While I don’t practice any dietary restrictions, I enjoy experimenting with different styles of cooking and baking…
…especially when that experimenting involves cookies. Hey, someone’s got to do it.
Last night I broke into this Simple Treats cookbook, full of wheat-free and dairy-free vegan desserts. I decided on the Almond Shortbread Cookies.
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I’ll be honest – I was a bit skeptical. I’m more of a butter-and-brown-sugar-laden type of gal when it comes to cookies. But these were quite…bomb!
Almond Shortbread Cookies – from Ellen Abraham’s Simple Treats
ingredients:
- 1 cup roasted almonds
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup canola, safflower, or sunflower oil (I used canola)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup barley flour (I used spelt flour)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Process the roasted almonds and oats in a food processor until they are the consistency of course flour. Transfer to large bowl and set aside.
- In another small bowl, mix the oil, syrup, and vanilla.
- Sift remaining dry ingredients into the oats mixture. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and mix well.
- Scoop out 1 heaping tablespoon of the batter onto well-oiled or parchment-lined cookie sheets. Flatten the cookies slightly.
- Bake for 11 minutes and rotate the cookie sheets a half turn to ensure even baking. Bake 4 to 5 minutes more or until the cookies are golden around the edges.
- Transfer to cooling rack to cool for 5 minutes.
You know, sometimes I feel sort of, eh, blasphemous when I cook and eat vegan food. I mean, I’m not a vegan after all. But then I realize how silly I am for even thinking that. I mean, it’s that labeling I personally try to avoid at all costs. And, well, vegan food can be incredibly delicious, so why not??
To me, it’s not about food being vegan or non-vegan, it’s about food being food. I love it all – vegan, gluten free, deep fried, and covered in cheese. That definitely puts me in an odd “category,” but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
With that being said, any time I can prepare or eat food that is closest to its natural state – vegan or not - I’m all for it. So a cookie that includes just a handful of ingredients such as almonds and whole grains? While still remaining delicious? Well, that’s a no-brainer.
*Please note that I was given permission to post the full recipe from the Simple Treats cookbook.
- Have you ever experimented with vegan baking?
- Are you, like me, a non-vegan who loves vegan food?
I embrace it all — vegan can be sooo gooodd!!
Love this post and this recipe! Its awesome that you don’t have any food rules or self-imposed restrictions. I think its so important to just enjoy food, and you def cannot do that if your constantly giving yourself rules to follow (unless you have allergies!).
I have experimented with it a bid. I have made a few batches of Super Charge Me Cookies, as well as vegan muffins, etc. To me, food is food. I love all kinds, I don’t discriminate, especially when it comes to baked goods
Super Charge Me cookies are *insanely* good!! Definitely one of my top 5 favorite cookies
I actually love vegan baking! I love all baking. I think it is really fun to bake vegan treats or make raw treats because it is so out of my comfort zone.
” I think it is really fun to bake vegan treats or make raw treats because it is so out of my comfort zone.” <—- Yes!! Hit the nail on the head
Wow those look awesome. You can see the crunchy bits of almonds throughout - yum!
Yum! Do they have a nice almondy flavor? They would be great at Xmas time
I eat meat, but I love cooking vegetarian (I was one for 14 yrs so it comes naturally!)
Yes - a delicious almondy/mapley flavor!
Those look great. I don’t eat vegan, but I’m all for a good cookie!
I LOVE vegan food! And I also love meat! Food is food is food is food.
oh man, those cookies look and sound divine! I bet they have an awesome texture.
I love experimenting with vegan baking even though I’m not even close to a vegan. I just think it’s a fun challenge! And sometimes, the results are even better than traditional baked goods. The BEST cupcake I’ve EVER had was a vegan one!
Wow, almond and shortbread together at last! YUM! Those look amazing!!! Could you send one virtually to me?!!!
Just looking at those makes me hungry!
I love vegan baking. I just made a batch of vegan chocolate chip cookies and they taste better than the non-vegan version, and they’re healthier! I might have to try these Almond Shortbread cookies. They look so yummy.
I’m with you - not a vegan but thoroughly enjoy eating vegan food…especially baked goods!
I dont wana sound like a party pooper but I am pretty sure you arent supposed to post other peoples recipes on your page. I remember Jenna at EAT, Live, RUN, getting in trouble or almost getting in trouble for it a few years back. Just a warning!
Not a party pooper at all - thank you!! I was unsure about this. I emailed the book publisher to double check but he hasn’t responded
I’ve taken it down for now. Thanks again for the heads up 
I am 99% sure you can post a recipe online as long as us you change the written portion (instructions, step-by-step, introductions etc…)
i feel like i read that on kath’s page one time… or maybe it was Prevention RD (do you know that one?) anyway, just can’t be word-for-word out of the book, but a recipe is okay as long as you cite your source!
hmm, that works too!
For now I’m just going to wait to hear back from the publisher. Thanks for the info, ladies! xoxo
really want to try all this stuff. looks really good. yay cookies!
I’ve never experimented with vegan baking. Mostly because I never have the chia or flax for the egg substitution in most recipes. I’m certainly not opposed to it though. And this…I could do!
Well, we all know I don’t really *cook* so I’ve never experimented. I do, however, experiment with a vegetarian lifestyle A LOT. If it’s prepared for me, I will eat meat, but I don’t seek it out nor do I cook it. Sometimes when I do eat it, I feel like you do with the vegan thing, but you’re right IT’S JUST FOOD!
I love this attitude. It’s so true. I can’t stand when people turn their nose up at a foreign cuisine or a different cooking method. If it’s good food, it’s good food, whether it’s vegan, gluten free, organic or what have you!
I definitely love vegan food, I just don’t eat it all the time. Those look gooood!
Vegan cookies are yummy! Most vegan food is great
I wouldn’t mind buying a vegan cookie, but I probably won’t go out of my way to cook them.
Those look so good! They remind me of a cookie I used to love that had added Omegas in it. It was commerical and not vegan..but they were still delicious. I’ll have to give these a try
I’ve never tried any vegan food, that I know of…….but that looks great!!
in a moment of self-reflection, i realized that i’m a vegan that eats eggs, goat dairy, and sushi (on a regular basis) - and cream, meat, and poultry (on rare occasion). so, NOT a vegan - but yea, that’s how i choose to self-identify because it makes the most sense to me
hahaha!!
Vegan here! Uhh yeahh, I’d pretty much loveeeeee to hear that recipe there…very..VERY..much
I love baking vegan goodies! And I love eating them:) I know they can be just as delicious as their egg and milk counter-parts!
Those cookies look really wholesome and delicious. Is the recipe available anywhere online or is it cookbook only? Please share if it’s online!
I just posted the recipe! I was waiting to get the OK from the publisher
A baked good is a baked good! I love them all. I prefer a healthy twist thrown in there somewhere though.
I completely agree with you - I don’t care how a food is labelled, as long as it’s delicious!
And those cookies definitely look good! I love that they’re made with ground almonds. Yum!
those look uber yummy!
ps: love the blog switch!
Have a great week
Umm WOW those look amazing! Where’s the milk at? Hehe
I’m not vegan, but I’ve had some really great vegan meals. I’ve also made some raw vegan desserts that were completely delicious. And So Delicious coconut milk ice cream? Yummm…
I agree although I don’t have any food restrictions either I love eating raw, vegan, gluten-free, or vegetarian dishes every once in a while. I think people often make the mistake of thinging that raw or vegan food is wierd so they shy away from it when it is actually really good!