{Vegan & Gluten-free} Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are pretty miraculous. They're really delicious, and chewy, and awesome. They also happen to be gluten-free and (if you use vegan chocolate chips) vegan. 

WHAAAAA??! 

I know. Like I said-miraculous.

BTW--HOW adorable is that little glass bottle thing in the background?? Michael's mom has a few of those on display in her dining room and I've been eyeing them for awhile. Since she's moving, she's trying to get rid of a lot of stuff, so she happily gave me one! (She offered to give me a bunch more stuff but...I don't have the space lol) I knew they'd be perfect to include in a cookie shoot and i was right!

Honestly, these cookies just taste like a delicious almond butter (or peanut butter) oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. I would never have guessed that they're vegan and gluten-free. They're really really delicious. And, I felt like they were healthy enough to eat for breakfast....

But you know. You do you.

Oatmeal Almond Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Sometimes I make cookies. And sometimes I gift 95% of those cookies away. This is the fate that befell these cookies--they were like beautiful little ambassadors, endearing me to my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law and Michael's best friends and his coworkers. 

Also, I'm super sorry because I meant to share these cookies with all of you last week buuut then I got sick and didn't do anything so I'm sharing them with you today. They're totally worth the wait though! Swearsies realsies.

Now I will confess-even though oatmeal almond butter cookies SOUND kinda healthyish...I mean..there's still a lot of butter and sugar. So they're not really. BUT they are super chewy and delicious and kind of comforting and, as I've said, the perfect gift-giving cookies. They're tasty even when room temp (and you know I love warm cookies), they're sturdy enough to travel or ship (these will be included in my brother's birthday care package), this recipe makes A BUNCH, and...yeah. Tasty tastiness you guys. Give 'em a go!

Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

My brother and I are 2 and a half years apart (but he's tall and I'm short so we tend to look the same age) and don't really look alike. Now, this isn't really a big deal, who cares if my brother and I don't look like each other, right? Well, here's the problem: sometimes Josh and I hang out, and oftentimes (note: almost all the time) when we're out together, people think we're together. Like a couple. This is very traumatic, as I'm sure you can imagine. When it first happened we were horrified. Now it's this thing we expect and fear. To the point where we will literally go out of our way to mention that we are siblings. The worst/best was when I went to look at one of the reception locations with my mom and Josh (this was not the place we ended up choosing) the woman came over to talk to us and, according to Josh, kept glancing at him, as well as me, when she asked questions. When she stepped away, Josh turned to me and hissed, "MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS I'M NOT YOUR FIANCE' I'M YOUR BROTHER!" Ugh. It is unfair that this is a necessary thing. 

Anyway, what's all of that have to do with cookies?

Nothing.

I just wanted to share.

SHARING however, does have to do with these cookies!

I would looove to share some of these with you!

These cookies are little bites of coconut-y goodness. Chewy and full of amazing texture, and, duh, chocolate. All wins. PLUS they're actually not too bad for you. They don't contain any butter-just coconut oil. AND I used all white whole wheat flour in these. So I occasionally found it acceptable to have one of these for breakfast. That's totally ok with you guys, yeah?

Loaded Oatmeal Coconut Cookies for #CookieWeek

It's #cookieweek my cookie monster friends! Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic have joined together this week with 23 of their blog friends to present to you a week of cookie treats! We have every type of cookie you can think of listed this week, including something for our furry friends! Now is the time to bookmark these recipes for the upcoming holidays and cookie swaps or simply visit our Pinterest board! Make sure you enter the giveaway with some fabulous prizes from KitchenAid, King Arthur Flour, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar to help with your cookie making needs!

Being Queen Cookie Monster...I think I have like insanely high standards for cookies.

Like...to kind of an insane degree.

Take these cookies: they're good cookies. Michael liked em just fine, there's nothing wrong with these cookies. BUT-I was so mad at them. Like "THESE COOKIES ARE SO MEDIOCRE. Like...anyone could have made them...ugh!" *and then she threw herself exasperatedly on the bed* (not really. but kinda)

Now that I've disclosed my not 100% happy feelings, let's discuss why that's probably not fair:

They are good cookies. They're easy. They're super customizable (go ahead and throw just about whatever you want in these babies). And they're just fun, crunchy, grab and go kinds of cookies. They also make enough to feed an army. Not a small one either, nope, a full on, full sized, army.* Plus I may have mixed some of that delectable caramel sauce up in 'em. Because life's short. Eat cookies.

*well...no. But it does make a lot.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Muffins

We're gonna have a little fun this week.

You see, next week is my birthday.

Christmas time is quickly approaching.

Also, I have a lot of cookie recipes that I've made and need to share.

So, let us declare this week:

COOKIE WEEK!

Yayyy cookies!

To start us off, a cookie-like breakfast recipe.

Technically they're muffins, but trust me...they're almost cookies. Like...eating cookies for breakfast prob. would be just as acceptable as these muffins, but since they're muffins they're breakfast food and you don't feel as guilty for eating them in the morning. Ya know?

Soft and fluffy, like a muffin.

Oatmeal, chocolate chips, and all the brown sugar goodness of a cookie.

There's really nothing not to like about these.

Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies-Guest Post at Chelsea's Culinary Indulgence

Sooo-I have another fun guest post for you guys to check out over at Chelsea's Culinary Indulgence! Chelsea is the super adorable girl behind the blog-she comes from an Italian family background, like me, and she is happily married to her cute-tastic hubby Chris (as I hope to be to my Michael someday). She makes some delicious, and beautiful, food, you guys! Remember that Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Pie? Recipe was courtesy of Chelsea. Not only does she share some spectacular sweets, she also has some Italian entrees that pull at my heartstrings (Eggplant Parmesan, Homemade Cavatelli, Parmesan Chicken...I'd go on...but I'm starting to drool.)

Anyway, I was obviously beyond thrilled when Chelsea asked me to help her out while she adjusts to a longer work commute with a guest post! Yes! I'd love that! I gave her a few options for recipes to share, but she resoundingly chose these cookies. It's hard not to. They're pretty irresistable. Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. There is not one part of that name that I dislike. These cookies are everything warm and delicious and wonderful and happy in this world. Yes. Yes, they are. These are my new favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe, because browned butter makes everything better. Obviously.

Now, head on over to get the recipe! And look around while you're there, enjoy all the great stuff Chelsea's blog has (and how adorable it looks)! Then...go cook something!

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's Friday! Here, have a cookie:

I don't know how you guys feel about oatmeal raisin cookies, but I feel like they're these sad, second-rate cookies (especially when you compare them to CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!)-so it's almost like...why eat them? Don't get me wrong! I love oatmeal cookies...but if there are raisins...I'm eating around them and picking them out. They're just not a Kayle food. Oatmeal cookies just by themselves, though, is like...sad. They are obviously waiting for something else to make them amazing. Enter chocolate chips. Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are the best of both worlds! When I saw this recipe on How Sweet It Is and she commiserated with my desire for raisin-less oatmeal cookies, and shared this recipe for these incredibly chewy, gooey, perfect looking cookies...I just...could not WAIT! There is absolutely nothing wrong with these. Nothing. Michael loved them. I loved them. They're comforting*, and just so very very good. I know it's summertime and you're probably in the mood for a strawberry spritzer or something, and that's cool-to each their own. Just tuck this little recipe away until the time comes when you want a good old fashioned cookie, with the nuttiness of oatmeal, and the warmth that comes from melt-y chocolate chips. Then, you'll be happy I shared this. Mark my words :)