These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are incredibly soft and loaded with peanut butter flavor. They’re vegan, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free. This simple recipe will become a quick favorite for any peanut butter fans.
It’s always fun for me to experiment with super unique and different recipes. Sometimes though, I just want to make something homey, warm, and comforting. Cookies usually do that for me. The ritual of making cookies always reminds me why I love baking, and it’s even better when you can make the dough with just the basics: a bowl and wooden spoon.
I’m constantly using my stand mixer and subsequently doing a whole bunch of dishes, but for this recipe, you can skip it. A little elbow grease is all you need. The simple ingredients are the star of the show here. No need for too much fuss, just a little love!
The ingredients for these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are super simple (you probably already have them in your pantry) and the recipe comes together quickly. To start, we use a little bit of coconut oil. The rest of the fat comes from peanut butter, which makes these cookies incredibly soft and flavorful. I always use natural peanut butter that’s made with just peanuts. Maybe some salt, but no added oils or sugars, please!
To sweeten the cookies, we use coconut sugar, which provides a caramelized kind of sweetness that pairs so well with the peanut butter. The cookies are entirely flourless as well. Rolled oats are the main “bulk” of the recipe. Make sure you’re using certified gluten-free oats if you’re gluten-free or serving these to anyone who is!
After the dough comes together, I like to put it into the fridge for at least 20 minutes. It’s not entirely necessary to refrigerate the dough, but it helps hydrate the oats, making the cookies chewier. It also makes the dough easier to work with and helps the cookies stay super thick.
If you’d like, you can toss in some chocolate chips (I must admit, I was tempted to) or drizzle the top of the cookies with some melted chocolate. I drizzled about half the batch in chocolate because I couldn’t help myself. But honestly, you don’t need the chocolate! I loved the simplicity of these cookies without them. Totally up to you to go chocolatey or stick with straight peanut butter goodness!
These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are nothing fancy, but they’re nothing short of delicious either. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (Gluten Free + Vegan)
These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are incredibly soft and loaded with peanut butter flavor. They're vegan, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free. This simple recipe will become a quick favorite for any peanut butter fans.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons (37g) coconut oil softened
- ½ cup (128g) natural peanut butter
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 flax egg or regular egg for the flax egg, whisk together 1 tablespoon flax meal with 3 tablespoons water and let set for 10 minutes before using
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (96g) gluten-free rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt skip if your peanut butter is salted
- Melted chocolate to drizzle on top, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a bowl, stir together the coconut oil, peanut butter, and coconut sugar until completely combined. Stir in the flax egg and vanilla and mix well. Add the baking soda, salt, and oats and stir until well-mixed.
- Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least twenty minutes or up to 2 days.
Using a cookie dough scoop (or your hands), make cookie dough balls (mine were about 1½ tablespoons) and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake until cookies are just set on the top, about 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If desired, drizzle with melted chocolate.
Recipe Notes
Recipe adapted from Trader Joe's Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie (on the bag of the oatmeal bag)
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love comforting desserts, too, and cookies always do the trick for me! These peanut butter oatmeal cookies sound delicious! And I love how easy these are to make, too. So perfect for a Monday!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I the huuuuugest sucker for good ‘ol peanut butter oatmeal cookies! Chocolate isn’t even needed for me if you can believe that! I can hardly stand how ultra-soft and chewy these babies look! Right up my alley. :D
Rachel @the dessert chronicles says
Peanut butter oatmeal cookies are just the best and I can tell from the photos just how amazing these are. Loving the fact that they are gluten free and don’t seem all that bad for you either!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
These look awesome! I’m not sure if I’ve had a peanut butter and oatmeal cookie smashed into one… but they are 2 of my faves, so I know I would love these!
Janice says
These cookies look great! My husband loves oatmeal cookies. Could you use regular honey instead of the crystals? And would you use equal amounts too?
Rachel says
Hi Janice, using liquid honey will affect the texture, making it a bit too sticky, so I would recommend using more brown sugar or granulated sugar in place of the crystals if you can’t get your hands on them. Enjoy!
Izzy @ She Likes Food says
I love simple and comforting cookies too! And I especially love anything with oats and peanut butter in them! I’ve cooked with some honey granules before and they really do taste just like honey! I’m thinking I need a cookie fix soon :)
Rachel says
Aren’t they awesome, Izzy? Thanks so much for you sweet words!
Medha (Whisk and Shout) says
These cookies look unreal! Pinning :)
marcie says
I’ve GOT to try honey crystals — they sound so great! And I love that these are flourless and full of whole grain goodness!
Rachel says
They’re such a unique and delicious sweetener – you’ll love it! Thanks, Marcie! :)
Danielle says
These cookies look fantastic, Rachel! I love using honey in recipes, so I’ll have to look for the honey crystals. Honey can be so messy sometimes, such a perfect alternative!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
These look so moist! I love the gluten free option because my brother-in-law is Celiac. I’m loving all of your gluten free desserts lately!
Kelly says
These cookies look perfect!! Oatmeal cookies are my absolute favorite and I could seriously go for a dozen of these right now! Love the honey crystals!
[email protected] says
I love the idea of honey with peanut butter! Such a perfect combination! And the little bit of crunch from the oats…love it!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I’ve never had peanut butter and oatmeal together in one cookie, but it sure sounds delicious – especially with those honey crystals! I need to look for those!
Ashley says
Peanut butter with honey is one of my absolute favorites – these cookies sound so so good!!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Peanut butter oatmeal cookies are my favorite! Love the honey crystals in these!
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Honey and peanut butter is one of the best combinations ever. And a good peanut butter oatmeal cookie is such a comforting cookie! Love those honey crystals, I need to give them a try!
Monica says
When all else fails or if you can’t make up your mind, cookies are the way to go! Not only that but I find oatmeal cookies are always spot on with a great texture. These gluten free cookies look wonderful. I can’t believe how great gluten free bakes are now. And I didn’t forget the peanut butter…makes cookies a ton better! Yum!
Summer says
I need to try making these soon! Yummy ♥
summerdaisy.net
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Must be fate you posted these cookies! For one, peanut butter and oatmeal cookies are two of my favorites! Secondly, I just tried honey crystals for the first time a couple weeks ago and I have a large supply in my pantry! Cant wait to make these beauties!! They look and sound AMAZING! Pinned! Cheers!
Rachel says
Aren’t the crystals so awesome, Cheyanne? Thanks for the cookie love and the pin! :)
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
LOVE how full of oats these chewy yummmmyyy cookies are!
K says
I used a little bit of liquid honey in place of the honey crystals and it was plenty sweet, not too sticky, and they came out really well! Great little recipe.
Rachel says
Hi K, that’s great to know it subbed easily! Thanks for sharing :)
Kayla says
I subbed brown sugar for 1:1 brown organic coconut sugar and I also added a bit of honey. THESE COOKIES are soooo good! Turned out perfect!!!
Rachel says
So thrilled you loved them, Kayla!!
Kathryn Fitzgerald says
I used almond butter instead of peanut butter and also used regular honey since I didn’t have the crystals.
Good flavor and chewy. Not too sweet.
They really spread out flat so don’t put them too close together on the cookie sheet.
Next time I think I’ll add some pecans or walnuts.
Shar says
I’m not sure what I did or didn’t do. I followed the recipe exactly, using 1 regular egg. I did use my mixer instead of by hand.
The cookies didn’t spread on the pan at all and definitely do not look like yours. I did add vegan choc. chips. They are delicious, they just didn’t spread. I have another batch in the fridge and I’ll bake them tonight.
Rachel says
Hi Shar, I’m not sure what happened, it’s hard to say without being in the kitchen with you. I never tested with a regular egg, so that could have made the difference. I would recommend pressing the dough down a bit too because these cookies definitely don’t spread as much as cookies normally do!
Macy Brown From MakeTheBread says
Hey Rachel…oatmeal is one of best & healthy food for our diet..and this peanut butter oatmeal cookies looks soo yummy & more delicious..i will be trying to making this…Thanks for sharing…!
Rachel says
Thanks so much for the love!! Hope you enjoy it, Macy.
Lyndsy says
Quick and easy! I made them tonight and turned our great.
Rachel says
So thrilled you’re loving them, Lyndsy!