More Good Food Diet sweet temptations to tuck into

These gluten-free and dairy-free peanut butter cookies are really incredible. They're easy to make: Simply mix five ingredients and bake. In no time, you'll have yummy, crunchy peanut butter cookies to enjoy with coffee or slip into a lunchbox. The recipe comes in many variations, but this one is my Good Food Diet version. And yes, there's absolutely no flour in this recipe.

I deliberately made the cookies small. How's that for built-in portion control!

Gloriously gluten-free
You can live the gluten-free life - and still enjoy fabulous food. A gluten-free diet, or any restricted diet for that matter, only becomes boring when you run out of ideas. By introducing brand-new and exciting recipe options, you can add a vital spark to any diet.

My philosophy is that gluten-free food should never be second best or just a poor replacement for gluten-containing food. On the contrary, it must be so good that those who are not gluten-intolerant should also seek it out!

I develop all my Good Food Diet gluten-free recipes so that you can use them for the whole family as well as for entertaining friends. I believe in honest and authentic ingredients. In my recipes I steer away from weird ingredients (so often used in gluten-free recipes). If, for example, I cannot make gluten-free bread using wholesome, real ingredients, I'd rather go without it or I would replace it with something totally different like a gluten-free wrap, made with good, authentic ingredients.

For delectable new recipe options, check out my other gluten-free recipes on this site or attend a Good Food Diet gluten-free cooking class (more about this lower down on page).

These incredible gluten-free (and dairy-free!) peanut butter cookies are:

• Vegetarian-friendly
• Wheat-free
• Gluten-free
• Dairy-free

HOW TO MAKE INCREDIBLE GLUTEN-FREE (AND DAIRY-FREE!) PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

• 250 ml (1 cup) crunchy peanut butter
• 250 ml (1 cup) white sugar
• 1 extra-large egg, beaten with a fork
• 10 ml (2 tsp) cocoa powder
• 10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla

Method

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Line two baking trays (I use 28 x 38 cm trays) with non-stick baking paper.

Step 2: Using a knife, mix all the ingredients together thoroughly until the mixture becomes thick enough to handle. (It will thicken as you mix.) Make sure that the cocoa is mixed in properly.

Step 3: Divide the mixture and roll it into 40 small balls. Arrange 20 balls on a tray. Use a cake fork to flatten the balls slightly and to press a crisscross pattern onto them.

Step 4: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Ensure that cookies don't become too dark at the bottom. (I bake them in two batches of 20 at a time.) Remove from the oven. The cookies will still be soft and extremely fragile. Allow them to cool on the trays for 10 minutes. During this time, the cookies will become much firmer. Next, carefully transfer them to wire racks to cool and harden completely. Store in an air-tight container.

Makes 40 peanut butter cookies.

GOOD FOOD DIET GLUTEN-FREE AND WELLNESS COOKING CLASSES AND CONSULTATIONS!

Dalene Crafford is a professional food stylist, recipe developer, cookery team-build presenter and developer of the Good Food Diet.

With Dalene's Good Food Diet recipes you can enjoy a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing the pleasures of delicious food. Perfect for those who want to control their health or dietary conditions such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, food allergies and intolerances (e.g. gluten or lactose).

Good Food Diet recipes are wellness recipes, developed for busy people on the go. They are quick, easy, foolproof and scrumptious! Use them for your family's daily meals and for entertaining.

• Gluten-free cooking classes in Cape Town: Attend a Good Food Diet gluten-free cooking class and learn how to make great-tasting gluten-free food that your family and friends will love.
• Dalene also offers one-on-one consultations with lots of practical advice to help you to follow an exciting and enjoyable gluten-free lifestyle.

• Wellness cooking classes in Cape Town: Attend a Good Food Diet wellness cooking class and learn how to make food that's robust, delicious and healthy. Get a taste of Dalene's recipes at www.conca.co.za.

Contact Dalene at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 021 913 4457 or 082 562 9787.