Kim Creese says
Sounds/looks amazing but 250+ calories EACH? ouch.
Erin says
Hi Kim, yes they are SO good! Highly recommend- treat yourself! 🙂
Melissa says
I made these and they came to about 180 calories each, using the information from the ingredients’ packages. I recalculated several times to make sure. The only thing I left out was the 1t oil, which wouldn’t make much difference. I made 12 cookies, and they’re bigger than Samoas too. They are DELICIOUS and taste just like the original, but much healthier! The first ingredient in original Samoas is sugar! I’ll definitely make this recipe again.
Erin says
Hi Melissa, so glad you enjoyed the cookies and yes, each nutrition calculator is a little different.
Carrie Wing says
I love this recipe! So Tasty!
Erin says
Hi Carrie, I'm so happy you enjoyed them!
Orma says
Hi Erin! Very excited to make these. Quick question: do you usually use refined or unrefined coconut oil in these? Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Orma, I am for you too! I always bake with refined so there is no coconut taste. Let me know what you use and how it comes out.
Brandi says
These were delicious, and super easy to make. My 4 year loved them, and I loved the healthier ingredients.
Erin says
Hi Brandi, so happy you both loved the cookies!! 🙂
Emily B says
BEST COOKIES EVER. Made them for the fam.
Erin says
Hi Emily! I am thrilled you love them!!
Genesis Garcia says
It says 257 calories and serves 12, but how much is a serving size?
Erin says
Hi Genesis, a serving size is one cookie. Let me know how yours come out!
Janae Thomas says
So 257 calories per serving??? The regular ones are 150 for 2 cookies so I’m assuming all 12 are 257?
Erin says
Hi Janae, the recipe makes 12 cookies, so it is 257 calories per serving. I just updated the nutrition facts to list one cookie. Hope this helps!
Stephanie B says
These are delicious! My teenage girls love them too!
Erin says
Hi Stephanie! I'm so glad you and your girls enjoy the cookies! 🙂
Melissa says
Hey Erin! What can I use to replace the cashews? I am allergic to tree nuts 🙁
Erin says
Hi Melissa, you can use almonds or walnuts. Let me know which you choose and how the cookies come out!
Elle says
Sooo quick and easy to make with ingredients I already had on hand. Another great one Erin.
Erin says
Hi Elle, I am so happy you enjoyed the cookies! Thanks for all your support! 🙂
Anna says
Can I use shredded coconut instead of the desiccated? 🤔
Erin says
give it a good blend in the processor before adding dates and nuts!
Erin says
Hi Anna, I haven't tried it with shredded and think it might make it too wet, but feel free to try and let me know how they come out!
Tom says
Wow not only does it look similar to Girl Scout Cookies but that chocolate coconut flavor is there too! Great work Erin!
Erin says
Hi Tom! I am so happy you loved the cookies!! 🙂