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I don’t get to see my two nephews in Alberta nearly enough. Having family live far away is difficult at times, especially when you have to watch your precious nephews grow up without being able to see them whenever you want to.
Or I talk to them on the phone and I miss them even more…
Yesterday our phone conversation went a little something like this:
‘Auntie Angie, when are you coming to visit us?’
‘Saturday. Only 2 more sleeps!’
‘Are you going to give me lots of hugs and kisses?’
‘I sure am! and tickles too…’
(giggles)
‘Are you bringing any treats, Auntie Angie?’ (devious giggles)
‘You’ll have to see on Saturday…’
‘Bye.’
[The quick and unexpected departures on the phone are always funny.]
One year, I made the mistake of giving my oldest nephew clothing for Christmas. I was not a cool Aunt at all, and to make up for it, I made copious amounts of Glo Bars during my stay.
For this trip, I decided to bring my nephews Glo Bars (which they go nuts over) and cookies. I shall reclaim my cool Aunt status and not let them down.
Uncle Eric will be cool by association.
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Auntie Angie’s Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Soft and moist, with lots of peanut butter flavour. Dip these cookies in almond milk for a delicious treat that is not too sweet. I used protein packed and nutritious whole grain spelt flour here, but you can also use all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour too.
Adapted from 101 Cookbooks.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups spelt flour (or all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup peanut butter (see note)
- 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- Turbinado & kosher salt, for sprinkling on cookie before baking
Directions: Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a non-stick mat. In a medium mixing bowl mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. in a large bowl combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, optional oil (see note below), and vanilla. Stir until combined. Pour the flour mixture over the peanut butter mixture and mix. Place the batter into the fridge for 30 minutes to set or simply wet your fingers and shape into balls. Wet a fork and press down onto the cookie crosswise. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar and kosher salt. Bake for 11 minutes at 350F and let cool for 5 minutes.
Note: The original recipe calls for 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil, however I omitted this due to the fact that my peanut butter was very oily and slick (the result of a brand new jar!). If your peanut butter is a bit on the dry side, you might want to add 3-4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil into the mix to ensure that your cookies don’t come out too dry.
Yields 26 cookies.
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Gather the wet ingredients: PB, maple syrup, and vanilla.
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Note: there should also be 1/4 cup of almond milk mixed in with the wet. This was something I added in later, but I would mix it in with the above ingredients if I made them again.
Mix.
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Gather dry ingredients: Spelt flour, baking soda, salt.
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Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and then add into the wet and stir with a big spoon. The batter will be very thick and sticky.
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Now, you can either refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or if you are impatient (ME) and fighting daylight for photography (ME), you can simply wet your fingers and shape the balls that way. If the dough sticks to your hands make sure to keep wetting them.
Same goes for the fork. Keep it wet and you will be fine.
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Sprinkle with turbinado sugar and kosher salt and bake for 11 minutes at 350F. I baked 12 cookies at a time. This recipe makes about 26 cookies.
Cool for 5 minutes.
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Easy as that!
Mmmmm.
If you are a crunchy peanut butter cookie fan, this probably isn’t your recipe because these cookies are quite soft. Any ideas on how to get them really firm and crunchy (aside from cooking them longer)?
All wrapped up and put in my suitcase for my nephews. :)
4am wake-up call tomorrow…Better get to sleep!
Mmmmmmm cookies…..
The ribbon looks so pretty around the cookies :-)
Have fun with the kiddos! Nieces and nephews are definately the best! and make sure to pack warm clothes, its supposed to get cold this week!!!!
Your pictures are always so gorgeous. I also love how you dress up your goodies for photos!
Those look so yummy! And since I’m definitely a soft-cookie girl, they would be perfect for me! :D
Delicious recipes and beautiful photos! Love your blog :)
Mmm, those look good, but I have no idea how to get them crunchy :)
My favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. I’ve been using that recipe for a while now and nothing beats it! Have a wonderful trip!
There is NO better present to receive as a child than something with peanut butter in it! (that, or a Barbie mansion…) We have an aunt just like you, and we still beg her to make her famous TS (Teta Sylvia) soup:) (Teta is aunt in Lithuanian)
I know exactly how you feel! My niece and family are in Winnipeg so it’s not really close enough to just pop by and phone calls now that she is learning to talk almost always make me laugh/cry. Have fun in Alberta! Maybe you could make a pit stop in Edmonton to drop off some extra cookies : )
Do you use all natural peanut butter (as in ingredients = peanuts) or peanut butter with salt and sugar added? Also, do you think these could be frozen and thawed and still be ok?
Haha your nephews sound so cute! I’m sure these will definitely give you cool aunt status. ;)
Love peanut butter cookies so much. They are my favorite cookie!
There are people that actually like crunchy cookies? Not me! ;)
Aw, phone calls with my nieces and nephews are pretty much like that! Random questions, barely enough time to answer them, and then a “bye!” that comes out of nowhere.
Yum, I love peanut butter cookies! My mom makes the best peanut butter oatmeal cookies. :-P
Mmm, maple in them? Yes!
Enjoy! I don’t get to see my niece and nephew frequently either and it breaks my heart!
I use lots of natural nut butters, and tahinni. When I open a new jar, I transfer it all into a food processor and process until it is smooth and creamy. Then I spoon it back into the jar and keep it in the fridge. I used to try stirring it, but the oil always slopped over the side of the jar. And I always hated how the stuff at the bottom stayed dry. No more!
cool idea!
Forgot to mention that I would love a healthy recipe for peanut butter fudge and a peanut butter roll – my two favorite desserts ever!
P.S. I love your blog and really appreciate all the hard work you put into it!
Nice work Ange! Your cookies look awesome! You’re totally the cool Aunt! :)
fabulous recipe! have fun with your fam.