Recipe: Peabutter Cookies

Warning: these are NOT the most nutritious cookies! I debated whether or not to post this recipe just yet, as I plan to experiment with sugar alternatives because I hate the amount of refined sugar that are in these cookies. So I will keep you updated and hopefully post a healthier alternative in the future! Otherwise, these will just be an occasional treat for our girls.

I found a recipe for "Flourless cookies" from "The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods" by Bette Hagman. This is a great book, as she also tries to eliminate dairy from her recipes ...so less modifying for me! The original recipe uses peanut butter, and I made it without modifications first, adding the Enjoy Life chocolate chips with it. They were delicious, and if you can have peanut butter, I highly recommend them! The author recommends using a processed peanut butter, but we found one that was still natural but had the added salt.

So after I was able to eat more then my share of these cookies, I also wanted to try and make some for Mara. It wasn't fair for her to see her mother stuffing her face, now is it? I immediately wanted to try her peabutter and see how it worked. I also added some raisins as well. These cookies only take a few minutes to make, another plus for me , as I am not the best at planning!
Both girls LOVE these cookies! The biggest difference I found between the two batches (besides the taste) was that the peabutter cookies did not spread out like the peanut butter ones did. Which actually worked out well, as I made small mini-cookies to keep the total sugar intake low for one sitting! Plus, these cookies are pretty filling, so I think a smaller cookie is ideal. Both girls prefer these cookies over anything else I have made, so I am even more determined to try to reduce the amount of refined sugar!

Here's the recipe, enjoy!

Peabutter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup peabutter
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp gluten-free vanilla
• 3/4 cups raisins (optional)

Using your mixer, blend the peabutter and brown sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the baking soda and vanilla and blend until completely mixed. Add the raisins and blend by hand.
Drop cookies onto greased cookie sheets or parchment paper (we used parchment paper).

Bake 8-11 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees.

Product Review: For Chocolate Lovers!

I have not had a chocolate bar for over two years. I love chocolate, but have never been one to buy lots of candy bars, etc. Ever since I have gone off of dairy and soy, I have been asking for safe chocolate. For Easter. Valentine's Day, Christmas. Even Mother's day!

But no chocolate for me. My husband is wonderful, but not a "plan in advance" kind of guy, so he never researched where to get this for me. Wile I enjoy the "Enjoy Life" chocolate chips, I just really wanted something different, a bit smoother......

So imagine my surprise when he came home Sunday afternoon with a CHOCOLATE BAR! For ME!! I was beyond excited. I wanted to savor it, and did not even open it until later when the girls were in bed.

The chocolate is from "Equal Exchange" and the safe kind for me (no dairy, no soy) was the dark chocolate. It was organic dark chocolate with pure cocoa nibs. Are you salivating yet?

Oh my, was this delicious. This chocolate just melted in my mouth. I tried my best to eat a bit at a time, but sadly finished it off yesterday. I just looked and found that it is available though my buying club...I just have to decide if I really want 12 of these things in my house! Plus, at $3.49 a bar, it is a pricey treat for me.

But, one I have been waiting for for a very long time!