Double Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

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These cookies are for all my peanut butter loving friends!

These cookies are called double peanut butter cup cookies because there is peanut butter in the dough and we also use peanut butter cups. You can never have too much peanut butter right? These cookies are vegan and gluten-free.

It’s funny because my husband told me the other day he doesn’t like candy in cookies. Umm haha, I’ve proved him wrong and it won’t be the last time! (evil laugh)

How do you make a flax egg?

So you are probably familiar with my cookie drill by now. I always start with making flax eggs. Why do I use flax eggs? Because I don’t regularly eat eggs and because ground flax is a wonderful source of healthy fats and fiber. The ground flax mixed with water become a binding agent that works like egg in a recipe.

I buy my flax seeds whole and grind them in small batches in a coffee grinder. Any extras get stored in a small container in the freezer. I also store my flax seeds either in the fridge or freezer to help preserve them. So after you combine your ground flax and warm water you will let it set for 3-5 minutes. The longer you let it set, the more gelled up it will get. It honestly does not matter if you wait 3 or 5 minutes, it’s totally up to you. I’m a little impatient, so I generally go with 3 minutes.

How to make Double Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

After you flax egg is prepared, you add in your peanut butter. I buy natural or organic peanut butter that is just peanuts and sea salt. You will see some separation at the top of the jar which is natural. Make sure you stir it before you measure out 1/2 cup.

Next, add in the rest of the wet ingredients: maple syrup, coconut sugar, avocado oil and vanilla, and give it a good stir.

This recipe calls for rolled oats. Rolled oats are also called old fashioned oats and whole rolled oats. They are whole oats which have been rolled out and pressed. I did not test this recipe with quick oats and do not recommend you using them. However, if that is all you have on hand you could use them. I would try using just a tiny bit less than a 1/2 cup, or in other words, a scant 1/2 cup.

For gluten free flour, I use Bob’ Red Mill Gluten free 1 to 1 Baking Flour.  You can use it to replace wheat flour in any recipe that calls for regular flour. I have found this particular blend to have a great flavor, and when used in the right proportions, you can’t even tell you aren’t using regular wheat flour.  

After you add the rolled oats and gluten free flour, you will add baking soda and sea salt, then give it a stir.

Choosing peanut butter cups and chocolate chips

I suggest using Justin’s mini dark chocolate peanut butter cups. At my local grocery store, they have them in the natural aisle near the chocolate. These peanut butter cups are organic and are a better choice compared to a brand like Reese’s which includes the preservative TBHQ in them.

TBHQ is a controversial food additive that helps preserve foods. It has been proven to be safe in small doses but toxic in large doses, so it is something that I choose to avoid. I unwrap the chocolates line them up in a couple rows and chop them into quarters. In this way, you still get some good chocolate and peanut butter chunks in your cookies. If you chop them too small, you won’t get the same effect.

I love using Enjoy Life’s chocolate chips! They are so good and are super clean. I use both the dark chocolate chips and the semi-sweet. They are both good in this recipe, so it is up to you.

Last but not least, you fold in the peanut butter cups and chocolate chips! Now you are ready to get to the fun part! Using a spoon, take a spoonful and make a ball roughly the size of a golf ball or a bit smaller. Your dough will be a bit stickier and softer than traditional cookie dough. Place each one on your baking sheet.

This is the most important step for double peanut butter cup cookie success!

You must press each one to the desired shape before baking them. This is a very important step as they will not spread on their own. See the below photo to get an idea of how thick they should be.

Also try these Vegan Chocolate Chunk and Tahini Oatmeal Cookies! They are equally delicious and of course are a healthier treat!