Sunflower Date Cookies (Gluten-Free)

From thekitchn.com via the Hollywood Farmers' Market in California. Perfect for summertime because the cookies require no baking. The major change here was substituting roasted sunflower seeds for raw. Note: recipe requires 2 hours chilling time.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Yields: 20 cookies

Ingredients

• 2  cups roasted sunflower seeds
• 1  cup dates, pitted
• 1  cup raisins
• 2  tablespoons almond butter
• 2  tablespoons  freshly grated  orange peel
• 1  vanilla beans or 1  tablespoon vanilla extract
•  toasted  slivered almonds
•  citrus zest

Directions

1. If using a vanilla bean, scrape out the seeds and place with the pod in a small saucepan with about 1/2 cup of water. Simmer until water is infused with vanilla, remove from heat, and remove the pod.
2. Soak raisins in the vanilla bean water or hot water with vanilla extract for about 15 minutes or until plump.
3. In a food processor, PULSE the sunflower seeds and dates until combined.
4. Add raisins including the soaking water, almond butter and orange peel. PULSE to desired consistency.
5. *Form mixture into balls and flatten. Top with almonds and blanched citrus zest. Refrigerate for about two hours.
6. *I found it much easier to form the balls if the mixture was chilled first.
7. Note: To make almond butter from scratch, process roasted almonds in a food processor until smooth, drizzling in a bit of neutral-tasting oil if more creaminess is desired.