Teff Flour Cookie Nice Cream Sandwiches

Vegan, Oil-free, Gluten-free, No-added Sugar

Prep: 10 min, Bake: 10-12 min, Total: 22 min, Yields: 18 2.5-inch cookies (4 Nice Cream Sandwiches)

Ingredients:

For the Cookies:

• 1 1/2 cups teff flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup almond butter
• 1/2 cup apple sauce, unsweetened
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed

For the Banana Nice Cream:

• 2 large overripe bananas, cut into pieces, frozen
• (2 Tbsps unsweetened plant milk)*

Instructions:

For the Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix teff flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Set aside.
3. Blend almond butter, apple sauce, maple syrup, vanilla and ground flaxseed until smooth.
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Dip your hands in a bowl of cold water, shake off the excess, scoop about two tablespoons of dough, roll and  drop onto lined baking sheet. Place cookies about 2 inches apart. Continue until all dough is used.
6. Press the center of each cookie with your palm or fingers to desired thickness.
7. Use the back of a fork to create a pattern if you like. 
8. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake!
9. Remove cookies from oven, transfer the baking sheets to a cooling rack for a few minutes to cool.
10. Store in an airtight container for about a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.

For the Banana Nice Cream Sandwiches:

1. If using a food processor, add the frozen banana slices (no milk)*. 
2. If using a high-speed blender, add the frozen banana slices and the milk, and blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes. (If needed, place the banana mixture in an air-tight container and freeze for about 1 hour so that it firms up enough to be spread.)
3. Spread 1/4 of the banana nice cream on the bottom side of a completely cooled cookie. Place a second cookie on top, pressing slightly.
4. Serve immediately or wrap sandwiches individually in plastic and place in the freezer until solid.
5. Let frozen sandwiches sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.