It's a date.

Oh finally. Finally, another post! I'm sorry my loyal friends but I finally got myself together to do a post and it's on a subject near and dear to me - cookies. I have, on many occasions, rambled on to friends that I have not been able to find a delicious cookie here in Australia (sorry Aussies!). Cookies, often called biscuits here, are simply not cookies. Biscuits are awfully hard and crunchy. While I too enjoy a good crunchy biscuit now and then, it's the lovely softness of a cookie which brings a smile to my face. To me, the quintessential cookie is one that is soft and chewy and perhaps a bit crumbly too.

These cookies are the real deal. A simple recipe made with dates and plenty of peanut butter (au naturel of course) - these wrinkly little balls of goodness are great to have with your next cup of tea. Not too sweet, but just a touch of sweetness added by the dates, and full of nutty flavour, these cookies are a winner. Not perfect looking but pretty darn good.

peanut butter and date cookies
makes about 12-16 cookies

2/3 cup peanut butter (use organic/natural, no additives)
2 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup brown sugar 
1 tbsp honey 
2 whole eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup organic plain flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
10-15 dates, pits removed and chopped roughly

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
2. In large bowl mix peanut butter, coconut oil, honey, eggs and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients - flour and baking powder and mix. At this point the batter might look a little strange and crumbly but just mix until combined.
4. Add in date pieces and mix a touch further.
5. Scoop out on lined baking sheet and bake 10-12 minutes or until just cooked through.
6. Take out to cool and enjoy.
**note these are not very sweet cookies so if you like them sweet, eat with some fruity jam!