Monster Oatmeal Cookies (Dairy, Gluten with Egg Free Option)

My mom used to make these when we were kids.  They were always a hit, who doesn't like peanut butter and chocolate?  I don't often make cookies from oats as I do find them hard to digest.  If you have a severe gluten intolerance oats are often difficult on the digestive tract.  Today's advent calender activity was to make something for your neighbour.  I made a few adaptations to my mother's recipe and thought I would share it.  I would like to try this with a combination of ground almonds.

Ingredients (makes 24 cookies)

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or earth balance
• 1 cup peanut or sunflower butter
• 1/4 cup ground flax seeds soaked in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes or 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup coconut or palm sugar
• 1 teaspoon gluten free vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)
• dye free candies for decoration (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Warm peanut butter and butter.
3. In a mixing bowl add peanut butter mixture, flax seeds, palm sugar, vanilla, oats, baking soda and chocolate chips.  
4. Spoon cookie dough onto cookie sheet.  Add candies for decoration if desired.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes and cool on a wire rack.