I’m sure many of you are familiar with those basic 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies: 1 egg, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar. These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies were based on that formula, but I wanted to make them egg-free (a common request) and lower in sugar, while still maintaining their naturally gluten-free and grain-free status. To do so, I made a few little ingredients swaps, and it created scrumdiddlyumptious cookies, if I do say so myself.
Easy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies that are Vegan & Grain-Free
These marvelous cookies are so simple to make. They come together in minutes, can be adjusted to taste as needed, and bake up without need for butter, flour, or egg alternatives. That means you can make them with kids, and you can both enjoy sampling the dough without worry!
I originally shared this recipe in 2011, but have since made some updates and added some tips!
Peanut Butter Tips
Peanut butter can vary quite a bit in consistency from brand to brand. Since the peanut butter is acting as both the fat and the “flour” in this recipe, the taste and texture of the peanut butter can make more of a difference.
I use Trader Joe’s unsalted creamy peanut butter. It is all natural (just peanuts) and has a very soft, almost runny consistency at room temperature. Feel free to use salted peanut butter if you prefer a salty contrast, or crunchy peanut butter if you want some texture. In general, those swap options should work seamlessly.
If the peanut butter you are using is quite firm, you may find your dough a little too solid. If so, simply add a little water, a teaspoon at a time, until it has a cookie dough-like consistency.
Special Diet Notes: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
I have not tested this recipe with other nut butters or seed butters. They will probably work, but might vary in texture. If you use sunflower seed butter, the cookies might have a greenish hue. This is safe, and is a natural reaction between the seeds and baking soda.
- ½ tablespoon flaxseeds
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ cup peanut butter (see Peanut Butter Tips in post above)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon honey (can sub agave nectar for strictly vegan)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips (optional)
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Grind the flaxseeds in your spice grinder, and place them in a mixing bowl. Stir in the water and let that sit while you measure out the other ingredients. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, honey (or agave), vanilla, and baking soda. Stir until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. If the mixture is too moist to handle, feel free to place it in the refrigerator to firm up for about 30 minutes. If it is too dry, add a little more water, as needed.
- Scoop the dough by the tablespoonful and place on your prepared baking sheet. Flatten the dough mounds a little (they don't spread much).
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before you handle them. They do firm up as they cool.
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19 Comments
Would regular powdered sugar work? Cause I’m wanting to make the cookies for a friend and he can only have Gluten Free and Dairy Free stuff cause of his allergies to them.
I can’t 100% verify the turnout Megan, but that will probably work. You can put the sugar in a spice grinder and grind it into a powder before measuring. Alternately, you can double this recipe and use 1 egg in place of the flaxseed and water (if not vegan / egg-free) to help with the consistency.
Was looking for something “carby” while on an elimination diet, and these fit the bill! My first gluten-free & dairy-free dessert! They were easy to make and came out VERY peanut buttery. I love that they make a small batch so we don’t overindulge.
Awesome! We like our cookies high on the peanut buttery scale 🙂 Thanks for your feedback Sherrie!
Trying with xylitol instead of powdered sugar!
I hope it works out well for you Amber!
If I don’t have powdered sugar can I use regular sugar?
You can, but the dough may be a little more wet/sticky.
Are these cookies COMPLETELY dairy and gluten free, because I have allergies.
Yes, just make sure you buy dairy-free chocolate chips!
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Hi,
I was thinking of making these for a cookie swap that requires me to make 6 or 7 dozen cookies. Would this recipe do well doubled, tripled, or more, or would it be better to make one batch at a time? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
In theory, you should be able to multiply the batch, but I would do a test batch first, then just trying doubling to be sure.
Does the Trader Joe’s Organic powdered sugar have cornstarch in it like most do?
I checked, it has tapioca starch, not cornstarch.
Would I replace the flaxseed with one egg if need be?
Hi Kelly,
Yes, I would double the recipe, but use 1 egg in place of the flaxseed and water.
How much flaxseed meal would be used in the place of 1/2 T. flaxseds? I assume the 1/2 T. flaxseeds bulks up when put in the spice grinder so it wouldn’t be an exact exchange, but I can’t seem to find substitution/equivalency info anywhere online… Thanks!
I would use about 2 teaspoons, gently packed or the 1/2 tablespoon, but firmly packed.