Vegan Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

When I was finishing up my first year of uni, I was sorting out what to do with my incredibly long stretch of academic-free freedom. Four months seemed like forever and I definitely needed the break after a gruelling first year at fancy business school.

I’d organized a volunteer trip with a few friends and knew I would be working that summer, too. But I had a bit of time in between being a good citizen and a trip with the family.

So what did I do with that time? Better question- what did that time do with me? Shipped me off to Germany to help my mom’s cousin with her kids! No, it wasn’t to get me out of this country and into the country side, away from mischief- I was literally the best kid ever. Not bragging- I was actually a little too good.

Nevertheless, away I went to live with my family for a month before the rest of my family met us.

Business school was not gruelling- dealing with two pre-teen boys is more worthy of that adjective. As soon as they remembered that I was their cousin and not a “real” au pair, manners were out the window. Nobody to impress here.

It was an interesting experience, trying to take care of an omnivorous family of four. My mum’s cousin was good to me, though, and said that I could cook vegan for them. So I had to learn pretty quick- I was used to just cooking for me, which really meant making a huge batch of chili and brown rice and having it last for a week.

I did okay. Or maybe not- halfway through they decided it was time to take a family vacay to Hungary. Border hopping- Europe is so fun.

One thing I did do well though, is I made these cookies. And often. Despite the kids’ enthusiasm in giving me a nervous break down, seeing them down vats of Nutella and all things deep friend on a regular basis didn’t sit all to well with me. And I wasn’t a parent with a full time job (nor an entrepreneur on a steep learning curve), so I had time to make some alternatives.

Try them out- it is a recipe from Dreena Burton, who certainly has earned the title of Vegan Cookie Queen.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies aka Chocolate Mint Melties

Ingredients

• 11 g shaved peppermint Nib’d Zimt
• 120 g all purpose flour (or 140 g spelt) 1 C or 1 1/8 C spelt
• 15 g cocoa powder (3 T)
• 57 g coconut sugar (¼ C)
• 1 t baking powder
• ½ t baking soda
• ¼ t sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 55 g coconut oil (¼ C)
• 90 g maple syrup (¼ C + 2 T)

Preheat oven to 355°F (179°C).
Break off 3 squares from chocolate bar and place in mini-food processor, processing until finely chopped (or chop by hand- I chopped by hand.).
Transfer to a bowl and combine with dry ingredients, stirring in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda, and until well combined.
In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, coconut nectar, vanilla and mint extracts, and oil and stir until well mixed. Add wet mixture to dry, and stir until just well combined (do not overmix). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon batter onto baking sheet, spacing evenly. Break up or roughly chop reserved chocolate and place on top of each cookie, pressing in a little. Bake for 11 minutes (no longer, or they’ll dry out). Remove from oven, and let cool for 1 minute (no longer) on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. Or, if you’re like me and don’t have a cooling rack, transfer the whole sheet to the colder kitchen counter and move the cookies around a little bit so they don’t get “sweaty”. Pro.

• Notes:
  • If you want to use unbleached all purpose flour instead of spelt, use just 1 cup. If batter seems too dry or thick whichever flour you are using, stir in another 1–2 tsp each of oil and maple syrup.
  • For the holidays, make these cookies festive by sprinkling 1–2 tbsp crushed or chopped candy canes on cookies before baking, and lightly press in. Or do this now- in March.

Eat them all yourself because… you earned it! (Just don’t eat all at once. That’s not what I meant.)

And- got some incredible news this week. We’re going back! Family vacation time in Germany is upon us in 2014. My mom told me the other day while I was driving back from the factory and I did start crying a little bit. Happy tears. I think I’ll whip up another batch of these in August to bring over!

xo emma