Giant Peanut Butter Cookie

Why does it seem that Giant Cookies only come around for birthdays? For me, theres nothing quite like a giant cookie with a moist crumbly center, one that you  can cut into pie slices and still feel good telling yourself you didn’t eat a full cookie. Well, thats my logic at least, and the reason I decided to make two giant free form peanut butter cookies. Not cake sized or anything but two cookies about the size of my hand (although if you were looking to make a giant peanut butter cookie cake this recipe doubled would probably make a yummy cookie cake).

As many people know peanut butter is my favorite food and there are not many times I have excess peanut butter just lying around. But since I did, I figured I would use up some overly salted natural peanut butter that I’ve been avoiding, and satisfy my long over due peanut butter craving as a result of four months in Spain where sugary “captain mani” seems to be a monopoly.

This peanut butter recipe is so moist and flavor full and the perfect peanut butter cookie base for any of your baking needs.

Recipe from here

makes one large cookie (I doubled it to make 2)

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tablespoons beaten egg (crack an egg, beat it, and use 2 Tbsp. 1 whole egg if double recipe)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons peanut butter (i used natural peanut butter)
• 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats (or quick oats)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Toppings of choice (optional): chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, m and ms, Reese’s pieces.. Etc.

(I used peanut butter M and Ms in one and left one plain.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray or line with a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the butter and sugars until creamed. Add egg and vanilla mixing until well combined. Stir in peanut butter then add flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Fold in toppings, if using, until combined. With a large spoon, scoop into a ball onto prepared baking sheet. The dough will be sticky. Make sure the cookie dough ball is tall and round.*(I did not press the cookie dough down and it did not seem to flatten so about 5 minutes in I pressed the cookie multiple times to flatten it with a fork like your would with a normal peanut butter cookie).

Bake for about 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. The center may appear undone, but it will set as the cookie cools. Let cool ON the baking sheet for 10-20 minutes.

Black Bean Brownies

Don’t be afraid! I know me and my mom were when my sister told us she wanted to make black bean brownies. To a sugar addict like me, the thought of black beans in what should be rich, fudge-y and oozing with chocolate is quite frightening. Brownies aren’t supposed to be healthy, they need to be loaded with butter and sugar and chocolate morsels that melt in your mouth.

My sister decided she was going to prove us wrong, and that she did. She whipped up a quick batch of these babies and you would have no idea that they don’t have any butter but black beans instead. They were smooth and chocolatey and really moist. My mom, a brownie connoisseur, was looking for  a fudgier brownie but was still quite pleased with the results. Me on the other hand, I couldn’t stop myself from eating them. I ate them right when they came out of the oven and they were so warm and gooey, then I ate them when they cooled with a smear of peanut butter and actually preferred how they set up better when they cooled.

All Im trying to say here is that they are one of those recipes that no one would ever know they were full of black beans and definitely worth a try. I know I felt slightly less guilty licking the pan.

RECIPE

look at those gooey brownies! nom nom

and the chef herself. not only is she stealing the baking but she stole my camera and took some selfies

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Pillow Cookies

These cookies are so gooey and yummy! Chocolate and peanut butter has to be one of my favorite combinations and these cookies are perfect. The cookie is soft on the outside and the surprise peanut butter center melts in your mouth. My only regret was not putting more peanut butter dough in the center because I though I was going to run out.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows

 this recipe

makes 2 dozen cookies

Chocolate dough:

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

3 tablespoons non-dairy milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder

2 tablespoons black unsweetened cocoa or more dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling:

3/4 cup natural salted peanut butter, crunchy or creamy style

2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar

2 to 3 tablespoons soy creamer or non-dairy milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar, maple syrup, non-dairy milk and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, black cocoa if using, baking soda and salt. Mix to form a moist dough.

Make the filling. In another mixing bowl beat together peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, 2 tablespoons of soy creamer and vanilla extract to form a moist but firm dough. If peanut butter dough is too dry (as different natural peanut butters have different moisture content), stir in remaining tablespoon of non-dairy milk. If dough is too wet knead in a little extra powdered sugar.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bakings sheet with parchment paper.

Shape the cookies. Create the centers of the cookies by rolling the peanut butter dough into 24 balls. Scoop a generous tablespoon of chocolate dough, flatten into a disc and place a peanut butter ball in the center. Fold the sides of the chocolate dough up and around the peanut butter center and roll the chocolate ball into an smooth ball between your palms. Place on a sheet of waxed paper and repeat with remaining doughs. If desired gently flatten cookies a little, but this is not necessary.

Place dough balls on lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and let cookies for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to complete cooling. Store cookies in tightly covered container. If desired warm cookies in a microwave for 10 to 12 seconds before serving.