toothpickoptional for dipping the peanut butter balls in the chocolate
Instructions
Place the sugar, peanut butter, butter, and coconut in a large bowl. Use a hand mixer (or stand-mixer) to beat the ingredients together. This may take several minutes (2-3 minutes). The dough is ready when the ingredients are fully combined.
Line a sheet pan with parchment or wax paper. Roll the dough into small balls, and place the balls on the baking sheet. Place the sheet pan (and balls) in the freezer. If you don't have room in your freezer, place them in the fridge.
While the cookies cool, in a medium-size bowl, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil. I use a microwave to do this: place the ingredients in the bowl, and microwave in 25 second increments, stirring each time, until fully melted. If you want to use the stove-top, you'll need to melt the ingredients in a double boiler: place a glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Heat until the ingredients are fully melted, stirring occasionally.
Remove the balls from the freezer (or fridge). Carefully pierce a ball with a toothpick, roll it around in the chocolate, and then place it back on the parchment paper. I like to drizzle any remaining chocolate over the cookies to cover the toothpick piercings. Repeat this process with each ball. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to lower the balls into the chocolate.
(Optional) Sprinkle a tiny amount of salt over the cookies. This adds a fancy touch and a nice salty flavor to the chocolate. Just a pinch over each cookie.
Place the cookies in the fridge and allow them to cool until the chocolate is firm (about an hour or two). Store the cookies in an air-tight container in the fridge for two weeks, or a few months in the freezer.
Notes
*Most stores sell organic powdered sugar. There are plenty of great brands available. If you'd like to make your own powdered sugar, this is a great tutorial from Cookie and Kate. **Look for natural peanut butter that contains one or two ingredients: peanuts and possibly salt. I purchase freshly-ground peanut butter from our local health food store, which isn't salted or oily (like some natural peanut butters). Your local grocery store deli may sell freshly-ground peanut butter. The original recipe calls for "crunchy peanut butter." ***I used salted butter (Kerrygold). If your peanut butter is salted, I recommend going with an unsalted butter.