These healthy vegan peanut butter cookies are completely flourless, fruit-sweetened, and egg-free–made with just 5 simple ingredients in under 30 minutes!
I just had one of those incredulous “How do I not have a {insert essential dessert here} recipe on the blog by now?!” moments. And, as you probably already guessed, this time the sweet essential in question was peanut butter cookies. And also mini muffins, but I haven’t had the chance to solve that bite-sized dilemma quite yet.
I drop the ball on peanut butter things much too often, but I swear I really do love the stuff. See looky HERE – cold ice creamy peanut butter proof. And I especially adore it with chocolate, yet it seems most of my past peanut butter recipes don’t involve PB’s cacao bestie. So I guess what I’m saying is that my recipe index is not an accurate representation of my feelings towards peanut butter. Just thought you should know.
But I set out on a mission to make the best easy/healthy/yummy/all-the-adjectives-cookie-dreams-are-made-of peanut butter cookie my tastebuds could imagine, and I think these Chewy Grain-Free Peanut Butter Cookies hit the mark. No wait…they blew right past the mark and into exceeds snack expectations territory.
Imagine a peanut butter cookie Larabar. And imagine a warm, soft-baked peanut butter cookie. Now take a bit of both those scenarios, smush it all together, and behold…
Chewydelicous cookie perfection!
That’s what’s happening here, and I am not the least bit mad about this hybrid.
I promised easy. These cookies are 5 ingredients, one food processor, less than 30 minutes from pitting the dates to biting into a scrumptious cookies. How’s that for any-day doable?
These cookies were inspired by my favorite little flourless chocolate crinkle cookies. So the base ingredient that binds them, sweetens them, and makes up about 50% of the dough is medjool dates. The flourless and grain-free dry ingredient at work here to balance all that date sticky-ness and simultaneously bump up the peanut flavor is powdered peanut butter. Unsweetened is best if you can find it, the dates have the sweetness thing covered. A quarter cup of creamy peanut butter keeps the cookie texture rich and buttery. And finally baking powder, because we are baking after all.
EAT THEM WARM. From the oven. Freshly baked.
Yes that tip truly does warrant all caps, I’m not scream-typing for no reason. Because they are ten times better fresh. The next day they are a totally different-textured but still delicious beast – more chewy and no-bake cookie like. If you don’t catch them in the buttery oven-warm window, I actually prefer them chilled after that as a little sweet snack or dessert bite.
Happy nutty cookie nibbling!
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Vegan Grain-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Category: cookies
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Description
These healthy vegan peanut butter cookies are completely flourless, fruit-sweetened, and egg-free–made with just 5 simple ingredients in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 15 pitted medjool dates
- 1/2 cup powdered peanut butter ((preferably unsweetened))
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2–3 tbsp non-dairy milk
- 2 tsps baking powder
- Optional: pinch of salt ((if your peanut butter is not salted))
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Blend the dates in a food processor until broken down into small pieces. Don’t over process or it will form a big ball.
- Add the powdered peanut butter, peanut butter, and baking powder. Process slowly adding the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until a ball of dough forms.
- Break off pieces of dough and roll into 10-12 balls.
- Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down gently and use a fork to make criss-cross lines on the top of each cookie.
- Bake for approximately 12 minutes at 350F.
- Remove from the oven. Cool for 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!
- They are best fresh but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Keywords: baking, sugar free, easy, healthy, dessert, snack
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Oh man that doughiness and peanut buttery-ness of these cookies is legit INSANE! Pinning these babes for later <3
“doughiness” the perfect made up adjective for these guys👌 Thanks for pinning friend!
Really you had me at peanut butter, but then you said larabar and I was totally on board! LOVE the super chewiness of those gems, and these cookies look like they’d take it one step further in texture and flavor, too! I love making peanut butter things with very minimal ingredients so it’s super prominent in peanut buttery-ness, which it looks like you definitely did here. These look so simple but perfect, as always, Natalie! Hope you’ve had a lovely week so far 🙂
Even though I know your true love lies with almond butter, I think you would love these too with all their fruit sweetness! Totally agree on the prominent peanut flavor thing–if I’m eating a peanut butter cookie it better taste like complete peanut butter overload😋
I used to think that peanut butter without chocolate was a lot like Art Garfunkel’s solo career. This may have swayed me but boy, I can’t wait for the reunion tour!
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Hahaha this comment is perfect 😀
And best cookie food porn goes to . . . Natalie!!! These look delish and your pictures are amazingggg!
Hahaha!! And I didn’t even know I was nominated 😀 Thanks Ashley!
Do you have an equivalent of the dates for dates paste? I REALLY want to make these tonight, but made all my dates into date paste! That’s considerably more liquid than just dates, so maybe I just won’t need as much non-dairy almond milk? Thoughts?
Hmm I worry that it will still be too much moisture even with leaving out the non dairy milk. I would start with 1/2 cup date paste but you still may need extra powdered peanut butter (or even some oat flour) to get a rollable dough. Good luck!
Yum yum yummmmmm!!! Peanut butter cookies are the best! I love that these are so healthy too. They look beautiful Natalie <3
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Thanks girl! They are one of my favorite cookies too…but then again there aren’t many cookies I don’t like 🙂
Right?? I’ve been thinking about how I don’t have a basic peanut butter cookie recipe either! But then, it’s like the too much pressure, need to make it perfect PERFECT before it goes out. Lol. But why did I already know that you LOVE PB? Even without the so-called recipe index proof you mentioned? Bestie connection? I think so! 😉 Oh gosh… I’m imagining that PB cookie larabar, then I’m thinking about it as an FoF cookie recipe, and I’m just in PB bliss. <3 <3 “Chewydelicous cookie perfection!”<— basically all I need to kick off the week. 😉 Needing all of these cookies and THEN some! Hugs! Xoxo
Wow you’re right you don’t have one either!! That’s something that BB definitely needs one of these days, but I will wait patiently while you perfect it 🙂 See that’s why I made them flourless and fruity–leaving my options open to still make an even classic-er pb cookie in the future with flour and stuff if ever the urge strikes. Happy weekend friend! <3
Hi there! Love all of your formulas…especially the possibility of healthy PB cookies. I wanted to ask if PB powder wasn’t available, what would be a good substitute?
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Hi Yvonne! You could use almond flour or oat flour instead, but the amounts will vary slightly with each. I would recommend starting with the same 1/2 cup for whichever you use and then adding more as needed until you have a sticky but rollable dough. Or cocoa powder works as well if you are up for an extra decadent cookie 🙂
Hi Natalie,
I ended up using the same amt of almond meal and they came out so yummy. I love the texture. The PB powder would have definitely bumped up the PB flavor, but i dont mind the hint of almond. I will have to find a sugarless PB powder…the search continues.
Thanks!
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Yay I am so happy the almond meal worked! Yes the peanut powder has a pretty intense peanut taste so it will definitely be more subtle without that, but I love the rich nuttiness of almond meal too so it still sounds delicious in it’s own way 🙂 Crazy Richards is the only brand I know of that has the unsweetened stuff in stores, Amazon has a few different brands though. Good luck!
The date queen does it again!! These definitely scream the peanut butter Larabar to me too! I’ve actually eaten the peanut butter cookie Larabars and they are tasty. I really love that you added powdered peanut flour for an additional bump of peanut butter flavor because, hey, you can never have too much peanut flavor! They are so perfectly round and look so ultimately chewy! And I’m glad you realized you didn’t have a peanut butter cookie on here yet, because it was time these beauties showed their face. I love peanut butter cookies, they are so much of a stronger flavor than almond…in a really good way. I bet these would be really delicious in some vanilla ice cream if you broke them up in little chunks. Mmmmm, craving ice cream again, haha! Great recipe Natalie1
Wait wait wait…YOU like a larabar flavor!?!?! But all the dates? How? What? Not even a chocolate flavor either? I’m shocked! lol Kidding of course–that makes me happy to hear actually 🙂 I have had that jar of powdered pb in my pantry for far too long, it needed to find a delicious purpose and cookies were it. I still might have to do a non date packed pb cookie someday, but there’s always time and more peanut butter for that. Oooh yes I am loving this ice cream plan! Kinda making me thing of your Pecan Pie Cookies that I keep thinking are ice cream topped again lol 😀
If I substitute cacao powder for the powdered pb, is the measurement the same? Or do you think I should use a bit less, 1/3 cup?
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It would require the same 1/2 cup in order to not be too sticky to roll, but if that is too intense a chocolate flavor for you than you could do half cocoa and half almond/oat flour instead.
Wonderful! They are full of flavor, which means my boys have another great treat they love, that won’t mess them up!
I am so happy to hear it Dora, I hope they (and you!) enjoy them 🙂
I could eat these cookies all day long! I will definitely give them a try, Natalie!
I could too! A nibble here, a nibble there 🙂 Thanks Agness!
First time commenter and new lifetime subscriber! I first discovered your YouTube channel, then your blog and have literally been obsessed since then (no joke, super obsessed).
Your recipes are simply wonderful and a genuine joy to read (& re-create), so thank you!
This is definitely one of my favourite recipes, not only for the peanut goodness of these cookies, but the fact you introduced me to my new favourite ingredient powered peanutbutter… What a discovery!
Please don’t stop being the lovely, creative soul that you are.
Much love from the UK
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Aww this is the sweetest comment ever, thank you SO much for the kind words and support <3 Yes powdered peanut butter is the best. It's nice for a lower fat way to smear pb on everything, but I especially love it for using in recipes--so much flavor! I hope you enjoy these little nibble-perfect cookies Dom 🙂
I love how simple these are! I have yet to experiment with peanut butter powder. Although i think this recipe is making me want to try. It’s perfect for the summer and they look so nice and chewy! I’m totally intrigued by the lack of any type of flour! Thanks Natalie!
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You haven’t tried the powder pb yet? I don’t love it for spreading/dipping like actual peanut butter but it’s awesome in baking, the flavor is really intense. Just waiting for powder almond butter, we know it won’t be long 😀
Hi !
Do you have any idea of the weight of the datte please ?
Thanks in advance,
Elodie
I don’t know the weight for the dates since I don’t use a kitchen scale, but I can tell you that according to the package 2 dates = 46 grams so 15 dates like the recipe calls for would be about 345g if my math is correct. Hope that helps!
Look at these beauty! I really need to get my hand on some powdered PB!
Thanks for the recipe Natalie! 🙂
I hope you can find it! Most flavorful “flour” perfect for extra peanut cookies🤗 Thanks for checking them out Aryane!
We made these cookies this week, with Orgain Peanut Butter Protein Powder, instead of the powdered peanut butter, and they were delicious. The ratio of dates to the other ingredients was spot on. Thanks for another reliably great recipe. Well done!
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That’s such a great idea to swap in the PB protein powder! Actually I’m not sure I’ve ever seen/tried peanut butter protein powder, but now I want to just for all the potentially delicious recipe possibilities 🙂 I am so happy they turned out well, thanks for the feedback Charity!
Hi Natalie! Is it possible to make the creamy peanut with the peanut butter powder and then use the powder on its own? I don’t have a stock of regular pb but I do have loads of pb powder! What are your thoughts?
Love love love you and your creations,
Katie💕
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You can certainly try it! My only concern is that they will be drier after baking due to the lower fat content, but the fact that they are date-based may be enough to offset that. Good luck!
Hi
We dont get powdered peanut butter in India. Whats a substitute? Alternatively how can we make it at home? Thanx
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I don’t think it’s something you can make at home without an industrial strength dehydrator, but you can substitute the powdered peanut butter with flour. Oat flour would work as would all purpose, or even something like almond or coconut, but each will require a slightly different amount so it may take some adjusting to get a sticky but still rollable dough texture. Good luck!
Hello!
I love the sound of this.
Could i use fine ground peanut instead of powdered peanut?
Thanks! Lisa
Hi Lisa! Yes that should work, although powdered pb has the oil removed so it’s a lot drier than ground peanuts which means you may need more of the ground peanuts do get a roll-able not overly sticky dough. Good luck!
I used 1/2 cup of Oat flour and it worked fine.
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Good to know, thanks Amber! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Delicious! Even my husband was impressed. Usually he does not like my healthy creations. 🙂
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Woohoo!! That is always a good sign, I am so happy you both liked them Alison 🙂
Tried these last night! Quick and so yummy, chewy, and so lovely warm from the oven. A bit sweet for me but I think it was because I used sweetened peanut flour( could not find unsweetened!) . I love that I found your blog and so many of your recipes use dates as a sweetener and less inflammatory/pathogen feeding grains. Thank you!
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Hi Michelle! I am so happy they turned out delicious. Mmmm what cookie isn’t best warm and oven-fresh😋 Yes sweetened pb powder will make them a lot sweeter, the unsweetened is hard to find so I usually go with amazon for that. I am so happy the recipes work for you and your diet, enjoy the rest and I hope you try something else yummy soon!
Just made these cookies they’re just AMAZINGLY perfect
Thank you for wonderful recipe.
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Woohoo! I am so happy you like the Mikaela🤗 Happy PB cookie munching to you!
CanIUseAlmondFlourInsteadOfPowderedPeanutButter?(ForgiveTheWeirdFormat,There’sSomethingWrongWithThisFont/MyComputer/SomethingElse,It’sDrivingMeNuts[PunIntended!],Too)
Almond flour won’t work here unfortunately. It is much more crumbly where as powdered peanut butter has had the oil removed so it soaks up moisture and is quite sticky/binding. Sorry!
Is there anything I can use in place of powdered peanut butter?
Powdered PB is a pretty unique ingredient in that it’s grain free and kinda like a flour but also REALLY sticky/bindy, so nothing I can think of here would work the same. But if you wanted a grain-free peanut utter cookie without it, maybe try this recipe with peanut butter as the nut butter: https://www.feastingonfruit.com/almond-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Oh my goodness! Everyone said the cookies tasted heavenly! Thanks for the amazing quick and easy recipe! ❤️
YAY!! I am so happy they were a hit🤗 You’ve had a busy (but delicious) baking weekend!
I am really happy to find your blog & YouTube channel
I have a baby who eats solid food and I love your recipes with date sweetened.
I always use less dates you recommended but it always works so well and I feel good to feed my son !
I also made this peanut butter cookies & he absolutely loved it! Thank you so much Natalie ! I hope to see more recipes with dates ! Sending you lots of love ❤️
Aw yay!! I am so so happy your son (and hopefully you too!) is enjoying the recipes🤗 Yes dates are awesome, I wish I had grown up on date-sweetened treats too–he’s very lucky. Thanks for the feedback, and I will defiantly share more date-sweetened recipes soon💕
Just made these cookies they’re just AMAZINGLY perfect
YAY!! I am so happy you liked them🤗