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These healthy peanut butter blossoms are a healthier take on the original cookie with a Hershey kiss in the middle, but these are made gluten free, vegan and without any refined sugar! They are made with almond flour, natural peanut butter, and maple syrup.
An Easy Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipe
I love baking. But I really love baking cookies that use fresh, whole ingredients. Lots of my recipes are paleo because they use ingredients that are not very processed.
In December 2018, I participated in something called “Cookie Week.” Each day of the week, I posted a new cookie recipe that is perfect for the holidays.
We all like having options for dessert, right? So all you need to do is grab a grocery list, write down what you need to buy, head to the grocery store and get to baking!!
If you love peanut butter and chocolate as much as I do, you have to bake my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free) too.
Holiday Cookie Week Recipes
Here are the other cookie recipes I posted during cookie week in December 2018. I hope you click around and find some new recipes to try.
HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS
Yup, I did it. I took one of the most classic Christmas cookies and turned it into a healthier version, and not just any version…one with an actual healthier Hershey kiss in the middle.
I’ve seen several versions of these healthier peanut butter blossoms online, but never any that actually attempted to recreate the Hershey kiss, so I knew I wanted mine to try and do that because that’s what makes it an authentic peanut butter blossom, right?
How I Made My Own Chocolate Kisses
It took a few different tries and a few different mixture of chocolates to create the ultimate center that would stack up and harden like a regular kiss.
If you just use regular melted chocolate, it won’t firm up enough to actually hold shape. You need it to be thick and also the right temperature, but lucky for you guys I did all of that guesswork and found the perfect way to make a Hershey kiss!
This is what I used in my chocolate center:
- Peanut butter
- Coconut Oil
- Chocolate chips
- Cocoa Powder
It’s actually a lot simpler than you think and mine have a slightly peanut butter-y taste to them 🙂
Growing up, my mom would always go to a cookie exchange and I was always sooo excited for when she got home so I could rummage through all of the cookies and count how many peanut butter blossoms she would get. She would always let me eat one or two before she made me put away all of the cookies until Christmas! The torture.
My Favorite Christmas Cookies from Cookie Exchanges
She went to this cookie exchange for ten years in a row and many of the ladies would bring the same cookies over and over again, so I got to know what to expect.
One lady made these oatmeal raisin chocolate chip (only time oatmeal raisin cookies are acceptable is if they have chocolate chips too) with a white chocolate and milk chocolate drizzle on top. I was obsessed.
Other cookies included rugelach, peppermint cookies, biscotti, mexican wedding cookies, lemon ricotta cookies, chocolate covered ritz crackers with peanut butter, oreo truffles, and so many more. With over 20 ladies in attendance, there were always some really delicious cookies.
But I specifically remember the peanut butter blossoms and would even love when they placed a mini Reeses inside instead of a Hershey kiss…that was delicious.
So these healthy Peanut Butter Blossoms are a treat because they combine my favorite cookie with nutrient dense ingredients. I call that a win-win situation if you ask me.
If you’re paleo feel free to replace the peanut butter with almond butter in this recipe! Or any other type of nut butter actually.
Enjoy these healthy peanut butter blossoms!!
How to Make Vegan Peanut Butter Blossoms
It’s really easy to make these vegan cookies. All you need to do is use dairy-free chocolate chips. This recipe doesn’t use any butter or milk or eggs.
Nut-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms
I know, that doesn’t sound right. If you want to make peanut butter blossoms but you have a nut allergy, use sunbutter instead. It’s the same texture and still has the perfect flavor.
Keto Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
These aren’t keto yet. The chocolate chips and maple syrup automatically disqualify them for low-carb. But if you want to make keto peanut butter blossoms, you have to make a few swaps.
Use monk fruit sweetener or erythritol instead of maple syrup. Melt sugar-free chocolate chips. Those two swaps will cut out a lot of carbs.
Healthy Peanut Butter Blossoms
These healthy peanut butter blossoms are a healthier take on the original cookie with a Hershey kiss in the middle, but these are made gluten free, vegan and without any refined sugar! They are made with almond flour, natural peanut butter, and maple syrup.
Ingredients
Cookie
- 1/3 cup natural peanut butter, a drippy brand like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 14 Hershey Kisses
OR – instead of Hershey Kiss
Chocolate Kiss
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (dairy-free if necessary)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla until well combined.
- In a large bowl, mix almond flour, baking soda and salt.
- Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until fully mixed.
- Scoop out dough and roll into balls.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Use your finger or the back of a wooden spoon to press down centers after coming out of oven. Or just add a hershey kiss.
- Let cool on wire rack.
- In a microwave safe dish, add peanut butter, coconut oil and chocolate chips. Microwave in increments of 30 seconds until completely melted, stirring after each time.
- Once completely melted, stir in cocoa powder.
- Pour into ziplock bag (sandwich size or larger) and store in fridge for 20 minutes. You don’t want it to turn solid, but instead cool down and get thick enough to pipe onto cookies. You may need to chill it longer.
- Once cookies have COMPLETELY cooled, cut little piece off the corner of the ziplock baggie and pipe chocolate mixture into center in the shape of Hershey Kiss.
- Let set completely before storing.
- Store on counter in airtight container.
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Kerrie says
Could I use unbleached flour instead of almond flour?!
Erin says
Hi Kerrie, no, regular flour is not a substitute for almond flour. So sorry!!
Mara says
Would it work with regular peanut butter?
Erin says
Hi Mara, yep that’ll work well!
Jenny B. says
Another cookie recipe we loved during the holidays! My boyfriend always hates when I try to make dessert recipes healthier, but every time I try one of Erin’s he always loves them! These ones did not last long!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jenny, I am so happy you both love them! Thanks for sharing!
carrissa says
My dad’s fave cookie out of my holiday baking! These were so easy to make and super yummy. It looks daunting to make your own chocolate kiss, but pretty easy!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Carrissa, I am so glad you loved them! 🙂
Alli says
These were DELICIOUS. Even better than traditional recipes, and better for you! Homemade chocolate on top was key. The BF and I ate them all in 2 days. Can’t wait to try more ELW recipes!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alli, I am so happy you liked them!!
Allison Brucato says
These were DELICIOUS. Even better than traditional recipes, and better for you! Homemade chocolate on top was key. The BF and I ate them all in 2 days. Can’t wait to try more ELW recipes!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Allison, so happy you both loved them!
Courtney says
Easily the best peanut butter blossom I’ve ever had. I used regular Hershey’s kisses and also did a few with some Rolos (which were a HUGE hit). Will be making these again VERY soon.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Courtney, so happy you enjoyed them!!
Kris says
These were absolutely delicious, I used a hershey kiss instead ! My family loved them and we made them twice within 5 days!!
Erin says
Hi Kris, thanks for sharing!!
Ella says
I made these for my family over the holidays and they were a huge hit!! Even with my brothers and my boyfriend’s family who don’t normally like heathy dessert recipes. They were gone so fast! Also making your own Hershey’s kisses is way easier than it sounds (:
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ella, love hearing that!! Thanks for sharing!
Burcu says
I’ve made these today to satisfy my afternoon sweets cravings at work. My partner who has had “not so healthy” version of these before said these were so much better, not overly sweet. Our 3 year old had two throughout the day. Approved recipe! It shall be repeated. Thank you, Erin.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Burcu, thanks for sharing! SO happy everyone loves them!!
Alex says
These were amazing! Made them for the holidays for my family and they were such a hit (especially with my sister who is normally a picker eater and doesn’t always like when I “healthify” classic desserts). Thank you Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alex, I am so glad you and your family enjoyed them!! Thanks for sharing!!
Sarah Rowinski says
I can’t say enough good things! They were soft, fluffy, perfectly sweet and soooo delicious. I added cinnamon to the dry ingredients which was great. I also used a peppermint kiss in place of the homemade chocolate kiss. Highly recommend!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing! Glad you love them and sounds great with the peppermint kiss!
Erin L says
These are sooo good!! Half of my family is GF/DF, half of us are not. I made these and we couldn’t tell the difference!! I sprinkled a pinch of cinnamon sugar on top – would recommend (though the cookies are good enough without it).
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erin, I am so happy you and your family enjoyed them! 🙂
Kellen says
Tastes just like classic! We aren’t gluten free in my house but the almond flour makes these so fluffy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kellen, I am so happy you enjoyed them!
Alexis says
Made these last night and they were so good! Couldn’t even tell they were a healthier version. Will definitely be making these again!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alexis, I am so happy you loved them!
Bakingsam says
This recipe turned out amazing! Just like how I remember them tasting, regardless of the healthier swaps!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sam, I am so glad you enjoyed it!!
Julia says
My family loved these! Very easy to make and delicious
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Julia, I am so glad they enjoyed them!
Ellen Lederman says
These are wonderful! Taste and texture fantastic. Easy to make too. I just spooned the chocolate/PB into the center rather than piping it with a bag, but they still looked good–and tasted even better! Love them. Thanks so much.
Emily says
Just made a double batch of these, ended up being more like a triple batch (33 cookies) or the cookies would have been very sizable, but no complaints there 🙂
They are fantastic… Totally had been craving peanut butter blossom’s for weeks due to the holiday time, but didn’t want to make them due to how unhealthy they can be! Any who, came across this recipe. The boyfriend says he likes them more than the regular ones. I’m so impressed that they are gluten free and diary free…. Will make again, and again, and again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Way to make my day, Emily!! So glad you are enjoying them 🙂 That makes me so happy!!
Mim says
Mmmmm these are the best. They didn’t even last the day in my house. Will have to triple the ingredients next time.
Thank you 🙂
Erin says
I love to hear that!!!!! 🙂