Peanut Butter Cookies (Vegan)

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  
• 1 cup natural peanut butter (I used chunky)
  
• 1 cup maple syrup
  
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 3/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or vanilla extract)
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
2. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate larger bowl combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, olive oil, and vanilla.
4. Pour the flour mixture over the peanut butter mixture and stir until barely combined (still a bit dusty looking)
5. Let sit for five minutes, give one more quick stir (just a stroke or two)
6. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Press down on each one gently with the back of a fork.
7. (** Note: This is a loose batter, so if you’re set on doing criss-crosses, go ahead and chill the batter for an hour or so before this step)
8. Bake for 10-11 minutes ... keeping an eye on them so they don’t over bake .. or they'll be dry.
9. Let cool five minutes and transfer to a cooling rack.