So far so good, right?
Except…this:
“The costume parade is a chance for the director and the costume committee to see what the costumes look like and make any needed additions or changes.”
Hmmm….
He wouldn’t have… He couldn’t have…
Two gentle email inquiries later, and then (every mom’s fear), this confirming reply:
“Your son should have brought home a complete costume outline for you over a month ago.”
Is that right.
*&^/##/^%$#**!?!?
Of all the charms and gifts our youngest may be endowed with, passing along school communications is not his strong suit.
But perhaps most stunning is the way he handled it all with a calm and grace that was positively disarming. Because, let me tell you, the fur was flying. In his characteristic way, he reassured me (by text) that I didn’t have to worry about a thing. No. All was under control and that he had been ‘quietly’ gathering his costume and had ‘planned’ on talking to me about the ‘finishing touches’ tonight or tomorrow night. Then, the coup de grâce, he arrives home with a giant almond-studded dark chocolate bar for his mom. (The little bugger played me like a fiddle).
But wait, it gets better.
Fast forward to the weekend and I’m quietly fretting because my husband and I are heading to San Jose to catch a hockey game, our eldest is out of town for the weekend and that means our youngest has to travel home from his evening rehearsal by himself.
Well, I must have gone over the safety protocols once too often because he eventually sat me down and asked if we could do a mindful meditation together (I kid not. He’s taking a mindfulness class in grade 8 – how great is that?).
I studied Buddhism for four years (spot the difference) but nothing could have prepared me for the tenderness of this moment.
He asked me to close my eyes and locate my breath. This, he explained, was my ‘anchor’ “now take a few deep breaths from your anchor and feel yourself starting to relax. If you find that your thoughts start to wander, that’s ok, you can notice that but then just bring your thoughts back to your anchor and continue.
And if you start worrying at the game tonight mom, just find your anchor and start breathing again.”
♡
~~~~~
I still can’t get over how these simple and unconventional ingredients come together to create a legitimate cookie! Soft and springy on the outside, moist, dense and fudgy on the inside. Magic.
I’ve come across many flourless cookie recipes that are held together by 2 and 3 cups of sugar, which seems a little counter-productive, so it’s especially nice to know that these are made up of healthful ingredients with only 3 Tbsp of added sugar in the entire batch! Two of these cookies (a snack sized serving) supplies more protein than an egg. And guess what? You won’t be disappointed with the taste either. They are *so* yummy.
Please read the Nutrition and Cooking Notes for options and best results.
Flourless Double Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies
Flourless Double Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
- 1 cup (250 mL) well mixed all natural smooth almond butter (just nuts, sugar free, sodium free)
- Heaping 1/3 cup (80 mL) quality unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 large ripe banana
- 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup or honey
- 1/3 cup (80 mL) quality dark chocolate chips* + a few more for topping
Nutrition and Cooking Notes:
- You can use any nut or seed butter of choice in this recipe but be sure to mix the nut/seed butter thoroughly before measuring it out so that the oil is well integrated and the mixture is creamy (otherwise, you may end up with too much oil and a flat cookie).
- There are endless ways to enhance (or change) the flavour of these cookies: a drop of peppermint extract, almond extract, a pinch of espresso, a dash of chile pepper, some citrus zest, etc. – have fun with it!
- I’ve tried playing around with quantities and substitutions in this recipe (reducing the nut butter; adding some coconut oil; substituting apple sauce for the banana) but nothing seems to work quite as well as the original recipe. There is a certain magic to the chemistry of these ingredients but as always, feel free to experiment, and do let me know if you have some success!
- This cookie batter is best baked all at once. Even if you don’t plan on eating 20 cookies, I recommend baking the entire batter and freezing or reserving the baked cookies for later use rather than saving half the batter as it does not age well (the banana tends to oxidize as all natural/real foods do).
- When the cookies first come out of the oven, they will appear lighter, almost golden brown on the outside (while the interior will be dark and fudgy… swoon). The exterior will progressively darken over time but the will be equally delicious. If you store uneaten cookies in the fridge, you will observe this transition.
- We like to warm our reserved cookies from the fridge before enjoying – this softens the cookie and melts the chocolate all over again.
- *Vegan, soy free and sugar free dark chocolate chips are available at health food stores. You can also make your own chocolate chips.
Directions:
- Using a simple hand mixer, food processor or blender, mix together almond butter, banana and vanilla until well combined and smooth.
- Add cocoa powder, egg and maple syrup or honey and mix to combine.
- Mix in dark chocolate chips by hand with the help of a spatula or wooden spoon.
- The mixture should be creamy and somewhat firm/fudgy. If the mixture is too soft, simply place it in the fridge for about 20 minutes or so to allow it to firm up a bit.
- Meanwhile, place parchment paper over a baking sheet and gently brush or spray the paper with olive oil.
- Drop almond butter cookies onto sheet by rounded tablespoons allowing room between the cookies (they will expand and puff up somewhat). Add another chip or two to the top of each cookie.
- Place cookies in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes (depending on how hot your oven is) or until cookies are firm to the touch.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on a rack for a few minutes before enjoying!
- Store leftover cookies in a covered container in the fridge.
Haha, glad you enjoyed KoKo! :). He sure seemed to handle both situations (or should I say handle his mom ;-)) quite comfortably. He cracks us up. The cookies are super yummy — I hope you get to try them sometime, especially when warm, they are a delight!
Thanks Eva, I’m always surprised that these cookies work out too. I’ve tried making ingredient substitutions — additions and deletions here and there but I always come back to the colonel’s original recipe ;-) because there’s just a certain magic to the combination of ingredients. I don’t want to mess. I hope you and your family enjoy them if you give them a try.
The Nutrition Facts are for one cookie however that means two and a half cookies would be a reasonable snack sized portion! (somewhere in the range of 250 calories) — I might even push it to three cookies because in this case, we are not talking about empty calories (as is usually the case with conventional cookies) ;-). Have a great weekend Eva!
I loved reading this note Sally! Too much fun. The coloured polish was a Christmas gift from my boys — I thought it would combine well with the chocolate – LOL. Otherwise, I’m generally a nude kind of gal ;-). xx
I laughed so hard at this post! Your son sounds hilarious, and I was very impressed at his ‘mindfulness’. I hope the costume debacle turns out well!
These cookies look AMAZING!!! I am so hungry right now, and I want to make these and devour every last one. Perhaps I should go make some lunch….
But seriously, the fudgy-ness of these is just incredible…they look like brownies and cookies all in one, and I don’t think you can get any better than that!
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How wonderful to have your teenaged son respond to a stressful situation in such a mature manner, but I’m not surprised Kelly, the apple does not fall far from the tree (not withstanding the few special characters in the story above)!
Your treats always surprise me and this one is no different; I love that they look like the real mccoy and not some fake replica that’s gluten and dairy free! I know I am definitely making these for our next family get together (brother has gone gluten free to manage an illness), I know he will be over the top loving them. He’ll just have to figure out a way to ward of the kiddies!
Is the serving size for one or two cookies (or three, let it be three!)
:-) Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com
I have been SCREAMING AND KICKING AND GOING *&^/##/^%$#**!?!? , because while in France the site would NOT allow me to comment… can you imagine that? Anyway, here I am, to say I loved everything about this post, including the “fur was flying” and of course, the fingernails – you are setting up the bar high, my friend, I might have to attack with some golden finger nails next ;-)
your son playin you as a fiddle, oh, gosh, this post was too good….
breathe in, breathe out…. repeat
Thank you for your kind words Monet… I’m thinking of you as well and hoping that the rest of your March unfolds well. Take good care xx
Haha, yup, he and his dad are the more natural zen forces in our home for sure…. some of just have to work a little harder :). I love the taste of maple syrup too and tend to favour it over honey for that very reason. Have a great day cookie monster!
Loved reading this, sweet friend. You are such a wise mama…and you have such a beautiful family too. I loved hearing about your son. He seems just as sweet and thoughtful as you. And these cookies? Delicious, sweet friend!
Thank you Sandra ♡ Yes, you’re spot on lovely! They are the twin of the peanut butter banana choc chip cookies :) very good! So glad you’re enjoying the ice cream too… love knowing that readers are making the recipes.
My thoughts have been with you all week… xx
Sounds like you got one there that is wise beyond his years – much like this Mom is ;) How come I don’t remember taking a mindfullness class…that’s really cool!!! These cookies seem similar your chocolate chip ones that I’ve made before. I’ll definitely be giving these a try too. Another delicious dessert that I don’t have to feel guilty about…lord knows I need some of those right now ;) Your Almond butter ice cream is also in my fridge as we speak!
HI Emily! Every stage offers a new challenge and delight — sometimes those moments can really fracture you but there’s always something to be learned – that is for sure ;-). Thank you for stopping by. Have a sunny day!
I know, I know… who would have thought? I must write a letter the teacher (who I believe introduced the mindfulness initiative at the school and advocated for its importance) and congratulate her. Talk about worthwhile! She is changing lives one student (and mom) at a time ♡
Thanks so much for stopping by Melissa, these cookies never cease to thrill me… the fact that the rise alone has me awestruck but they taste so delicious too! Light and fluffy on the outside and yes, moist and dreamy on the inside (best eaten warm :)
Thank you beauty — I hope your day is full of light! ✿
♡ That’s exactly what I was thinking too Kristy… It was all I could do to not self-combust as he was leading the meditation (mommy heart explosion) because it was so wise and mature for his mere 13 years…motherhood is full of surprises isn’t? Every day a new joy, a new lesson. Thank you for sharing it with me, xx.
Thank you Angie — and for the pin love too ♡
thank you kindly for your thoughtful words Elizabeth… you’re so right, every day is a new learning experience as a parent and some days it’s like looking right into a mirror :). Whether we want to or not (haha!). I hope you like these cookies as much as the peanut butter ones. Let me know if you give them a try! xx
Heeheeh, yes, fudgy especially when warm ;-). They do go down easy that is for sure but are full of good things. My kind of calories :). I’m not sure I was raised with a sense of calm, lol, so it is something I work on every day — thank you Sissi, xx.
Oh my, what a funny story… the tales of motherhood ;) It’s a good thing you made some chocolate for yourself. I probably would’ve eaten all of those cookies! I love the healthy ingredients and the fact that they’re soft. And that shot of the inside- GORGEOUS! I will definitely be making them soon xx
mindfulness class in school? I’m impressed. and your boy is a gem.
I’ve made flourless peanut butter cookie (without banana), and yours look so fudgy I must make them this weekend
These look incredibly good! I don’t think I’ve seen a cookie picture that looks so moist and chewy and fudgy ahhh I need to try these :)
YUMMMmmy & Choco- lately
I love how you have woven your Mindfulness/Buddhist story in w/ this recipe! xx
He is a genius! I LOVE it. I can totally see one of mine doing this someday. He led your meditation beautifully. That’s almost word-for-word what I hear at yoga. We’ve learned all about anchors. :) What a beautiful story. Each age and stage…so precious. You’ll remember that moment always.
Love how these flourless cookies have turned out..so fudgy and wonderful. Must bake this soon! Thanks for sharing, kelly.
Oh Kelly, this is too precious. We have so much to learn from our children don’t we? It sounds to me like your son is a little gem just like his mom. Despite your self-deprecating sense of humor (spot the difference – that made me laugh out loud!) it is evident from every one of your posts who you are (heart).
That is just too funny (in retrospect) about the costume!! I would have been pulling my hair out too but kudos to you and your little Buddha for handling it so smoothly (gotta love the chocolate bar for insurance – lol). I think it’s brilliant your son’s school offers a course in mindfulness – it should be mandatory enrollment for all of us ;-). Your chocolate delights look positively amazing – every photo has me drooling… Our family loved your flourless peanut butter cookies (we are still making them) so I know these will be a big hit too. Great post :). You always make me smile.
Have you said “fudgy”??? Looking at the last photograph I can very well imagine how sticky and moist they can be… They look gorgeous though it would be too dangerous to make them in my house… I would definitely eat too many (and burn my mouth!).
You seem a very patient and calm mother … (Is it thanks to your Buddhism experience?).