Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Way back when NOBODY but my mom was reading my blog, I was baking away making flourless (gluten free) cookies.  For no reason other than I love them!  I decided to revisit and revamp one of those old recipes.  My flourless peanut butter cookies originally called for kisses,  and I unsuccessfully used Mexican chocolate.  Today I am using dark chocolate chips.  Kisses make my teeth ache.  I also decided to amp up the fiber in these guys with some old fashioned oats. 

I made a few changes worth noting. I added an extra egg.   Also, I used both baking powder and soda.  I needed leavening here, and after consulting In the Sweet Kitchen by Regan Daley, I decided this was the way to go.  Also, after teaching a gluten free baking class, I learned a lot from the info  I used.  If you are truly going for a GF lifestyle, you become an ardent label reader.  Gluten can be found in some oatmeal, and probably many other things you wouldn't imagine.  So be your own detective!

The final cookie was nothing short of amazing.  A little flat, chewy on the inside and crunchy around the edges.  I threw them in the freezer as soon as they were cool, and Mr. Preppy had a time dunking those babies in cold milk.  They are some tasty cookies!

So what are you waiting for?  Get in there and bake!

Improved Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup peanut butter (I use Jif)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla (you know what kind I use!)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
chocolate chips (I used a 10oz bag of Ghiradelli and it was too much)

I had chocolate chips without cookie space...

Cream the peanut butter and brown sugar.  Add the vanilla and the eggs and incorporate.  Then add dry ingredients.  When thoroughly mixed, add the chocolate chips.  Drop onto a Silpat covered baking sheet and bake at 350 º for about 10 minutes.  I made pretty large cookies and the recipe yielded 2 dozen.  

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies With Coconut Oil

Yep, I just had to bake more.  Maybe you saw my post on the Chocolate Chip Cookie that I made with coconut oil?  Well, I am a non cookie eater, really, I bake them primarily.  But I was into the chocolate chip ones for sure.  Then I had that peanut better hankering.  Remember that commercial? "Hey, you got peanut butter in my chocolate?"

Perfect together!

The easiest way to measure peanut butter, coconut oil, anything goopy!

That's what I was going for here.  I didn't find a perfect recipe, so I made my own.  I know it sounds crazy, but these cookies have no grease factor.  None.  You know that greasy print a butter cookie makes?  Nope.  Nada.  I do not proclaim these healthy, just an alternative.  Did I mention I am making these for my kids Finals Week Survival boxes?  Hope they make it to the post office.....



Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies With Coconut Oil

1 cup coconut oil
1 1/4 cup peanut butter  (I use creamy, but you can use crunchy)
2 cups light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Lyle's Golden Syrup (obscure, but worth finding)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 bags of chocolate chips

Cream the coconut oil, brown sugar and peanut butter until well blended.  Add Lyle's and vanilla and both eggs.  Add the flour and baking soda and mix until incorporated.  The dough will be smooth and shiny.

Delicious refiner's syrup.  Beats corn syrup any day!

REMEMBER:  Coconut oil is liquid at warm temperatures, like a kitchen in summer.  So you will want it chilled if necessary before creaming it.

Make 1 inch blobs of dough on a Silpat covered cookie sheet and bake at 350F for about 9 minutes.  I move them top to bottom halfway through the baking time.  Cool on a wire rack.  Deeeelicious!

So, what are you waiting for?  Get in there and bake!