Girl Scout cookies have a special place in my heart because I used to be a Girl Scout. Not to brag, but I did win the prize for most cookies sold in my troop one year despite suffering a sprained ankle the week prior. That’s dedication. The cookies I sold the most of (besides Thin Mints)? Tagalongs! If you’ve never had Tagalongs, also known as Peanut Butter Patties, you’re in for a treat!
A crisp, shortbread-style cookie is topped with creamy peanut butter and enveloped in melted chocolate. Swoon! Our inspired version is naturally vegan and gluten-free, simple to make, salty-sweet, and tastes JUST like the real thing! Let us show you how it’s done!
How to Make Homemade Tagalongs
Tagalongs consist of a shortbread cookie base, peanut butter filling, and chocolate coating.
To keep the shortbread cookie base gluten-free, we used a combination of almond flour (for classic cookie flavor and texture), oat flour (because it’s hearty and slightly sweet), and tapioca flour (to lighten them up and help them crisp). Baking soda provides the leavening and sea salt enhances the flavors. Coconut oil helps them get crispy, while maple syrup adds a hint of natural sweetness.
The peanut butter filling is a simple combination of a smooth salted peanut butter and a little bit of maple syrup. The mix of the two creates a drippy consistency that goes on top of the crisp shortbread cookie for the perfect contrast of textures.
Lastly, it’s coated with a mixture of melted semisweet chocolate chips and coconut oil for a perfectly sweetened, melt-in-your-mouth, chocolaty coating!
We hope you love these peanut butter patties (a.k.a. Tagalongs)! They’re:
Crispy
Peanut buttery
Chocolaty
Salty-sweet
& SO delicious!
Might we also add addictive?! Enjoy these gems any time a chocolate + peanut butter craving strikes! Or host a homemade Girl Scout cookie night (virtual or IRL) and make these Tagalongs along with The BEST Thin Mints (V/GF). So fun!
More Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Vegan Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
- 3-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Easy Peanut Butter Patties (AKA Tagalongs!)
Ingredients
SHORTBREAD COOKIE
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup oat flour (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 Tbsp tapioca flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 2 Tbsp solid refined coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
PEANUT BUTTER FILLING
- 1/4 cup smooth salted peanut butter (if using unsalted peanut butter, add 1 healthy pinch sea salt)
- 2 tsp maple syrup
CHOCOLATE COATING
- 1 cup dairy-free semisweet chocolate chips (we used Enjoy Life)
- 2 tsp refined coconut oil
Instructions
- In a food processor combine almond flour, oat flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, and salt. Pulse a few times to fully combine.
- Add in solid refined coconut oil (if your coconut oil has liquified simply place it into the fridge for a couple of minutes) and pulse until you achieve small crumbs, about 8 pulses. Add the maple syrup and pulse until a loose dough starts to form, about 10 pulses.
- Transfer the dough to a piece of parchment or wax paper, flatten the dough slightly and fold it up tightly, then chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove cookie dough from the fridge. Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper that has been lightly floured with tapioca flour. Dust some tapioca flour on top of the dough as well. Roll out the dough until it is about 1/8-inch (~3 mm) thick. Using a 2-inch (~5 cm) circle cookie cutter, cut out 16 circles. You will need to roll out the dough at least twice to get 16 cookies — continue rolling out the dough until all of it is used up. If the dough begins to break easily and becomes difficult to work with, put it back in the fridge to firm up slightly.
- Using a metal spatula, transfer the cookies to your parchment-lined baking sheet, keeping them at least 2 inches (~5 cm) apart. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the edges become lightly golden. They should feel slightly firm to the touch when hot. Remove the cookies from the tray and place on a cooling rack until completely cooled.
- While the cookies are cooling combine the peanut butter and maple syrup in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
- Place the chocolate chips and 2 tsp of coconut oil into a small saucepan (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Stirring constantly, heat the chocolate chips on low heat until about half of the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat and continue to stir until the chocolate is completely melted. You can also do this in the microwave in 30-second increments. Set aside.
- Once cookies are cool, place the cooling rack of cookies over your parchment-lined baking sheet to catch any drips. Line a large round plate with parchment paper and set aside. Parchment is important here as your completed cookies will be difficult to remove in the final step without it!
- Place a heaping 1/2 tsp of peanut butter mixture in the center of each cookie. Shake and tap the cookie to spread the peanut butter, leaving about 1/4-inch of cookie around the edge. Place cookies on your parchment-lined plate and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes, until peanut butter is firm to the touch.
- Remove cookies from the freezer and place them back on the cooling rack. Pour 1 tablespoon melted chocolate on each cookie, letting it coat the top and sides of each cookie. Shake the cookies to evenly distribute the chocolate.
- Once all of the cookies are covered in chocolate, use a metal spatula to transfer them back onto the parchment-lined plate, carefully ensuring the cookies don’t touch (the chocolate will stick them together)! Place the cookies in the fridge until completely set, about 15 minutes, then remove gently with a spatula.
- Enjoy them chilled or at room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 1 month.
Braely says
I am allergic to almonds and I’m not gluten free is there another flour I can substitute or add more oat flour?
Hi Braely, we’d say your best bet would be all purpose flour. But potentially use less as it’s more drying / absorbent than almond flour. Let us know if you try!
Linsey says
Really easy, delicious cookies. My husband could not stop going on and on about how good they were.
I didn’t have coconut oil so I used the suggestion I saw and used avocado oil which worked perfectly! Next time I will bake for a couple extra minutes – they came out great but I like my shortbread a little more cripsy. These came out dense but a little soft for me (maybe has to do with the oil sub?)
Overall they were easy, delicious, and uses ingredients I always have on hand (coconut oil was a fluke this time!). Thanks!!
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Linsey!!
Eileen Nolan says
Wow! After the thin mints, I KNEW I would have to increase the amount of cookies, and so will you. These are AWESOME! I used crunchy peanut butter, as that is what I had. Read through the recipe so you know all the steps (I didn’t, and ended up in a time-crunch, but the race was worth it).
AMAZING! Thank you sooooo much! Even my Scottish ‘doesn’t-get-peanut-butter’ husband loves these.
Woohoo! We’re so glad you both enjoy them, Eileen. Thanks so much for the helpful review!
Leslie says
These were AMAZING! Exceeded my expectations. Better than the original!
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Leslie!
Sandra says
So good! We loved the Thin Mints – my husband kept telling me how good they were hinting for me to make more. When I started these, I think he was disappointed it wasn’t more of the Thin Mints… until he tasted them! ;-) Our only complaint is that it doesn’t make enough cookies – but that’s a blessing in disguise. Samoas are up next!
haha yay! Thanks for sharing, Sandra! Let us know how you like the Samoas!
Rachel says
I made these as written and they were great. It’s easy but fairly time-consuming–I would budget at least 1.5 hours start to finish, but almost all of that is down time while things chill or bake. Like others, I dipped the cookies in chocolate. My peanut butter was also too stiff to shake, so I spread it with a knife and only popped the cookies in the freezer for a couple minutes before dipping.
Three of us (all gluten eaters and two non-vegans) finished these off in under 24 hours!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Rachel! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed them!
Krissy says
Really yummy! I think if I make them again I’ll cut them out much smaller. However, I didn’t have a cutter and just used a glass. They’re as close as one can get to a Tagalong when on a gluten free diet! Thanks Dana!
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing, Krissy! xo
Adiel says
Super delicious! I didn’t have oat flour so I processed some oats prior to adding in the other flours. Also as others have mentioned spooning the chocolate on top didn’t really work well so I dipped the top in the chocolate. Love the Girl Scout cookie content!
We’re so glad you’re enjoying the Girl Scout cookies series! Thanks so much for sharing, Adiel! xo
Kelsi says
What is another flour you can use instead of tapioca flour?
Arrowroot or cornstarch should work fine! Let us know if you try!
Vanessa says
Omg soooo good! It was my first time baking with almond and oat flour :-) I didn’t have tapioca flour so I used all purpose instead and didn’t have chocolate chips so I used 70% cacao chocolate bars. Fiancé absolutely loved and I’m planning to make again and doubling the recipe. Thank you for the recipe!
We’re so glad you both enjoyed them! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Vanessa! xo
Sunshine says
I made the Easy Peanut Butter patties this weekend and yes, they were easy and delicious!! My family also suggested increasing the peanut butter mix so we’ll try that next time. Thanks for a great recipe!
Yay! Thanks, Sunshine! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful to us and other readers! xo
Cindy says
Nice crispy, tasty cookie! Give me PB and chocolate anytime!
I think rolling out to 1/4” will work better for my cookies next time, 1/8” was very thin. I will also increase the PB…it wasn’t quite enough for all of the cookies. It was easier to dip the whole top into the chocolate rather than spooning over – I got to eat them sooner!
Looking forward to more cookie recipes! Thank you!
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Cindy! xo
Sienna Hope says
PLEASEEE make some savannah smiles they were my favorite before they discontinued them :/
We’ll add it to the list!
Dorothy says
These were super fun to make! I actually found it easier to dip the PB-topped cookies upside down on the chocolate rather than spooning the chocolate on top. Thanks for the fun little treat! I didn’t make any substitutions.
Smart! Thanks for sharing, Dorothy!
Alex says
Made these tonight exactly according to the recipe. WOW incredible. I just don’t understand how you do it. I ate an amount that I’m ashamed to divulge and I washed them down with a glass of almond milk that I made from another MB recipe. Thanks for all you do <3
Aw, we’re so glad you enjoyed them, Alex! Thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review! xo
Zoe Walsh says
Hi, I would love to make this recipe, but I don’t have the GF ingredients. I am fine with using regular flour and gluten. What should I substitute? Thanks a ton!!
Hi Zoe, you could possibly replace the flours with all-purpose, but we haven’t tried that. We’d suggest starting with less as it can be more drying. Let us know how it goes!
Lena says
Dear god I hope this means you have some samoas/caramel delights in the pipeline
Maybe…… :D
Carina says
What would be a good substitute for the almond flour? I’m allergic to real nuts and don’t need the recipe to be gluten free. Could I just double the oat flour or what would make for a good shortbread like texture?
Thank you!
I’d say your best bet would be all purpose or GF all purpose. But potentially use less as it’s more drying / absorbent than almond flour. Let us know if you try!
Sienna Hope says
Any substitutes for tapioca starch/flour, can’t find any
Arrowroot or cornstarch should work fine! Let us know if you try!
Rah Hornbaker says
Hello!! Thank you so much for this recipe! I want to make this immediately, but my partner is allergic to almonds. What would you suggest instead of almond flour?
Thanks!
I’d say your best bet would be all purpose or GF all purpose. But potentially use less as it’s more drying / absorbent than almond flour. Let us know if you try!
Sharyn says
What can you substitute for tapioca flour?
I’d say arrowroot or cornstarch!
Susan Pantle says
OMG – those look so delicious!! Way to go top sales girl scout!! Pushing through the pain to win!! Woo-hoo!
Thanks Auntie! Hope you love these :D
Leanne says
Hi,
I can’t have oat flour. Can a gf 1 for 1 be substituted for the oat & tapioca or do you have a better solution?
Thanks!
I’d sub a GF blend for the oat flour, but keep the tapioca or sub it for arrowroot or cornstarch!
Nic says
What’s a good substitute for tapioca?
Cornstarch or arrowroot!
Alison says
What can be used if you don’t have tapioca flour.
Arrowroot or cornstarch should work! Let us know if you try.
Samantha says
Hi,
As someone who’s allergic to both wheat and oats, do you have a flour replacement suggestion for this recipe?
Thank you so much, I love your blog!!
For the oat flour I’d sub a GF blend!
Cat says
Can I sub something for the coconut oil? My daughter does not like it at all – not even a hint of it. :-)
I’d suggest using refined coconut oil, which doesn’t have any coconut flavor.
Cat Fortel says
I would but she still tastes it. LOL
I’d say your best bet would be avocado oil or vegan butter!
Cat says
Thanks!
uyen Tran says
Can I just use regular flour for tapioca flour?
Arrowroot or cornstarch is best! But regular flour should work. Let us know if you try!
Amy says
Any suggestions for a no oil shortbread?
I’d say your best bet would be subbing cashew butter or something similar!
Sally Goldberg says
Can you make them with another oil? My son is allergic to all things coconut.
Allergic, hmm. I’d say avocado would be the next closest, or sub vegan butter! Let us know if you try.
Kristin says
What if I do not have tapioca flour? Can I omit or is there a substitute? Thanks!
Arrowroot or cornstarch is the next best sub!