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A trifecta cookie is a combination of three popular cookies – chocolate chip, oatmeal and peanut butter cookies. It may sound over the top, but the ingredients blend together to make a cookie that is “amazing”.
Kitchen Trial and Error is my Secret Recipe Club blog this month. Kate had Barbara Bakes as her SRC blog a few months back, so it was fun to be able to pick a recipe from her site. I decided to make the Trifecta Cookies when I read about her and her mom devouring them on a road trip.
Kate found the recipe on The Novice Chef, who adapted the recipe from Brown Eyed Baker, who was given the recipe by a reader, who got it from her mom, who got it from the back of a flour sack. Such a fun history, and now my adapted version includes finely chopped peanuts, coconut oil and chocolate hearts instead of chocolate chips.
I’d been thinking about making peanut butter cookies and dressing them up for Valentine’s Day with a chocolate heart on top. When I saw Kate’s Trifecta Cookies, I decided three favorite cookies rolled in to one Trifecta cookie was way more fun.
My plan was to buy Reese’s hearts because I knew my kids would like those, but when I saw this package with dark chocolate too, I couldn’t resist buying it instead.
Since I was making heart cookies, I decided to use heart healthy coconut oil. You could use butter instead of the coconut oil if you’d rather. I used crunchy peanut butter and added more peanuts. If you prefer smooth peanut butter, use smooth and omit the peanuts.
My daughter deemed these cookies amazing and all three dozen were gobbled up within 24 hours. I guess I’ll have to make another batch for Valentine’s Day.
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Valentine Trifecta Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup peanut butter I used chunky
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar*
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ⅓ cup peanuts finely chopped
- 3 dozen assorted chocolate heart
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat. Unwrap chocolate hearts.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together coconut oil, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and egg and beat until combine. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add in the flour and mix just until combine. Quickly mix in the oats and chopped peanuts.
- Using a small cookie scoop (about one tablespoon), drop dough onto prepared baking sheets about two inches apart.
- Bake 10 minutes or until edges of cookies begin to brown. Remove from oven and let cookies set on trays for 3 minutes. Remove to wire racks and immediately press a chocolate heart into the center of each cookie.; cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.
Notes
Thanks Kate for posting this recipe. I know it’s one that my family will be asking me to make again and again. I also want to make your Cinnamon Swirl Whole Wheat Bagels, but ran out of time. I hope to make some soon.
Marsha Lynne
??Why is the amount of brown sugar reduced? Our altitude is about 5400′. There are definitely times that my cookies do not come out of the oven the way I think they should. Thanks..This cookie looks wonderful, love the coconut oil. Marsha
Barbara Schieving
Hi Marsha – here’s a link to a high altitude baking guide that a friend of mine posted that I use frequently to help me adjust recipes. At 5400′ you’ll probably need to make adjustments to most baked goods for best results. http://cityhomecountryhome.blogspot.com/2010/08/high-altitude-baking-and-candy-making.html
For cookies she recommends: add 1 Tablespoon of extra flour to the specified amount; decrease the sugar slightly, and use 3/4 the amount of the baking powder or soda (leavening) called for in your recipe. Your cookies will not flatten out and run. Since this recipe didn’t have a lot of leavening or flour, I just reduced the sugar slightly.
Great question – thanks!
Marsha Lynne
Thanks for the response and web link to High Altitude Baking. Going to try this am. Thanks again!!!
Melissa B
These look so good! Im saving to make them soon. =)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet)
I want these for Valentine’s! They are adorable…and love the flavor combo!!
Claire @ Claire K Creations
What a great story of the origins of the recipe! These look like the trifecta of deliciousness Barbara. How exciting that we’re in the same group. Can’t wait to get assigned to your blog!
Mercedes
This will be my first month as a part of the Secret Recipe Club and I am so excited! Especially if it means making fantastic cookies like these! They look great Barbara!
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
Trifecta flavors like these sound amazing and nice using the coconut oil. The heart chocolates are too adorable.
teresa
i am SO making these tomorrow!
cooking rookie
Wonderful pick for SRC – so simple and so divine 🙂
natalie@thesweetslife
totally not an overload, definitely a perfect trifecta! love that it uses coconut oil too!
Kristen
I love the history of this recipe – and your adaptations too!
Rocky Mountain Woman
I was looking for something cute to make for my grandkids for Valentine’s Day. I just had a feeling this should be my first stop!
PolaM
Me like them! Very Valentine’s!
Stephanie
Don’t the chocolate on peanut butter cookies remind you of childhood (your child might have these fond memories too)? I just made a batch (flourless, though, so no oats) and have been impressed yet again how great chocolate and peanut butter are together. I’m sure the oats only add to the mix.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I baked cookies with coconut oil last week…and I love PB cookies! I need to pair the two. Great thinking!
Bonnie
These are like peanut butter kiss cookies but so much prettier. On my list to try for sure.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
These are so simple and lovely. Great recipe!
kelley {mountain mama cooks}
These sound delicious. Not over the top at all!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
Valentine Trifecta?! Sign me up!
Rosa
A wonderful Valentine’s Day treat!
Cheers,
Rosa
Karen Harris
These are adorable. Every Valentines Day I bake some type of family Valentine for the countertop and guess what its going to be this year. Thanks for the inspiration.