Gluten Free Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies
Ingredients
6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter, chopped
1/4 cup (64 g) smooth no-stir peanut butter (the kind that doesn’t separate in the jar)
1/3 cup (96 g) apricot jelly or jam (or any other flavor you like)
1 cup (140 g) all purpose gluten free flour (I used Better Batter)
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (55 g) packed light brown sugar
1 egg (60 g, out of shell) + 1 egg yolk at room temperature, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
In a medium-size, heavy-bottom saucepan, place the butter, peanut butter and 3 tablespoons of the jelly. Heat over a medium flame, stirring frequently, until everything is melted and smooth. Set aside to cool briefly.
In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, salt and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine well. Add the brown sugar, and whisk again to combine, working out any lumps. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the peanut butter mixture, and mix to combine. Add the egg and egg yolk, and the vanilla, and mix again to combine. The dough will be smooth and thick, but very soft.
Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, and chill in the refrigerator until firm (about 10 minutes). With moist hands, roll each piece into a ball and place 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each into a disk and, with wet fingers, create a small well in the center to hold the jelly. Place the remaining 2+ tablespoons of jelly in a small, heat-safe bowl and microwave for 10 seconds or until it begins to thin and become pourable. Place a dollop of jelly in the well you created in each piece of dough. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake until golden brown all over (about 9 minutes). Allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes or until firm before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.