This week I have been incredibly busy, apparently finishing
a doctorate is not easy! Between presentations, essays, literature reviews, and
work it’s hard to find a minute in the day! This week has also been challenging
because my favourite person (bf) has been away and so for his return today I
planned a special meal with an even more special dessert. In fact this dessert
was designed for two people in my life that I was missing this weekend.
One of my bf’s favourite flavours is peanut-butter and
therefore this weekend I found a peanut butter cup ice-cream to finish off the
delicious dinner I planned for his return. However ice-cream alone does not a
dessert make and therefore I decided to make a few peanut butter cookies to be
gently heated and go with the ice-cream and of course the only way was peanut
butter.
Now since they were going to be peanut flavoured I knew that
I could also make this recipe for another important person that I really missed
this weekend and who has a particular penchant for peanuts, so hopefully she
enjoys the recipe and maybe we can make it together this Christmas. This,
however necessitated the cookies to be vegan. They are not only vegan but also
wheat free, not that many people need that! So actually these cookies are kind
of healthy, although not very and whatever you do………..don’t tell my boyfriend!!
The cookies are crispy on the outside and have a delicious
crumb (to sound all Mary Berry on you!). They are intensely peanut flavoured
with a little sweetness although if you prefer them sweeter, feel free to
increase the sugar by about 50%. They went perfectly with the ice-cream but I
can also imagine them going excellently with coffee! And……………. they go with the
ice-cream two ways, so read to the end!
Vegan Peanut-butter Cookies (Gluten free, in case you’re
celiac) (adapted from thebigmansworld.com)
250g Peanut-Butter (Chunky or Smooth, your choice)
100g brown sugar
100g white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax seeds with 3 tbsp water,
allowed to sit for 15 mins)
75g ground almonds
50g 70% dark chocolate chips (more if you want)
11.
Prepare your flax eggs and preheat the oven to
170’C/325'F/Gas mark 3.
2
22.
Add the sugar and whisk until light and frothy
3
33.
Add the peanut-butter and stir.
4
44.
Finally add the almond and dark chocolate and
stir everything together
5
55.
Form into little balls and then flatten, then
bake for 15 minutes but keep an eye on them.
6
66.
They are done when they have browned around the
edges then allow to cool. They will get
firmer as they cool
Alternatively you can make cookie
dough for ice-cream, since they can be eaten raw w/o issue!!!
1.
Form into tiny balls and then flatten on a
plate.
2.
Put the plate into the freezer.
3.
Add to ice-cream for a cookie dough sensation!!!
