GLUTEN-FREE BANANA CREAM BISCUITS

I am known for being the biggest flour geek (hah) and I really couldn't hide one bit of my excitement when I first took a bite of one of these biscuits (yeh ok fine. I chucked like twenty of them in my mouth like I'd never seen a biscuit before). It's because shortbread is the first thing I've baked from scratch in my life and these are like shortbread but taken to the next level. There's no gluten in sight, just this boatload of protein that is lupin flour which I got from a health food store in Italy, and almonds and this delicious subtle hint of banana. Shall we then mention the creamiest ever creamy banana & almond butter filling. Hello, my name is Iz and I am the bearer of joy a.k.a. crumbly creamy vegan gluten-free banana biscuits.

GLUTEN-FREE BANANA CREAM BISCUITS

100g (1 cup) lupin flour

100g (heaped 1 cup) ground almonds

60g (1/2 cup) rice flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

140g (3/4 cup) coconut oil

1 small over-ripe banana, mashed

175g (3/4 cup) unrefined golden caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Banana cream filling:

2 medium bananas

60g (1/4 cup) almond butter

20g (1/4 cup) ground almonds

Start by making the banana cream filling. Cut the banana into chunks, blitz in a blender until smooth, add the almond butter and blend again until well combined. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the ground almonds. Transfer to the fridge whilst you make the biscuits.

In a large bowl mix together lupin flour, ground almonds, rice flour and salt and set aside. In a separate bowl cream together coconut oil, banana, sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffly. Add the dry ingredients a bit at a time, mixing each time until you get a nice smooth dough. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes to chill.

In the meantime preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F) and line two trays with baking paper. Roll out the chilled dough until it’s 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) thick. Cut into squares or rounds using a cookie cutter and place on the trays. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown, then transfer to a cooling rack.

When completely cool, assemble the biscuits – spread or pipe the banana cream evenly onto each biscuit, then sandwich another one on top.