Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
OHMY I can’t believe these are the first sandwich cookies I’ve ever posted on the blog.
Okay. I mean. I could believe it. Because sandwich cookies aren’t really my thing. I prefer my cookies plain. Filling-less. Unless it’s an ice cream cookie sandwich we’re talking about. In which case throw everything I just said out the window.
Anyway. Because I don’t tend to eat that many sandwich cookies, posting a sandwich cookie recipe had kinda slipped beneath my radar. And I apologize. It’s rude. To all you sandwich cookie lovers out there.
Especially you chocolate + peanut butter combo fiends. I see you. I hear you. I may even know you. And these gluten-free chocolate peanut butter sandwich cookies are for you.
When I was brainstorming sandwich cookie combos and flavors, I realized that basically all fillings are naturally gluten-free. So I figured, why not go ahead and make the whole recipe gluten-free, if we’ve already got the filling part covered, aye.
And these gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies were born.
These chocolate cookies are rich and deep and chewy and tender and dense yet still kinda light and airy. They’re one-bowl. They’re dairy-free. They’re gluten-free. They’re easy. They’re quick. And they’re delicious. And did I mention chewy. SO CHEWY.
And the filling. It’s chock-full of peanut butter. Mostly just peanut butter, really. Peanut butter is the star. But it’s got some friends, only there to help the peanut butter shine.
Friends such as confectioners sugar, to sweeten and fluff and air the filling up some. And vanilla extract, because yum. And heavy cream (or non-dairy milk, if you’re going the dairy-free route), for richness and texture enhancing. And salt, to bring out all the flavors.
Again: Quick. Easy. Basic. Sweet. And so rich. So creamy. So velvety. And so PEANUTBUTTERYYYYYYYYY.
Whip that filling up in a machine to get the fluffiest texture. But if you’re reallllly lazy to get your machine out, whisk the filling by hand. Don’t tell anybody I said that though.
Something I’ve learned thus far in life is that chocolate and peanut butter is THE flavor combination for those that love all things rich and indulgent.
I’ve also learned that there are exceptions to this rule. Case in point: yours truly. While I love chocolate, I won’t lie, peanut butter isn’t my favorite dessert flavor.
BUT. I do love these chocolate peanut butter sandwich cookies. Which should say something. Positive. About these cookies.
Soft and tender. Chewy and dense. Airy and rich. Chocolaty and peanut buttery. Quick and easy. Dairy-free and gluten-free.
Gluten-free chocolate peanut butter sandwich cookies: for the cookie lovers, the chocolate lovers, the peanut butter lovers, the sandwich lovers, the life lovers.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
Yield: 20 cookies/10 sandwiches
1 1/2 cups almond flour
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Peanut Butter Filling:
2/3 cup peanut butter (not natural peanut butter)
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1-2 tablespoons heavy cream (or non-dairy milk substitute)
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the almond flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add in the egg, coconut oil, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
4. Round medium pieces of dough between palms and space out onto baking sheet. Flatten cookies with palm.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until tops are cracked and you can just lift the edge of a cookie off the sheet with your finger. Let cookies firm and cool before moving and filling.
6. Peanut Butter Filling: whip the filling until smooth and fluffy. Spread a spoonful of filling into center of flat side of a cookie and sandwich it with another cookie. Repeat with rest of cookies.
*Note: use refined coconut oil if you don’t want any coconut flavor in your cookies.
