Vegan cocoa-free peanut butter cups. Holy shit.

Holy shit.

Sweet holy shit.

Listen. When I’m about to get my period, one of two eight things will probably happen…

1. I will yell at the cats.
2. I will yell at a human.
3. I will go on a cleaning/organizing rampage.
4. I will throw away most of my worldly possessions.
5. I will try to quit my job(s).
6. I will think the world is ending.
7. I will cry.
8. I will make dessert.

And since I don’t actually track my cycle (what am I, a scientist?), these telltale signs are my most reliable warning of what’s to come. Never fails.

So since I cried last night in yoga, made these PB carob cups afterwards, snapped at a coworker today and have big plans to clean the fuck out of my house in about 15 seconds… I think we all know where this week is headed.

I don’t know if these peanut butter cups are the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life because of my current hormonal state or because they really are the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Kind of like how it’s hard to tell if drunken french fries at 3am are really the best french fries you’ve ever eaten or if perhaps you’re just obliterated. You know what I’m saying.

These are Alicia Silverstone’s vegan chocolate peanut butter cups from The Kind Diet with a few minor swaps on my end. You see, I have somehow surrounded myself with people who are allergic to chocolate (the horror) and refuse to believe that they can’t eat all the things I make with a few simple modifications. Y’all know how I feel about making vegan, gluten-free, allergen-friendly foods that everyone can enjoy. It’s not that difficult to accommodate specialty diets and it makes people happy so… there’s that.

SO, yes. Alicia’s recipe works perfectly well when subbing carob chips for chocolate chips. You could certainly use sunflower or soy butter for anyone who’s allergic to peanuts, and gluten-free cookies can take the place of traditional graham crackers for people with Celiac. The milk can be absolutely any milk you have on hand. It calls for soy, but if you’re allergic you could use rice, almond or coconut (my choice).

Tah dah.

What the hell is carob?

Carob is a legume related to the pea family.  It can be processed into powdered, chip or syrup form and used as a substitute for cocoa. Carob chips and powder are widely available at specialty markets, and Sunspire is the brand I see most often.

Now, if you’ll excuse me… I have a house to clean and one dozen peanut butter cups to consume.