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    Home » Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten-Free)

    Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten-Free)

    Published: Mar 29, 2020 · Modified: Sep 17, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make with 4 ingredients in 15 minutes! These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are so good no one can tell they're made without flour or butter!

    overhead view of 6 flourless peanut butter cookies

    I have been making this Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies recipe for over a decade now, and they are so simple and easy to make that you need to whip up a batch ASAP! 

    I am usually more of a brownie or bar type of person, but these flourless peanut butter cookies are some of my favorites. They are gooey and peanut buttery and even can be dipped in chocolate.

    They're easy to make with only 5 ingredients in 15 minutes! Are you running to the kitchen yet?

    flourless peanut butter cookie cut in half

    Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions 

    These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are made with ingredients you probably have on hand! Let's chat about possible substitutions. 

    overhead view of the ingredients in this flourless peanut butter cookie recipe
    • Creamy peanut butter. choose your favorite peanut butter variety! Allergic to peanuts? Any nut or seed butter should work well in this recipe! I recommend using a peanut butter that is solid at room temperature. Some natural varieties do meet this requirement and can be used. If you use a peanut butter that's liquid at room temperature (like this homemade peanut butter), you will have to chill the dough for 60 minutes before baking.
    • Sugar. Use granulated sugar or organic cane sugar for the best results. Note. I tired coconut sugar and it did not work. 
    • Chocolate. Drizzling chocolate on top of these cookies, or adding chocolate chips to the batter, is optional, but delicious! 
    front view of a stack of 4 flourless peanut butter cookies with other cookies around the stack on the table

    How to make Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

    These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are made in one bowl and 15 minutes (from start to finish)! Let's walk through the process together, and don't forget to watch the video!

    Combine Peanut Butter and Sugar

    The first step in this flourless peanut butter cookie recipe is to combine the peanut butter and sugar. You can do this either by hand, with a hand-held mixer, or in a standing mixer. It's completely up to you. 

    You may need to warm the peanut butter. If your peanut butter is too hard to serve (if you store it in the fridge or use a more solid variety), gently warm it in the microwave until it's soft enough to stir. Be careful not to overhead or you run the risk of cooking the egg when it's added to the batter.

    Add the egg, vanilla and sea salt

    Next, add the rest of the ingredients and beat or stir until everything is combined. 

    two photos showing how to make flourless peanut butter cookies

    Measure and roll out dough

    I recommend using a 1 TBS measuring spoon or cookie scoop to make these flourless peanut butter cookies. Measuring out the dough ensures that every cookie is the same size, which means they will all bake evenly.

    two photos showing how to make gluten-free peanut butter cookies

    Make a criss cross pattern on top

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the dough balls on top.  Use a fork to make a criss cross pattern on the top of each peanut butter cookie, gently pressing it down.

    Bake

    Note: Do NOT over bake! These flourless peanut butter cookies may not look completely done when you remove them from the oven. But they will cook more as they cool on the pan before being transferred to a wire rack.

    So please don't bake them longer than 10 minutes if you can help it (although be aware that all ovens are different and you need to know how warm/cool/normal yours bakes).

    two photos showing how to make flourless peanut butter cookies

    Cool 

    Once the cookies are removed from the oven, let them cool on the baking pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. 

    overhead view of 4 flourless peanut butter cookies on a cooling rack

    Dip in Chocolate

    If desired, wait until the gluten-free peanut butter cookies are completely cool, then dip them in chocolate. To do this:

    1. Melt some chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler over medium heat. 
    2. Line a large baking sheet with wax paper. 
    3. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate, then place on the wax paper. 
    4. Let harden at room temperature or in the freezer. 
    5. If desired, drizzle a little extra chocolate over the dipped side for a pretty texture. 
    6. Enjoy!
    a hand dipping a flourless peanut butter cookie in a bowl of melted chocolate

    Store/freeze

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you add chocolate on top, be sure to let it harden completely before stacking them in a container. 

    front view of a stack of 5 gluten-free peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate

    Recipe FAQS

    Can you make cookies with natural peanut butter?

    I recommend using a peanut butter that is solid at room temperature to make these gluten-free peanut butter cookies. Some natural varieties do meet this requirement and can be used. If you use a peanut butter that's liquid at room temperature (like this homemade peanut butter), you will have to chill the dough for 60 minutes before baking.

    Why do peanut butter cookies have fork marks?

    This flourless peanut butter cookie dough is denser than other cookie dough. Pressing the cookie dough down with a fork while making a criss cross pattern flattens the cookie dough and makes them bake more evenly. 

    front view of 6 flourless peanut butter cookies

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten-Free)

    Laura
    These Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make with 4 ingredients in 15 minutes! These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are so good no one can tell they're made without flour or butter!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 14 cookies
    Calories 170.5 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula
    • glass batter bowl
    • baking sheet
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
    • ½ cup granulated sugar*
    • 1 egg lightly beaten
    • ½ tsp vanilla extract
    • ¼ tsp sea salt
    • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional) mini or regular, or chopped chocolate
    • Extra chocolate to drizzle.

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
    • Mix together peanut butter and sugar.
    • Add egg, vanilla and salt and stir until combined.
    • If desired, mix in chocolate chips.
    • Roll 1 TBS portions of dough into balls and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (or use a cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto the baking sheet)
    • Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bottoms are just barely browned.
    • Let the cookies sit on the pan for 10 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool.
    • Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Creamy peanut butter. choose your favorite peanut butter variety! Allergic to peanuts? Any nut or seed butter should work well in this recipe! 
    • Sugar. Use granulated sugar or organic cane sugar for the best results. Note. I tired coconut sugar and it did not work. 
    • Chocolate. Drizzling chocolate on top of these cookies, or adding chocolate chips to the batter, is optional, but delicious! 

    Can you make cookies with natural peanut butter?

    I recommend using a peanut butter that is solid at room temperature. Some natural varieties do meet this requirement and can be used. If you use a peanut butter that's liquid at room temperature (like this homemade peanut butter), you will have to chill the dough for 60 minutes before baking.

    Store/freeze

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you add chocolate on top, be sure to let it harden completely before stacking them in a container. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookieCalories: 170.5kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 5.8gFat: 11.3gSaturated Fat: 2.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.3gCholesterol: 13.3mgSodium: 43.6mgPotassium: 27.4mgFiber: 2.1gSugar: 11.6gVitamin A: 20IUCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More delicious cookie recipes!

    If you're looking for more gluten-free cookies, check these out!

    • Healthy no-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies are a reader favorite (or make them in nest from).
    • These no bake peanut butter oatmeal bars are so good (another reader favorite).
    • These Paleo Chocolate Cookies are like a brownie in cookie form, a chocolate dream come true!
    • These monster cookies are amazing, or try these peanut butter oatmeal cookies.
    • Turn these flourless peanut butter cookies into festive gluten-free peanut butter blossoms for Christmas!
    • These Almond Butter Blossoms are paleo and vegan!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz

      January 22, 2022 at 8:13 pm

      I checked them at 9 minutes & they were still quite raw. I used crunchy peanut butter, though. Could that have made the difference?

      Reply
      • Laura

        January 23, 2022 at 7:11 am

        Possibly. But every oven bakes differently. I suggest putting an inexpensive oven thermometer inside your oven to test and see if it's heating properly.

        Reply
    2. Brittany

      December 24, 2020 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      I didn’t change a thing, took out of oven at 10 mins and left on the cookie sheet for 3 more mins, then allowed to cool for 10 mins before covering half in chocolate. Only took 10 more mins to set in the freezer. Perfect. Fast. Sweet deliciousness.

      Reply
    3. Odalis

      August 09, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      I did the cookies, very good 😁

      Reply
    4. Meghan

      May 20, 2020 at 7:58 am

      Can I use stevia?

      Reply
      • Laura

        May 21, 2020 at 7:21 am

        I don't recommend using stevia.

        Reply
        • Amanda Hoeve

          February 16, 2021 at 4:57 pm

          I used truvia and it tasted great! unless stevia and truvia are diff?

    5. Caz

      May 05, 2020 at 3:13 pm

      Thanks so much for this delicious sounding recipe. I’m planning to make these tomorrow without egg (we’re running low and can’t get to the shops). Do you think these cookies will work if I replace the egg with flax seed?

      Reply
    6. Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple

      October 10, 2016 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      These look SO good!! I can't wait to try them!

      Reply
      • Laura

        October 12, 2016 at 3:21 pm

        Thanks Liz! You will love them! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Suzie from Munchkin Time

      September 24, 2016 at 3:59 am

      5 stars
      Thank you Laura for posting this amazing recipe. It look very delicious! - Suzie

      Reply
      • Laura

        September 24, 2016 at 6:13 pm

        Thank you Suzie! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Cayanne Marcus @healthyezsweet

      September 23, 2016 at 5:05 pm

      Is there anything better than the peanut butter and chocolate combo?! These look divine

      Reply
      • Laura

        September 24, 2016 at 6:13 pm

        I can't think of one thing better! 🙂

        Reply
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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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