SunButter and Jelly Heart Print Cookies

If you asked my four year old daughter for a list of what she wanted to do on any given day, I can confidently say that "bake cookies" would always be at the top. And if it's a time of year when cookie baking is a standard activity, like the holidays or Valentine's Day, her enthusiasm is tripled. So when I asked her if she wanted to bake cookies to celebrate love day this year, she jumped up and down and proceeded to do a happy dance (full of some very interesting moves) before shouting "Yes! Yes!" And then she did something kind of wonderful. She said she wanted to make peanut butter cookies that her friend with nut allergies could eat too - meaning she wanted to make them from our favorite spread, SunButter Sunflower Butter. I thought this was a fantastic idea. We've made many things with SunButter, but never cookies. We were determined though, and with a little experimentation, came up with a delicious recipe that is perfect for Valentine's Day.

SunButter and Jelly Heart Print Cookies
Makes about 24 cookies

INGREDIENTS
1 cup Organic SunButter Sunflower Butter (or any SunButter variety)
1-1/4 cups all-purpose or gluten-free flour
1-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extra
1/2 cup jelly, jam, or preserves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, use a mixer to beat together the SunButter, butter, and egg, then beat in the sugars and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Beat in the flour mixture on low until well mixed. Roll tablespoon size balls on dough and place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart, the slightly press each cookie into a round shape (we dip the bottom of a metal measuring cup in sugar and then press onto each cookie ball). Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven, and immediately use the bottom of a wooden spoon handle to make heart shapes in the center of each cookie while still hot. Fill each indentation with jelly, and allow to cool on a wire rack. Note: If you have a dairy allergy, you can easily substitute butter for a butter alternative. And if you have an egg allergy, use an egg replacer mix or 1/2 a mashed banana in place of the egg.

Even though we specifically made these for Valentine's Day, they're perfect for any time of the year, because who doesn't like hearts? And who doesn't like delicious, homemade cookies that everyone can enjoy, regardless of whether or not they have nut allergies? That's how you spread the love, guys. (Get it? Spread? Sunflower seed spread? Get it?) These cookies are not only ridiculously good and really fun to make (just ask my daughter), but they're also peanut free, tree nut free, sesame free, soy free, and can easily be made egg-free and dairy-free as well. And the yummy SunButter is the star of the show, with its delectable sunflower seed taste and incredible nutritional benefits. SunButter has just as much protein as peanut butter, and contains more micro nutrients, like magnesium, Vitamin E, zinc and iron. It also has less saturated fat. Winner! And you can use it in endless recipes. We even make salad dressing out of it! You can find SunButter in grocery stores, specialty stores, and schools throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as online. (A full list can be found here.)

If you try these cookies for Valentine's Day this week (or any day!), let us know what you think!

This post is in partnership with SunButter. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Bubby and Bean possible. 

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