Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies with Maple!

This is a recipe given to me from a young woman who worked on our farm. It was a flourless peanut butter chip cookie recipe which inspired me to make a gluten free peanut butter cookie with a filling. Seeing this recipe reminded me of the days when I ate cookies with the Hershey's Chocolate Kiss placed on top. I have a natural version of this which taste much better and is better for you!  My version is maple cream with cacao powder stirred into it or you could substitute with unsweetened cocoa powder. You can add as much cacao or cocoa powder your palette desires. There are only 7 ingredients in this cookie recipe and it can all be put into a bowl and beat till creamy and well mixed. It is so easy and you will appreciate the taste of satisfaction with each bite.

I like adding cacao nibs which are pieces of a cacao bean that has been roasted, dried, dehusked, and degermed, versus chocolate chips or Hershey Kisses.  Cacao nibs (no white sugar in them) have a chocolatey taste, but they're not quite as sweet as chocolate, which can make them more versatile. Their flavor can also vary depending on how much they are roasted, with hints of fruity or nutty flavors. It can be an acquired taste if you're used to milk chocolate and bars with sweet fillings, but cacao nibs are a surprisingly good for you alternative!

Ingredients for Cookies

1 Cup creamy peanut butter, unsalted(preferably organic)
2 Farm Fresh Eggs
1/2 Cup Maple Sugar
1/4 Cup Butter
1 Cup Almond Flour
3/4 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 - 1/2 Tsp. Sea Salt

Instructions for Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.In medium bowl mix together all 7 ingredients until a thick gooey batter forms.
3.Using a tablespoon, drop batter onto a baking sheet lined with Silpat or parchment paper.
4. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350F.
5. Once the cookies are lightly browned, remove from the oven, and allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes
6. When cookies have cooled down remove from cookie sheet using a spatula, to counter top.
7. Frost with maple cream mixture. (The frosting will harden after about 5 minutes of being on the cookie)
8.Serve at room temperature, with your favorite beverage, or chill in the freezer for a cold chewy treat!

Maple Cream Frosting

Place as much maple cream into a bowl as you wish and add cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder to the maple cream and stir till mixed. Spread on top of cookie!

Maple cream with cacao powder!

Oh MY!!