1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius/350 degrees fahrenheit and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2. Melt 2 heaped tbsp of coconut oil. Put into a mixing bowl and add ¼ cup nut butter and ¼ cup maple syrup. Mix well.

3. In a larger mixing bowl add ¾ cup of all purpose flour, ¼ cup cacao powder, ½ tsp baking soda and ½ tsp of salt. Mix together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and using a wooden spoon fold the flour in until the mixture combines into a ball.

4. Pull apart roughly 1 heaped teaspoon worth of dough and roll into a small ball. Press flat onto the baking tray. Repeat until all of the mixture is gone (you should be able to make 12 small cookies). Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream filling by adding 1 cup of powdered sugar, 40g/1.4oz dairy-free butter, 1 tbsp coconut cream, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend for 2-3 minutes until thick and creamy. Spoon mixture out evenly into 2 seperate bowls.

6. In 1 bowl add 1 tsp pumpkin spice (or orange food colouring) and mix well. In the other bowl add 1 tsp blue spirulina powder (or blue food colouring) and mix well. Set both bowls in the fridge to harden.

7. Once the cookies have baked, set aside to cool for 15 minutes. Then, spoon a heaped tablespoon of buttercream onto the flat side of a cookie. Using another cookie, press the buttercream down on an angle so that one side is thicker than the other. Add 2 edible monster eyes onto the thick side. Repeat with both colours of buttercream until all 12 cookies are turned into 6 creepy halloween cookies! Leave in the fridge to set.

Calories: 320kcal / 1340kJ
Protein: 4.5g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fat: 15g

Ve- Vegan
DF – Dairy Free
GF Option – use a gluten free flour
Nut Free Option – replace nut butter with dairy-free butter.

Anti-Inflammatory – Healthy Skin & Hair
This recipe includes omega 3 and omega 6, from the nut butter and dairy-free butter. These are known as fatty acids which are very beneficial to your body. Omega-3’s assist in the functioning of your brain and reduce inflammation. When inflammation builds up over a long period of time it becomes chronic, and studies suggest this is the main cause of serious disease such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Your body doesn’t make this fatty acid, so it is important to consume it through your diet. Omega-6’s help improve your bone health and support growth and regeneration of your skin and hair. It’s no trick, this treat is more than just a cute looking cookie!