Peanut Butter Cookies

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

On a hot and sticky September afternoon in the year 2000, I walked into a sterile, frigid building, looked into his eyes and fell head over heels in love with a stranger.

His name is Julian. He is a thoughtful, artistic, sensitive soul with a laugh that comes from the very depths of his being. He loves music, art and Pokemon. He is one of my g-kids.

Julian making gluten free cookies

Julian is one of the biggest supporters of my gluten-free lifestyle and always very concerned that what I eat not be harmful to me. He is my self declared number one taste tester for new recipes, especially for the sweets and treats.

Last week he asked me to give him cooking classes. We started with something simple, Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies.

These cookies are the perfect recipe for children. They require no fancy gadgets, just a bowl and a wooden spoon. No sharp implements, no dangerous mixer beaters. Plus they get to use their hands which is a big plus! I took oven duty, putting them in and taking them out and he did the rest.

We had a fun afternoon, he learned about measuring and stirring, got to lick the bowl and spoon, we chatted and laughed and best of all we were rewarded with some really delicious cookies.

These cookies may be easy to make and a great project for kids but believe me they are not to be relegated to the “kid’s food” category. They are sugary, chewy and utterly fantastic!

The fact that they are flourless is a plus but honestly you will never miss the flour, they are hands down the best peanut butter cookies I have ever had. Julian say’s it is because of the extra love he put in, could be. Try them yourself and let me know if it is Julian’s extra love that makes them so special or if they are just plain fantastic. Don’t worry, I’ll never tell.

Click here to see my cooking demonstration of this recipe on Daytime TV!

 

4.43 from 7 votes
Peanut Butter Cookies
Print Recipe

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 98kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar plus more for rolling the cookies in
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten with a fork
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking liners.
  • In a large bowl mix the peanut butter with 1 cup sugar. Stir until well blended. Add the egg, baking powder and vanilla. Stir well. Pour some additional sugar in a small bowl. Take 1 tablespoon of the dough and roll in to a ball. Roll the dough ball in the sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
  • Take a dinner fork, stick it in the sugar and gently press down each dough ball to flatten, then turn the fork 90 degrees and gently press again, making the traditional hatch markings of a peanut butter cookie.
  • Bake for 10 minutes. Take out of over and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Gently transfer the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 98 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 52mg2%
Potassium 89mg3%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.3mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owner’s. This blog accepts free manufacturers’ samples and forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Affiliate links may be included in this post.

Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Celiac Cookies Easy Flourless Gluten-Free Kid Friendly Peanut Butter Recipe
0 shares
  1. Jennifer
    August 1, 2009

    He sounds like such a caring, sweet young boy!!! He is just glowing helping you with those cookies!! Thanks for this great recipe :)

  2. H.Peter
    August 1, 2009

    Brilliant post.

  3. Sue
    August 1, 2009

    I LOVE little boys. (That came out wrong, you know what I mean.)

    I'm amazed that those cookies stay together. They must be the moistest, more peanut buttery things on the planet.

  4. Peter G
    August 1, 2009

    I love the simplicity of this Carol…had no idea you could make cookies without any flour. And Julian looks like a natural in the kitchen too!

    1. Joanie
      March 22, 2021

      I have been making these cookies for quite awhile now…. so quick and easy….. and this is my MOST REQUESTED COOKIES FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

  5. Helene
    August 1, 2009

    Your son is so cute. Nice helper in the kitchen. Love your cookies. Anything with peanut butter and I like it.

  6. gfe--gluten free easily
    August 1, 2009

    Another G-kid cutie you have there, Carol! I'm quite the fan of flourless peanut butter cookies myself. I use the recipe that calls for brown sugar vs white, but I know many who like both. Yum in either case.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Shirley

    1. December 5, 2012

      I use the brown sugar version, too, and love it! It’s almost too delicious. Technically I’m not supposed to eat peanuts OR sugar, but I love making these for my family on special occasions (and they certainly love for me to make them, too!)

      1. Gluten Free & More
        December 6, 2012

        I understand about too delicious! You can make these nut free with Sunbutter – just add a few drops of lemon juice or the cookies will be an odd color but they taste great! And woould be (practically) guilt free!

  7. Susan @ SGCC
    August 1, 2009

    What a gorgeous child! Seriously. He is destined to be a heartbreaker some day.

    Those are the first cookies I ever made with my daughter for all of the same reasons. Luckily, they are pure awesomeness! Yours turned out perfectly!

  8. pigpigscorner
    August 2, 2009

    He sounds so sweet =) Anything with PB for me!

  9. Miss | A
    August 2, 2009

    Julian is gorgeous!! Reminds me of my son, same exact age! who loves pokemon and cooking and has long hair. See my blog for pics of him. They would be great friends don't you think?! I can not believe you are a granny! I had to look at your picture again and again! you look great!! XO

  10. Sonya
    August 6, 2009

    I made these yesterday and they came out really great. Thanks for the recipe!

  11. fiOrdivanilla
    August 8, 2009

    these biscuits are simply… fabulous!

  12. Personal Chef Barb
    August 19, 2009

    What a cutie! Thanks for the recipe, I have made these before and loved them. I will send a link to my 11 year old nephew who is an aspiring chef. We made Pots de Creme together recently and I heard he went home and grilled cheeseburgers for my sister! Btw, have you tried this recipe with almond butter? Seems like it would work.

  13. Ester D. Puente
    August 22, 2009

    LOVE these! thank you for posting the recipe!

  14. Charlotte
    December 6, 2009

    Hi again Carol,
    I was feeling blue tonight and so my hubbie helped, yes I did just write my hubbie helped me to make these cookies. They were lovely, had a chew about them, which is always a good thing for GF biscuits, and I just wanted to say Thank You very much. Hope you're having a very pleasant Sunday evening, very best wishes, Charlotte (cupcake corner – again!)

  15. Jody
    January 9, 2010

    This is such a wonderful cookie recipe. The batch never lasts more than a couple days at our house. My husband, who is gluten free, loves them. And my son who is nearly three LOVES TO HELP. I was thinking if I make a 1/2 batch and remove the egg, it would make great edible playdough. The dough itself is really tasty (not something you see with many g-free recipes).

  16. Elizabeth
    August 27, 2010

    My Aunt Judy just got back from a pack trip (horses) to mountains in Banff, Canada and the camp cook made this same recipe. Judy said they are some of the best peanut butter cookies ever!

  17. Anonymous
    October 11, 2010

    thank you so much for these! I was looking for a dessert to make my son while my wife was out. It's so hard to find good desserts with a GFCF diet. These cookies are amazing. I almost can't believe I made them.

  18. Jesica Ronning
    March 18, 2011

    These are GREAT! My family eats them right up! I love that they have a more peanut butter taste!

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  20. August 28, 2011

    I have been making these for probably 15 years, without the baking powder, from the recipe “Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies” from the side of the C&H sugar bag. They are awesome – I like to sprinkle a little extra kosher salt on top.

    1. January 12, 2012

      I got a recipe like yours out of the newspaper over 25 years ago. Alas, my boyfriend likes chewy cookies. The natural peanut butter I use makes crispy ones. I guess I will experiment with adding extra egg and sweet rice flour.

      1. January 13, 2012

        I usually use really creamy, not natural peanut butter and depending on how long I bake them for they rae either crisy or chewy.

      2. Samantha
        February 1, 2013

        Hey there, I had to use natural PB as that’s what I had, I added less than 1TB of butter to make up for the fat. The resulting cookie was a little less crispy than without the butter. Such a yummy recipe…these aren’t going to last long….

        1. Gluten Free & More
          February 3, 2013

          I understand about them not lasting long! Great solution with the addition of a bit of butter, love it!

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  22. Jeremy Verrillo
    November 15, 2011

    Delicious!!!!

  23. Cindy
    June 7, 2012

    Hi Carol, I love this recipe. I stumbled upon it and had to try it right away. Then I had to blog about it right away. Thanks so much for a great recipe.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      June 7, 2012

      Thank you Cindy! Enjoy.

  24. Barbara
    November 19, 2012

    Just made these with 1/2 cashew butter and 1/2 sunbutter. Also tossed in a few chocolate pieces. Yum!!! Thanks for this recipe. My hubby said the cookies “met a deep need.” :)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      November 20, 2012

      Haha – I love the way your hubby talks! You are very welcome.

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  26. Nicki
    January 17, 2013

    You’ll have to tell me if my substitutions are gluten free. I used sunflower butter and nutella instead of peanutbutter. Yummy. Thanks for recipe. Quick and easy to do.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      January 18, 2013

      The sunflower butter was probably fine but there is a bit of controversy over Nutella. I am not convinced personally it is gluten free. I use Justin’s chocolate hazelnut spread instead. Anyway, your recipe sounds yummy!

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  29. Hana
    March 13, 2013

    I hope you will answer me, how can I substitute the eggs (I don’t have egg substitutions in Egypt that are commercial) do you have anything natural that I can do? Thank you, this seems like a great recipe :)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      March 14, 2013

      Hi Hana, although I have not tried it with this particular recipe you can take either chia seeds or ground flax seeds, and soak them in water for an egg substitute. For each egg mix 1 tablespoon ground flax or chia seed with 3 tablespoons warm water and let sit for 5 minutes or until it is gelatinous. Good luck, I hope this helps!

  30. Kassm
    March 30, 2013

    Hi Carol,

    I really enjoyed reading your recipe. I did try it tonight but had to replace the peanut butter with cashew butter to make it salicyilate free. I loved the taste but could not get the texture right! It was not crispy enough and easily broke when I tried to get it off the baking try, I might have flattened them to much before baking! Any suggestions on how I can make it crispy?

    Thank you :)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 3, 2013

      Hi! I have never made them with cashew butter but I have with Sunbutter often so I see no reason why it would be different. My husband likes the cookies crispy and I like them not as crispy – to get crispy I just cook a few minutes longer and then let them cool on the pan completly (best baked with parchment or silicon baking mat on the pan) then peel them off. Hope that helps!

  31. Carey Ann
    April 4, 2013

    These are such a treat! Perfect amount of peanut butter, chewiness & sweetness. Thank you so much for this recipe!! Definitely a keeper! =)

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 6, 2013

      My pleasue, so happy you enjoyed them. They are a family favorite around here!

  32. April 10, 2013

    I am cooling some of these right now! I hope they get a bit harder as they cool because they wouldn’t be sharable if they don’t (Although still delicious). Thanks for an easy GF recipe- I’m giving these and some of these: yummly.com/recipe/Vegan-Drop-Cookie-Food_com-189038 to my future sister in law who is strictly GF. I don’t do much GF baking so thanks!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      April 11, 2013

      They should have hardened as they cooled otherwise you could bake a minute or two longer. I hope you enjoyed them.

  33. June 12, 2013

    was really looking for some quick cookie recipe.. and here it is.. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      June 15, 2013

      My pleasure glad you enjoyed it!

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  42. August 28, 2014

    First things first, what a beautiful child! He sounds like he’s as beautiful inside as he is outside. As for the cookies, I am making them tomorrow! If it weren’t so late I’d be in the kitchen making them right now – but it’d stress out my cat if I got up from the couch right now. Thanks for all your recipes. On a serious note, you’ve helped make my (health-dictated) transition to a gluten free life much easier and yummier. You’ve kept me sane and for that my husband, daughters, and cats thank you!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      September 2, 2014

      Joi,
      haha You are so welcome! I’m happy to help :) I hope you and your family enjoy the cookies and come back for more recipes!
      xo,
      Carol

  43. darkocean
    October 3, 2014

    For cookies that need ‘flour’ try taking oatmeal and puting it in a coffee grinder/food processes for oatmeal flour :) there’s no wheat there, or cherieos check-mix rice chex exc for your flour. Some cookies need them.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      December 1, 2014

      Thanks for the tip :)

      xo,
      Carol

  44. Mel White
    October 28, 2014

    I can’t wait to try these peanut butter cookies, just what I’ve been looking for; BUT — any nutritional information? I’d love to at least know calories — fat and sugar would be good. Then I can fit them into my day. THANKS!

    1. Gluten Free & More
      December 1, 2014

      Hi Mel!

      I haven’t measured out any of the above, but I know of a fantastic site that can calculate everything for you. It’s called Calorie King. Hope this helps!

      xo,
      Carol

  45. Sarah Russek
    January 24, 2015

    Very good!

  46. Ken
    April 17, 2015

    Awesome. Made with half brown and half granulated sugar. Any ideas how to make them a little more moist?

    1. Gluten Free & More
      June 9, 2015

      Yes Ken, Just cook them a few minutes less then the recipe instructs. Enjoy!
      xo,
      Carol

  47. Akenjeli
    June 20, 2015

    Delicious. I just made a batch. I decided to do a test run in preparation for making them tomorrow for someone. One batch came out a bit too crispy and black on the bottom (I used aluminum foil and cooked the crispy batch a bit longer than 10 minutes); however, my first batch was perfect (cooked with aluminum foil and at the recommended time). I cant wait to make another batch tomorrow. I have the hang of it now (fingers crossed). Although, I will add less sugar as these were just a tad too sweet for me. Love this recipe! So easy.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      June 24, 2015

      Yay, I’m glad you liked them :) These are one of my favorites just because of how easy they are! xo,
      Carol

  48. Nicole
    September 6, 2015

    These look great! Need to buy some GF baking powder and GF vanilla!

  49. Lindsay
    September 16, 2015

    Can you just substitute one cup brown sugar instead of granulated sugar? Or would it be different measurements ? Recipe sounds great can’t wait to try !

    1. Gluten Free & More
      October 23, 2015

      Hi Lindsay,
      Yes you absolutely can do that. :) Enjoy! xo, Carol

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  56. Rene Nortz
    October 7, 2016

    I made these exactly as directed and they were way too sickeningly sweet! I had to toss them, which is a first for me, since I love anything peanut butter.

    1. Gluten Free & More
      October 14, 2016

      Sorry you didn’t enjoy them Rene. I would cut the sugar by as much as half and then not roll them in sugar before putting them in the oven if you make them again.
      xo,
      Carol

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  58. Rose
    December 17, 2019

    This recipe is fabulous for someone who is looking to find a good dairy free and gluten-free desert!
    I made them for a church event and everyone loved them!
    I highly recommend this recipe to people!

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