Red Sonjas

Family recipes have to be born sometime, right? Not all of the recipes in your cookbook will be generations old. Time and tastes change, or maybe you just don't have a record of some of those old recipes. Young families can also create an heirloom cookbook, because traditions have to start somewhere!

This recipe isn't so much an heirloom as it is an homage. I love comics, and Gail Simone's Red Sonja is one of my favorites. I fiddled with this recipe specifically for Simone, who 1) loves peanut butter, and 2) eats a gluten-free diet. I'm thrilled with how it turned out, and hope the object of my girl-crush does too. (This is definitely going in the next family cookbook!)

RED SONJAS (flourless peanut butter cookies with a kick!)
2 C. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 C. peanut butter
2 eggs
red decorator sugar

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Mix together the sugar, baking powder and ginger, then add the peanut butter and eggs. Dough will be stiff! Roll into quarter-sized balls and place on a baking sheet. Using your sword (or a steak knife), dampen the tip and dip in red sugar,

It's a lot easier to dip the knife in a saucer than in a bowl.

then gently press the flat of the blade into each cookie ball, flattening it a little. (You could also use a fork, but that's no fun.)

Don't smash the cookie, just flatten it a little.

Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool for 5 before removing from the baking sheet.

You don't need parchment paper, but it does make clean-up easier!

Bottoms should be lightly browned.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

They have an almost fudgy texture.

Note: You can easily cut this recipe in half, if you're not sure you want to commit to 3 dozen cookies. 

My gift to you, fellow geeks: printables sized for your recipe box! (Link is for a PDF containing a 3.5x5 and 4x6 recipe card.)

Available at Amazon.