These healthy peanut butter cookies are soft and chewy and they’re made without any refined sugar or flour!
This is my favorite kind of cookie recipe because these not only are these cookies a bit healthier than most, they’re also super easy to make! I’ve made them a bunch of times and I promise, they’re hard to mess up. No coconut sugar? Don’t worry, you can use brown sugar. Not sure where to buy oat flour? You can make your own in seconds!
Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
- If you don’t have coconut sugar, you can substitute brown sugar.
- The applesauce is the key to producing soft and chewy cookies. Without it, the cookies won’t spread.
- To make the oat flour, add 1 cup of oats to a blender or food processor and pulse for about 30 seconds or until crumbly.
- Move the oven rack to the top-middle position, to avoid burning the bottom of the cookies.
The Best Peanut Butter for Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
I find that creamy no-stir peanut butter works best in this recipe. If your peanut butter is too dry, as natural peanut butter can sometimes be, the cookies may be too crumbly. If you’re using natural peanut butter, be sure to stir it well before using it. My favorite brands are Santa Cruz or Whole Foods 365 brand. The dough will be thick and relatively stiff but it will stick together when rolled into a ball.
How to Make Oat Flour
Blend 1 cup of oats in a blender or food processor for 10-15 seconds or pulse 5-10 times until a flour is formed. It’s ok if there are still a few large oat pieces, but it should be pretty fine.
Since this healthy peanut butter cookie recipe doesn’t require any eggs, it’s easy to make a half batch or a double batch without having to worry about any fancy conversions. I made a half batch over the weekend and it’ll be plenty of cookies for us!
Is coconut sugar healthy?
I do want to mention that just because coconut sugar is a less refined sugar doesn’t mean you should go crazy with it. Like any sugar, you should enjoy it in moderation! You can read more about the health benefits of coconut sugar here. I like these cookies because they’re a bit healthier but they taste like a regular cookie.
Are you ready to try this healthy peanut butter cookie recipe? Let’s do it.
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PinDescription
These healthy peanut butter cookies are deliciously chewy with no refined sugar or flour. They’re also gluten-free and vegan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy salted peanut butter (see note)
- 1 cup coconut sugar (see note)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup rolled oats, blended into flour (see note)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 tsp salt or more to taste, if using unsalted peanut butter
Instructions
- Move the oven rack to the top-middle position.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter, coconut sugar, applesauce, and vanilla until combined.
- Stir in the oat flour, baking soda, and salt until well mixed.
- Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and roll. Flatten with a fork to make a criss-cross pattern on top of each cookie.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. These cookies can easily burn on the bottom so I recommend baking in the middle of the rack for 7 minutes and then moving to a top rack for the last 2 minutes of baking. Every oven is different, but that works best for my oven!
Notes
I find that creamy no-stir peanut butter works best in this recipe. If your peanut butter is too dry, as natural peanut butter can sometimes be, the cookies may be too crumbly. I’ve used Whole Foods Organic Creamy Peanut Butter and Aldi’s Organic Creamy Peanut Butter and both worked well. If you’re using natural peanut butter, be sure to stir it well before using.
If you don’t have coconut sugar, you can substitute brown sugar.
To make the oat flour, add 1 cups of oats to a blender or food processor and pulse for about 30 seconds or until crumbly. It doesn’t have to be super fine.
Keywords: peanut butter cookies
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go enjoy one of these deliciously chewy peanut butter cookies!
Looking for other healthy cookie recipes? Try these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Or if you’re in the mood for a chocolate dessert, try these gluten-free almond flour brownies!
What’s your favorite kind of cookie?
Amy
I have just made these using what I had at home……..they are sweet, but absolutely DELICIOUS!
I didn’t have applesauce so used banana that I had frozen, thawed and mashed. I used mostly coconut sugar but had to top up with brown sugar. I didn’t have vanilla essence so added a touch of almond essence. Then lastly, I didn’t have enough peanut butter, so used a mixed nut and seed butter. Now I’ve just drizzled some dark chocolate over the top.
So easy and delicious 😋
Theresa Goetsch
Mine didn’t hold together very well and were a little too sweet. I used Skippy Natural Creamy PB and Wholesome Coconut Sugar. I didn’t have Oat Flour so I put Oats in my Ninja to create the flour. Not sure what I did wrong. They taste good though. I may have to try it again.
★★★
Liz
Thanks for the comment, Theresa! They do tend to be a bit crumbly since they’re gluten free, but maybe grinding the oats, even more, would help? As for the sweetness, feel free to reduce the sugar! Skippy Natural does contain added sugar so that could be part of the reason for the extra sweetness!
Jessi
I followed this recipe using Adam’s natural peanut butter. I added 1.5 tbsp of oil when I saw the batter was too dry. I baked for 8 mins. Once they were out of the even, I let the cookies cool down for 10 mins before removing from the pan. I was afraid the cookie wouldn’t hold up, but once the cookies cooled, the texture definitely improved (it wasn’t chewy like I like them but tasted amazing). I will likely try it again soon with the recommended brand of pb.
Pablo
These taste ok, but fell apart into crumbs. I followed the recipe perfectly, not sure what happened to mine.
Liz
Aw man, I’m sorry yours didn’t turn out! What type of peanut butter did you use?
Nerissa
Can you use less sugar or would it change the consistency?
Liz
Hmm i think it would probably change the consistency. You might be able to reduce it slightly!
Britni
Love your creation of a healthy peanut butter cookie!
★★★★★
Linda
I totally relate to your 100-calorie desserts. I’d much rather have a real dessert a couple times a week than go for those less than satisfying packets. And these cookies look like they would definitely satisfy! All that peanut butter goodness without too much sugar and no flour – simply love it!
★★★★★
Natalie
I love peanut butter cookies and these look and sound so delicious and so easy to make! Will definitely try this recipe soon!
★★★★★
Tilly
You had me a soft and chewy and won me over with peanut butter.