Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Hey everyone, I hope you're having a great week!

Peanut butter and chocolate are quite possibly the best pairing ever. They also have the ability to make everything better.

Today I have a treat for you. A gluten free cookie treat that is.

These were inspired by a healthy treat I picked up at a little place called the Farmer's Daughter in Huntsville, Ontario last week. I dropped into the cafe while on my way to Algonquin Park for some great day hiking. I really love going up there to hike and the weather was perfect. We covered about 5.6 km of moderately difficult hiking - the mosquitos were killer! This was the scenic view from the halfway point of the trail.

Just as we stopped a chippy (what I call chipmunks) came right up to me and touched my shoe. We sat down and took out those amazing peanut butter cookies that had chunks of chocolate and peanuts throughout, and tossed the chippy's some peanuts and crumbs. They certainly loved them!

I'm looking forward to doing the Centennial Ridges trail next time, which needs a full day to complete. It's about 11 km in length and is very demanding.

Before we get back to those cookies I have to share a few more photo's I snapped while hiking through the woods.

Now back to that recipe!

These delicious peanut butter cookies are sweetended with unrefined sugar; I used coconut sugar. I would like to try making them with pure maple syrup instead for an even more natural healthy treat, but these flourless cookies are pretty healthy as far as cookies go. They're also very easy to make!

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

by Jennifer Trennum

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 10-12 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert nut butter snack gluten-free grain-free low-carb soy-free peanut butter chocolate cookie

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Ingredients (6 large or 12 smaller cookies)

• 1 cup natural peanut butter
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar, muscovado sugar or sucanat
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 oz. chocolate chunks
• 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚ degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (if you don't have parchment paper, lightly grease the baking sheets).

In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment stir together first 5 ingredients. Stir in chocolate and peanuts until they are evenly combined.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonful (or form into 6 - 12 cookies) onto your prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies until they're barely set and just beginning to turn golden, about 10-12 minutes. They will be soft when you remove them from the oven but they will set-up as they cool. Let them cool completely on the pans.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Storage suggestions: These cookies keep well in an air-tight container for a 2-3 days. Freeze for longer-term storage.

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Raw Cacao Vanilla Energy Bites

Where oh where to start?

Well for starters, how about as promised, I'm back today with a sweet snack to share.

Or should I say a luscious chocolatey snack?

If you've been following along with me for awhile now, you're probably familiar with how much I love to make real easy snacks, especially no-bake energy bites. They're always nutritious and deliciously good. These are no exception! The title says it all. If you have a sweet tooth and are in love with chocolate, these little bites might just fit the bill. They're texture is so smooth, soft, and chocolatey. Very reminiscent of a decadent truffle. Only these won't go straight to your thighs ;)

You may be thinking they look pretty impressive, but they're surprisingly easy to prepare. Just 6 ingredients and some quality time with my favourite kitchen accessory, the food processor.

I recently bought some raw cacao powder at my local healthy food store and boy is it good. I've been doing some experimenting with it in a few recipes and this is one of them. I think I nailed this recipe the first time I made it. After the first bite, I almost died and went to heaven! Maybe I'm biased but I think this is one of my best energy bite recipes yet, and my family agrees with me. They came out so fluffy and soft. They just melt in mouth.

I made sure the chocolate and vanilla flavours were nice and prominent. Pure and simple clean ingredients for clean nutrition.

Raw Cacao Vanilla Energy Bites

by Jennifer Trennum

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Keywords: food processor no-bake raw dessert snack gluten-free grain-free vegan almond butter dates cacao powder energy bites

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Ingredients (12 energy bites)

• 3/4 cup macadamia nuts
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder
• 1/4 cup smooth almond butter
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Place macadamia nuts in the bowl of food processor and grind until finely chopped. Be careful not to turn them into nut butter.

Next add the dates to the chopped nuts and grind until combined and mixture holds together.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor. Process until a smooth dough forms, stopping and scraping the walls of a food processor as needed. It should take about 2-5 minutes. The dough should be sticky enough that you are able to form it together in your hands.

Using a small ice cream scoop or spoon, scoop 2 tablespoons worth of the mixture out (about the size of a golf ball) and roll with hands into a ball. Place some coconut flakes in one bowl and cacao powder in another, roll half of the balls in the coconut flakes and the other half in the cacao powder to coat.

Notes

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Freeze for up to 3 months. They can be eaten right out the freezer, no defrosting necessary!

Nutritional Information

Serving Size: 1 energy bite Calories: 136 Fat: 10g Sodium: 21mg Carbohydrates: 13g Sugar: 7g Fiber: 5g Protein: 2g

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