Healthier Homemade "Oreos"

As a kid, my mom didn't allow a lot of processed and sugary foods into our kitchen and so when I'd go to my friend's house, I was always fascinated (obsessed is probably more like it) with all the sugary breakfast cereals, and especially the Oreo cookies. As much as I complained about our junk food-free lifestyle as a kid, as an adult, Ive turned out much like my mom and barely ever buy processed foods because of all the unpronounceable ingredients, the unlabeled GMOs, and the bulky packaging which for the most part ends up in landfill sites. Besides, I find it way more fun to make my own.

These healthy "Oreo" cookies are made with nutrient-rich buckwheat flour which is one of my favorite grains to cook with (you may remember my buckwheat shortbread cookies). Make sure to use a lighter colored buckwheat flour, some buckwheat flours are very dark and do not work as well for baking. This is how your buckwheat flour should look, light grey and peppered with the occasional dark fleck:

Buckwheat's distinctive flavor pairs well with chocolate and it happens to make these little cookies entirely gluten-free. I use organic pastured butter and an egg in the dough, but if you prefer not using these, I've posted a dairy-free and egg-free version on my blog.

The dough is very easy to make, I simply whisk the dry ingredients together and throw everything into the food processor. In about one minute, there's a ball of dough, ready to roll out.

The white cream filling is made simply by blending raw cashews, honey, and coconut oil together. It's kind of addictive, without any guilt. You can add more or less honey, based on your preference. My guy is a fan of the minty version of these cookies, so I sometimes add a few drops of pure peppermint extract to the filling and it transforms these cookies into minty chocolate goodness.

The assembly takes a little time and patience, but if youve got some helping hands, you'll have your finished cookies in no time. Enjoy and let me know if you make these!

Aube is a passionate organic gardener and home cook who likes to share the stories of how food gets to our dinner plates. Her work has been shown on television and at international film festivals. Her web series has been nominated for multiple James Beard Awards for Best Video Webcast (On Location). In 2012, she was the recipient of Saveur Magazine's Best Food Blog award in the video category.