Caro’s No-Bake Cookies

As y’all know, I often make treats for those I love. Cooking and baking are my favorite ways to show family and friends that I’m thinking about them. For this recipe, I had my sister, Caroline (Caro for short), in mind. She lives in Houston, and we see one another regularly, but it never seems to be often enough. This week, I’ve been missing my sister even more than usual. But rather than gifting her this particular batch, I instead used her favorite flavors for a little recipe inspiration!

Caroline has an enormous sweet tooth, so cookies were obviously a must. And while she likewise loves to cook, baking isn’t necessarily her passion. Enter: a no-bake dessert. These cookies require little time to throw together and are ready for whenever your dessert craving hits.

One mandatory ingredient in any recipe with Caroline in mind? Cashews. Anyone that knows her would agree that this girl could easily exist on them alone. These creamy nuts are her absolute favorite, and cashew butter adds the perfect healthy richness to these treats. Cashews are also filled with antioxidants, heart-healthy fatty acids and immune boosting zinc. Any other nut butter you have on hand or prefer can easily be substituted as well.

Another Caro-inspired ingredient is dried cherries. Not only are we both crazy for these tart fruits, but they’re also full of essential nutrients, anti-inflammatory properties and are proven to aid in a restful night’s sleep. But perhaps the best part is the unexpected flavor and chew they bring to every bite. And of course, I couldn’t help but throw in two of my favorite staples–chia seeds and flax seeds. They’re packed full of antioxidants, fiber, protein and Omega-3s for a hidden healthy punch.

Finally, in my opinion, a cookie just isn’t finished without a little chocolate drizzle. Since we were young, Caroline has always been one of those rare breeds who just doesn’t like chocolate (WHAT?! I know. She may be certifiably insane). Yet I can’t complain, as I benefitted for years from serious Halloween candy swapping. But in the past couple of years, Caroline has finally come around and acquired a taste for this sweet goodness. Because of her change of heart and tastebuds, I felt a little chocolate addition was in order. For this recipe, I melted a bar of Eating Evolved Signature Dark, but anything you have on hand works great.

While I created this easy, incredibly tasty recipe with my sister in mind, these cookies are a great, healthy treat to have on hand whenever your sweet tooth strikes. As for me, I’m subtly hoping this no-bake dessert will convince Caro to come visit me in Austin even sooner