I just love Valentine’s Day. Mainly because it’s a holiday centered around chocolate and you know how I feel about chocolate. Anytime there is a day where someone wants to just give me chocolate because they love me, well sign me up sweetheart. Speaking of sweetheart, how cute are the hearts and sprinkles on these cookies? Sometimes you just need sprinkles. Are they Paleo? Hell no. I couldn’t even pronounce a single ingredient between all the artificial colors and preservatives but look at me, this is my I don’t give an F face. I wear it well. If you don’t want joy in your life, don’t use sprinkles. Simple. I’m looking at you with my I don’t give an F face again. Do you boo, do you. Whether you are pro-sprinkles or anti-sprinkles, one thing is for sure: you are going to love these cookies.
So I’m pretty flattered and very excited. I was nominated for Paleo Magazine’s Best of Paleo 2015 awards for Best New Cookbook. I know it’s not like the Oscars or anything, but let’s face it people, this is the closest I’m ever going to get! I’d love if you could take 3 seconds of your day to vote for me HERE and I’ll love you forever and ever. I’ve always wanted to go to the Oscars. When I was a kid I would practice my Oscar acceptance speech in the shower. Okay, so maybe that was like last week, but whatever. I would totally be the person that trips over their dress like J. Law that one year. That’s me. She owned it though. I’d pee myself, then throw up, then cry, then get wasted drunk. In that order. I just love J. Law. Her short blond hair is so fierce right now! I’ve been thinking of cutting mine like that, but I’m too much of a wimp.
So what are your Valentine’s Day plans? We usually go to Ruth’s Chris because my friend Chris and his identical twin brother Don, are bartenders there. They always reserve us nice spot at the bar and then decorate it with rose petals. It’s pretty cool. The best part is they are identical twins and I feel like this really confuses customers and for some reason I think it’s incredibly hysterical. I have no idea why. I usually like to start the meal with a glass of champagne, cause you know, it’s a classy joint, then I always get the filet mignon, medium rare, with a side of asparagus and hollandaise sauce and switch my booze up to red wine or a dirty martini. Then for dessert I like the berries and cream with chocolate sauce. It’s the only gluten-free dessert they have and everyone knows I’d die without dessert so I’m usually happy with that. Wait, I think they have creme brulee too, but meh. I’m not a huge CB fan. Mainly because there is no chocolate in it and it’s just too vanilla-ey.
Speaking of things that should have chocolate in them, I found this recipe on HelloFresh for Gluten-Free Banana Bread and it looks SO good. I’ve been on the hunt for a good Banana Bread recipe lately and haven’t really felt like trying to come up with my own. Since it’s Valentine’s Day I will definitely be subbing chocolate chips for those blueberries, wink wink. I suggest you do the same. How cute would it be to make this bread and cut it in heart shaped slices?! Gah! I just love Valentine’s Day!
You know what else is my favorite Valentine’s Day meal is? Fondue! In fact my favorite restaurant in the whole world is this place called La Fondue in Downtown Saratoga, Bay Area, CA, near San Jose. If you are ever in the area you HAVE to go. Like have to go. I tried to talk Juli into eating there with me while we were on book tour, but the next stop was Portland and we knew we were going to go food crazy so we decided to hit up La Vic’s instead for some tacos and orange sauce. It was a win win. Anyway La Fondue has the best decor of any restaurant, like I want my house decorated like that. They have gold spray-painted AK-47’s as lamps. It’s so amazing. Let’s go! Their chocolate fondue is insane on every level. In fact, if I had to choose my favorite meal ever, it might be the Fondue Feast at La Fondue.
Anyway I really hope you make these cookies because they are crazy delicious and I hope your Valentine’s Day is spectacular! If you’re single, just invite your BFF over and make these cookies in your LuLu’s and watch a chick flick together. That sounds so fun. I kind of want you guys to invite me. Make her bring the wine though because you’re making cookies. Duh. Unless she doesn’t have good taste in wine, then you might as well just be the bigger person and grab some Decoy Pinot Noir or some Raumbauer Chardonnay while you’re out getting ingredients for the cookies. Don’t worry, all food is calorie-free on Valentine’s Day, everybody knows that. You can thank me later. Save me a cookie too please. I ate all mine already. Oh and fun-fact! cleaneatingwithadirtymind.com was first published on Valentine’s Day 2013. I’m 3 years old! Thanks for making my all my recipes, leaving great comments, and letting me pursue something I love with purpose.
- 1½ cups (10½ ounces/300 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup (55 g) palm shortening
- 1½ cups (138 g) sifted fine-ground blanched almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- ½ cup (75 g) coconut sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 24 heart shaped chocolate pieces, store-bought or homemade, for garnish
- colored sprinkles for garnish, optional
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside. (Note: If working with one baking sheet, allow to completely cool between batches.)
- Melt the chocolate chips and palm shortening in a double boiler over low heat or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Stir frequently, using a rubber spatula, until the chocolate and palm shortening are completely melted and combined. Remove from the heat and let sit until the bowl is relatively cool to the touch. While waiting for the chocolate to cool prepare other ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Stir together using a fork until well combined; set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Add the vanilla and increase the mixer speed to high and continue to beat until bubbles appear on the surface, about 1 minute.
- Use a rubber spatula to transfer the egg mixture to the cooled melted chocolate mixture. Stir until combined, then transfer the chocolate mixture to the almond flour mixture and beat using an electric mixer set to low speed until combined.
- Use a small cookie scoop to transfer dough evenly onto the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart or 12 cookies per baking sheet. The dough will resemble more of a batter texture, but will hold its shape well.
- Bake each sheet separately on the middle rack for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the parchment or baking mat from the baking sheet and let the cookies cool.
- Once the cookies have cooled, garnish by lightly pressing a heart shaped chocolate piece into the center of each cookie, then finish with a dusting of sprinkles. Store covered for up to 3 days.
- To make your own homemade heart shaped chocolate pieces, melt a bag of chocolate chips or a few bars of your favorite dark chocolate in a double boiler over low heat or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Then transfer the melted chocolate to a heart shaped silicone mold and place in the refrigerator to set.
- For store bought versions, Hershey's, Dove, and See's Candies all make heart shaped chocolate pieces. While they may not be the cleanest option out there, they are definitely the easiest.
- To get that nice crackled brownie top look, as pictured in the photo, you have to use semisweet chocolate chips. Dark chocolate chips just don’t work as well.