With Valentines Day right around the corner, it’s hard not to be bombard with “love”. By “love” I mean, the artificial, buy a large stuffed animal, eat expensive food and be stressed to plan the perfect night kind of “love” that truly couldn’t be further from how love is meant to be expressed. Not trying to sound like such a cynic, but we are surrounded by such false ideas of love that I cannot help but long for true love, which I’ve found only to be built on a foundation with the true God. So although I don’t see anything wrong with celebrating the ones you love, don’t get caught up in the artificial nature of it all with its fleeting nature and empty rewards. We get so caught up with our busy lives, it is nice to take some time and enjoy the people who bring us the most happiness.

I know I post many peanut butter desserts…but I enjoy them so. And peanut butter is just the greatest consistency when it comes to gluten free cooking. This is a marriage of two recipes, one of my own peanut butter cookies and one inspired from a vegan recipe. I’ve modified my original recipe slightly but the ingredients are the same. I don’t usually cook with this much sugar in a recipe…but I wanted the consistency to be good for molding the hearts. I had so much fun making these cookies and they are just so cute when they are done! You will likely have all these ingredients in your pantry or fridge so really…go get baking:)

Ingredients:
1 cup of creamy peanut butter ( I used almond butter and peanut butter 1/2 cup of each)
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup baking chocolate (I used Enjoy Life chips)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix peanut butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, and baking soda until completely combined.
• Roll two tablespoon-sized balls and combine them together to make a heart (this was a trial and error for me-in the end, you  just need to make small heart shaped cookies so whatever method you find best–do:)
• With a fork, press down on both sides of the heart.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Once the cookies are cool, make the chocolate. With a double broiler, melt the baking chocolate until smooth.
• Dip the cookies in the chocolate covering half of the heart.
• Cool and enjoy!

Makes about 10-12 cookies