I tried Daily Harvest's new plant-based holiday cookies to see how they stack up to the real deal
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- Daily Harvest has gone from smoothies to soups to cookies, and I couldn't be happier about it.
- These aren't the rich, decadent cookies that you associate with a sugar coma and an unsettled stomach, but rather a health-conscious approach to decadence.
- Whether you eat the dough raw or bake them into bite-sized cookies, these are treats that you'll want to treat yourself to every day, and thanks to their nutritional benefits, you actually can.
You should never feel bad about eating a cookie, but if you're looking to feel better about it, then Daily Harvest can lend a helping hand. Until now, the superfood subscription seller has been filling our freezers with ready-to-blend smoothies, ready-to-heat soups and lattes, and most recently, ready-to-heat savory harvest bowls, but now, it's adding the most important part of a meal - dessert.
Dubbed Holiday Cookies, these sweets are just as delicious as everything else Daily Harvest offers, and somehow, just as healthy. Really, I just wish they were bigger.
The cookies from Daily Harvest, like the other products from the trendy treat purveyor, don't come to you entirely ready-made. Instead, you'll receive small packets of frozen cookie dough, all of which are gluten-free, and made with plant-based ingredients. Be warned - if you're hoping for a Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie, this isn't it. But if you're looking for the 21st-century answer to guilt-free dessert, then consider this your promised land.
The frozen dough arrives in a limited-edition gift box, and includes three boxes of 12 cookies for 36 total treats. There's Chocolate Chia, an all-chocolate dessert that is meant to evoke memories of a fudge brownie. But instead of depending upon boatloads of butter and sugar, this cookie instead leverages avocado and cashew butter, along with chia seeds and - believe it or not - adaptogenic reishi mushroom in order to add a protein punch to your indulgence.
Of course, as much as you'd like a wholly healthy brownie to taste the same as the brownies of your childhood, the Chocolate Chia cookie won't do quite that. While I was pleasantly surprised by the richness and decadence of the baked good, and it did taste extremely fudge-y, it's not nearly as sweet as your traditional brownie, and there's a particularly nutty taste that I've come to associate with all healthful food.
Then, there's the Coconut Lemon cookie, a personal favorite of mine, which tastes an awful lot like a coconut macaroon both in terms of flavor and texture. There are also added notes of ginger and lemon for a bit more complexity, making this the most interesting cookie that Daily Harvest offers. The dough is made of coconut and cassava flour, and incorporates a healthy dose of lemon as well as flaxseed so that you're getting your daily fiber intake.
Finally, there's the classic Cacao Nib, Daily Harvest's take on a chocolate chip cookie. Made of chickpea flour, sunflower seed butter, pumpkin, cassava flour, cacao nibs, and superpower adaptogenic maca root, this may just be the fanciest chocolate chip cookie you'll ever eat. Much like the Chocolate Chia cookie, this guy tastes quite nutty thanks to sunflower seed butter, and the cacao nibs also add a great, crunchy textural component. Alas, cacao nibs won't melt in the oven or in your mouth quite the same way that a chocolate chip might, but if you're looking for a guilt-free alternative, this is certainly one of the better (and better for you) imitations that I've found.
While all these cookies bake up easily at 375 degrees in your oven, I've found that my favorite way to enjoy them is raw, straight out of the freezer. Thanks to their plant-based ingredients, you won't have to worry about getting yourself sick by foregoing heat treatment. And honestly, it's easier to forget that you're not eating the real thing when you're just eating the dough.
A word to the wise - these cookies don't spread much (if at all) when baking up, so don't expect your little cookie dough drops to become large, pancake-like monsters in the oven. Just keep an eye on them while they're baking, and don't leave them in for longer than 18 minutes.
The Holiday Cookies will only be available from November 9, 2018, through the end of the year, and may just make the perfect under-$50 gift for the health nut in your life.