Flourless chocolate chip peanut butter cookies have no business being this simple or this satisfying. With a deeply peanut buttery center, lightly crisp edges and pockets of melted chocolate, they deliver everything I want from a cookie without requiring flour, a mixer or an afternoon blocked off for dough chilling.
Why You’ll Love These Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is always a winner, and that’s certainly the case with these cookies.
- Great for a gluten-free diet – Missing soft and chewy cookies while on a gluten-free diet? These cookies will satisfy your sweet tooth. But they are delicious enough that you don’t have to be gluten-free to enjoy them!
- Only 6 ingredients – I love a recipe that doesn’t involve a grocery store run, and these cookies are made with only 6 simple pantry ingredients.
- No chilling required – No need to chill the dough for this recipe. Just make the dough, scoop and bake!
Ingredients for Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
I’d be willing to bet you have most, if not all, of these peanut butter chocolate chip cookies ingredients already in your kitchen. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Peanut butter – You can use either creamy or crunchy, but I would avoid natural peanut butter. The texture is not the same. I like to use Skippy of Jif.
- Sugar – Just plain white granulated sugar is great. This, along with the brown sugar, helps add sweetness to the cookies.
- Light brown sugar – Brown sugar does more than sweeten, it adds moisture which results in a chewier cookie!
- Large egg – Eggs provide structure, and without them, cookies would crumble and fall apart. Make sure it is lightly beaten.
- Vanilla extract – Make sure to use a good quality vanilla extract. It adds warmth and flavor to these cookies.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – You can, of course, measure these with your heart. But I use about a half cup.
How to Make Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies (Step-by-Step)
Making these cookies could not be easier. Follow the simple steps below.
- Prepare oven and baking sheet. Preheat oven and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine all ingredients except chocolate. In a large bowl, combine peanut butter through vanilla until mixture is smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Scoop dough. Scoop a tablespoon of dough out and roll between your hands to form a ball. Place the balls of cookie dough an inch or two apart on the cookie sheet. Flatten the dough with a fork in a crosshatch pattern.
- Bake, turning the pan front to back halfway through cooking time. The cookies should be lightly golden. Watch carefully, do not over bake.
- Cool the cookies on the pan first. Once cooled, they should lift easily off the parchment paper to move to a wire rack.
Chef Tips
- Silicone baking mat – If you don’t have one already, invest in a silicone baking mat. They prevent the cookies from sticking, and they’re easy to clean. I have three!
- Don’t overbake. Cookies shouldn’t look “done” when you remove them from the oven. If the whole cookie is golden brown, they’re overbaked!
- Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before transferring to cooling racks. Hot cookies haven’t set up yet.
- Use a cookie scoop – A tablespoon-size scoop produces evenly sized cookies that finish baking at the same time.
Variations and Add Ins
One of my favorite things about these flourless peanut butter cookies is that you can switch things up to your liking. Here are a few options.
- Omit chocolate chips
- Use peanut butter chips
- Use dark chocolate chips
- Add chopped peanuts
- Top with flakey sea salt
- Add festive sprinkles
- Use white chocolate chips
- Top with peanut butter cups
Storage and Freezing
Storage: Flourless peanut butter cookies last for up to four days at room temperature. Store them in an airtight container so they don’t get stale.
To freeze baked cookies: Place the cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or microwave one at a time until warmed through.
To freeze unbaked cookies: Scoop the cookies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, then place the sheet pan in the freezer for 45 minutes. Drop the frozen cookie dough into a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Bake the cookies as directed. You don’t need to thaw them first.
Frequently Asked Questions
They may still be too warm, may have been underbaked or may have been made with a peanut butter that contains too much separated oil. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet before moving them.
The most likely cause is overbaking. Remove them when the edges are set but the centers still look soft.
Yes. Crunchy peanut butter creates cookies with small peanut pieces and more texture.
Yes. Omitting them creates a simple flourless peanut butter cookie without requiring other changes.
More Homemade Cookie Recipes
There’s nothing I love more than a warm cookie right out of the oven. Here are a few of our favorites.
Flourless Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter , creamy or crunchy
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg , beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, blend together the 1 cup peanut butter1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth. Fold in the 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Scoop a tablespoon of dough out and roll between your hands to form a ball. Place the balls of cookie dough an inch or two apart on the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookies should be lightly golden and a little shiny. Watch carefully, do not over bake. Cool the cookies on the pan for 5 minutes, then remove. Once cooled, they should lift easily off the parchment paper.
- If you've tried this recipe, leave us a comment or star rating in the post.
Notes
Nutrition
I just made these. Yummy! I had to keep chasing my husband away from them, as it was almost dinner time. He responded that they would make an excellent dinner on their own.
Yay!!!! Thanks so much 🙂 I ate a ton the last time I made them too. LOL.
Am I missing where the chocolate chips are added?
Hi Flecia, nope! I missed putting them in! Just added and thank YOU for letting me know 🙂
These look fantastic!
I could taste these through the screen and one I will for sure try! No calories, RIGHT 🙂
Nope, none. 🙂