Everyone loves a delicious treat now and then. One of the biggest complaints I hear from people following a gluten free diet is that baking is difficult and the majority of us have certainly had our fair share of time in the kitchen whipping up a home-made gluten free baked treat only to have it end up in the trash because it’s dry, dense, gooey or tastes just plain funny. In my family, we typically only have baked goods such as cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins and breads on special occasions like holidays and birthdays in addition to every other Sunday morning which my kids have excitedly dubbed “pastry breakfasts”. As gluten free lifestyles become more popular out of necessity or want, companies are rising to the occasion and offering more and more gluten free bakery selections in our grocery stores and local bakeries. While delicious and accessible, these treats aren’t always budget-friendly and may be harder to locate in smaller towns. The following recipe is easy, affordable and requires no flour of any kind. It’s a fun one to get kids of almost any age involved with and provides a quick alternative to store-bought bakery items when that sweet craving hits or when our kids suddenly remember they need treats for school or another function later that day!
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter*
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cap-full of vanilla
Preheat oven to 350o. Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Drop by spoonful on to an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass, press cookies flat (if cookies stick to glass, sprinkle with sugar before pressing). Lightly press fork into each flat cookie. Bake 14 minutes or until the tops of cookies are slightly browned. Remove from oven and cool for 3-5 minutes (until you can remove from cookie sheet without the cookie pulling apart). Cool on oven rack & enjoy! Consider getting creative and adding gluten free chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or experimenting with sugar & egg alternatives.
*For those with peanut allergies, consider sesame seed butter, almond butter, cashew butter, macadamia butter or any blend!
