Valentine Carob Covered Coffee Cookies

The Home Barista makes Valentine Carob Covered Coffee Cookies

I used to love Valentine’s Day. I used to make cute little homemade cards with my kids, covered in stickers and stamps, for all their little friends. I used to make pink heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. I used to send in a BROWN PAPER BAG (like the sack lunch kind) with the kids to collect their valentines. This was when valentines fit in a small paper bag. This was before Pinterest was there to shame us for our lack of creativity and perfection. Before my kids were required to bring in themed Valentine BOXES that looked like museum pieces to hold the 150 extra-large pieces of candy they needed to bring home… Yes, before sugar hijacked another holiday.
Okay, okay, sugar had already hijacked every holiday, but I think things have gotten much worse in the last decade. And I refuse to acquiesce! So, in honor of a slightly healthier Valentine’s Day, I give my humble offering – the Carob-Covered Coffee Cookie. These are hearty enough to hold up stacked in a bag for a teacher gift and cute enough to bring for the class party (I might go with decaf coffee in that scenario). If the flavor of carob is not your thing, although I do not agree with you, you can drizzle melted chocolate over the cookies, or use cocoa powder instead of carob powder. It’s not as sweet, so up the honey by a tablespoon.
This cookie is absolutely perfect paired with your morning coffee, as it is almost biscotti-like and not too sweet. For those of you who are gluten-free, I have done a variation on this recipe using 2 cups gluten-free baking flour, 1 cup almond flour and 1 cup teff flour that is simply divine! Happy Healthy Valentine’s Day!
 

Stay tuned! I have a coffee-related recipe coming your way each week.
What your favorite Valentine’s cookie recipe? Please share with me in the comments.