Do you have Girl Scouts sitting at the door of your grocery store asking you to buy cookies? I do. Last year, they were also waiting for me as I came off of the commuter train after work but so far, there has been no sign of them there. I’m all for the Girl Scouts but honestly, I dread seeing their cute little faces and perky attitudes. These little people tap into my interior weakness and I almost crumble. I have no self control and WILL EAT THEM ALL if I buy them! So after saying “No, thank you” to the adorable Girl Scouts, how do I explain the fact that I made these Double Nut Butter Sandwich Cookies which rival the Girl Scouts’ Do-si-dos and taste like no other cookie I have ever made? I can’t explain it. But these cookies are amazing.

Almond butter and oatmeal make up the soft, chewy cookies, while peanut butter and powdered sugar create the creamy center filling. To make this truly nutty all the way around, use almond milk in the filling in place of regular milk (either one will work perfectly).

I took these cookies to work because they were so good, I very easily could have eaten every single one by myself in one sitting. Luckily, some people at work took some off my hands and I got nothing but compliments. If I could make cookies for a living everyday, I’d be happy. So why am I working in finance instead of in a bakery? Probably for the same reason I say no to the Girl Scouts but then turn around and make these cookies at home. Because I torture myself and I’m seriously losing it.

Double Nut Butter Sandwich Cookies (makes approximately 24 sandwich cookies)

For cookies:

• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup almond butter (or peanut butter)

For filling:

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 4-5 tablespoons milk or almond milk

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.

In another large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together butter and both sugars until well combined. Add egg, vanilla, and almond butter and mix. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Drop dough by tablespoon full onto a cookie sheet and bake in a 350°F oven for 8 minutes (cookies may not appear to be done but that’s okay). Remove cookies from oven and let rest on the cookie sheet for 4-5 additional minutes (they will finish cooking). Move to a cooling rack to cool.

While cookies bake, prepare the filling by combining butter, peanut butter, and vanilla until creamy.  Add the powdered sugar and milk. (Add enough milk to bring it to a frosting-like consistency.)

Once cookies have cooled, spoon a tablespoonful of filling into the center of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies.