Chewy and soft flourless peanut butter cookies dipped in dark chocolate! Each bite is filled with peanut buttery flavor, they’re not too sweet – but just right, and naturally gluten-free. They’re perfect for the holidays but also any time of the year too!
Many readers over the years have loved these flourless peanut butter cookies! And for good reason – they’re made with only 4 main ingredients, contain zero flour, and are filled with peanut buttery goodness in each bite.
They’re perfect if you don’t have a ton of ingredients on hand, and they take very little preparation at all to make.
We love serving these around the holidays but they’re also delicious to be served year-round!
The Secret to Flourless Cookies
So, if you’re wondering how can cookies work without using any flour? It’s quite simple – lots of peanut butter. 😉
It helps give the cookies shape, structure, and chewy texture without needing any flour at all! One cup is used per batch, so if you aren’t a huge peanut butter fan, then these cookies might not be for you. But you might be surprised once you try one! They are that delish.
Ingredients – What You Need
Below you’ll find the full list of ingredients needed to make these cookies!
- Peanut butter: use creamy peanut butter or almond butter!
- Coconut sugar: This sugar is my favorite healthier swap for brown sugar. You can swap it one to one for brown if desired!
- Vanilla extract: to add the perfect flavor!
- Egg: to bind the ingredients.
- Chocolate: use dark chocolate for dairy-free or semi-sweet if preferred.
How to Make Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies – Step by Step
(1) First, add all of the ingredients (minus the chocolate) into a mixing bowl.
(2) Mix with a rubber spatula until the dough forms and the ingredients are combined.
(3) Form the dough into 2-inch dough balls (use your hands to roll them). Then use a fork to press down on the cookie and make a cross pattern.
(4) Then bake the cookies for 8 minutes at 350F. Let cool, then dip or drizzle with melted chocolate!
Tips for Success
Avoid using “stiff” or dry peanut butter! This recipe really relies on peanut butter to support a chewy and soft texture. It’s important that the peanut butter is creamy and smooth (think spreadable!), if it’s stiff and dry it will not work for the recipe.
My favorite sugar to use for these cookies – I recommend coconut sugar as a healthier alternative to processed sugar. But you can also use brown sugar instead – I do not recommend white sugar as a substitute for this specific recipe. White sugar does not have molasses in it (like brown sugar does) so it will not add the moisture that’s needed for soft and chewy cookies. I have not tested this recipe with maple syrup or honey.
Add some spices! If you’d like to switch up the flavor, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of either cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, ginger, or some nutmeg.
Change up the chocolate – I personally love using dark chocolate for these cookies because it pairs so well with the peanut butter! But you can also try milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or even white chocolate! Or a combination. Mix it up and let me know what flavor you like best in the comments!
How to store cookies: place cooled cookies in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use crunchy peanut butter? I personally have never tested it, but if it’s easy to spread and not dry, it should work fine. If you do try it with crunchy peanut butter, let me know in the comments how they turned out!
Can I freeze these cookies? Yes! They freeze great. Store the baked cookies in a freezer-friendly bag and freeze them for up to 1 month! You can also freeze the dough balls for up to 1-2 months, then remove them and bake them according to instructions when you want cookies right away.
Can I make them vegan? You can! Swap 3 Tablespoons of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie puree) for 1 egg. I’ve not tested this recipe with a flax egg, but it should work!
More Peanut Butter Cookies to Try
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chewy Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The Best Oatmeal Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gluten-Free Monster Cookies
5 Ingredient Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1 cup dark chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Mix the ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use a rubber spatula or large spoon to mix together the peanut butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg.
- Roll the dough: Use a cookie scoop or eyeball to measure the dough and use your hands to roll them into 2-inch dough balls. Arrange the dough balls onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Press with a fork: Then use the back of a fork to press a criss-cross design onto each dough ball. This should flatten the cookies quite a bit.
- Bake: then bake the cookies for 8 minutes.
- Melt dark chocolate: either in a double-boiler or in a microwave – melt the dark chocolate. If using a microwave, do 30 seconds at a time (stirring in between each 30 seconds) to prevent the chocolate from burning.
- Decorate: Then drizzle melted chocolate over the baked cookies! Let cool and allow the chocolate to solidify before enjoying! You can also pop the cookies in the fridge to speed this process up. Enjoy!
Such an easy recipe! No mixer involved, minimal ingredients and absolutely delicious cookies! We will be experimenting with other nut butters…and chocolate. We used milk chocolate for our first batch but will try dark chocolate next time.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Tina! Thank you so much for the kind words. Almond butter is a delicious nut butter to try them with too!
The, Bake or Fry Eggplant Parmesan, is to die for. I have made it several times, and everyone loves it. I serve a serving of spaghetti next to it!
Thanks so much, Ken!! I’m so glad you all enjoy it so much 🙂
That’s an amazing looking cookie !! Looking forward to trying this wonderful recipe.
I’m making them right now! They look and smell so good. I don’t have dark chocolate but I do have milk chocolate do I’m using that instead.
That’s totally fine! Any chocolate will do. But the cookies are also delicious on their own if you don’t have chocolate. Hope you enjoy 🙂
These cookies look gorgeous and such a simple recipe! Thank you for sharing and a happy New Year to you! 🙂
These are by far the best peanut butter cookies I have ever had, and made. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Thank you so much, Sherri! So glad you like them 🙂 They’re SO yummy!
I love peanut butter cookies! These look so delicious and perfect for Christmas!
Absolutely love these!! So fast and easy to make! These are my go-to cookies when I want something sweet!
Thank you, Sabrina! <3
Amazing that you can make such deliciousness with very few ingredients!!