Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

5 from 18 votes
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An easy recipe for gluten-free peanut butter cookies. These classic crosshatch-style peanut butter cookies are soft, chewy, and a little crisp around the edges. 

gluten-free peanut butter cookies on a white plate

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

These are the best gluten-free peanut butter cookies! This is an easy gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe. It only requires a few simple ingredients and the cookies are baked in 10 minutes.

This is the classic cross-hatch peanut butter cookie recipe made with gluten-free flour. These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are different than flourless peanut butter cookies. The texture of these gluten-free cookies is more like traditional peanut butter cookies versus the crispy texture and the soft center of flourless peanut butter cookies. 

You can see how easy it is to make this gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe in the detailed recipe photos or by watching the recipe video.

Ingredients For Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Gluten-Free Peanut Butter: The star ingredient in this cookie recipe. 
  • Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: Sweetens and gives the cookie its softness.
  • Unsalted butter: Give the cookies their rice flavor and soft texture. 
  • Molasses: Enhances the peanut butter flavor. 
  • Egg: Used as a binder for this cookie recipe.
  • Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour with Xanthan Gum: The main gluten-free base. Use your favorite gluten-free baking flour.
  • Baking soda: Gives the cookies their chewy texture.
  • Baking powder: Puffs the cookies up for a soft and thick texture.

Gluten-Free Flour

We researched and tested the best gluten-free flours on the market to use for anything you’re looking to bake.


gluten-free peanut butter cookie son a dark baking sheet

How To Make Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and peanut butter to a large bowl and mix with your mixer until fully combined and creamy. (photo 1)
  • Mix in the egg (or egg replacer) and the molasses. Mix until fully combined.
  • In a medium bowl add the gluten-free flour with xanthan gum, baking soda and baking powder and stir to blend ingredients.
  • Slowly pour the flour mixture into the batter and mix until fully combined. The cookie dough will be like soft playdough.
  • Cover cookie dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Scoop 1 tablespoon of the cookie dough and place 3 inches apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. (I used a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop.) (photo 2)
  • Add the tablespoon of gluten-free flour to a small bowl and dip the bottom of your forking to the flour. Push down on the tops of the cookies making a crisscross “X” shape with the fork. (photo 3)
  • Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with granulated sugar. (optional) (photo 4)
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light brown on the edges. (Please watch your cookies because every oven is different.) (photo 5)
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
gluten-free peanut butter cookies recipe steps photo collage

Tips For Making The Best Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Don’t skip the step of chilling the gluten-free cookie dough. If you do the cookies will spread too much. 
  • Do not use natural peanut butter in this recipe as it’s too oily. 
  • Always use a cookie scoop. I use a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop. It was a game-changer for me!
  • I also like to use Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets. It has a smart grid that makes it super easy to line up your cookies on your baking sheet. I buy it at Walmart.

This gluten-free peanut butter cookie dough can be easily made ahead of time. You sure can! Just cover and refrigerate your cookie dough for up to 3 days.

You can freeze this gluten-free cookie dough for up to 3 months. Scoop out the dough into balls just like before you are about to bake it, but place the cookie sheet in the freezer.

Once the cookies are frozen place the frozen cookie balls plastic freezer bag. Cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. You will need to add 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

gluten-free peanut butter cookie with bite out of it to show texture of the cookies

Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are a classic that is always a crowd-pleaser.  Everyone loves this rich peanut butter-flavored and chewy gluten-free cookie! They are so easy to make and simply delicious.

Mama Knows Gluten Free e-book photo collage

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5 from 18 votes

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Servings: 24 cookies
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
chilling: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
An easy recipe for gluten-free peanut butter cookies. These classic crosshatch-style peanut butter cookies are soft, chewy, and a little crisp around the edges. 

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup gluten-free peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum, I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour. Not all gluten-free flours are created equal. You may experience different baking results depending on the gluten-free flour blend you choose.
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, (optional)

Instructions 

  • Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and peanut butter to a large bowl and mix with your mixer until fully combined and creamy.
  • Mix in the egg (or egg replacer) and the molasses. Mix until fully combined.
  • In a medium bowl add the gluten-free flour, baking soda and baking powder and stir to blend ingredients.
  • Add the flour mixture into the batter and mix until fully combined. The cookie dough will be like soft playdough.
  • Cover cookie dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F. 
  • Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough on a parchment-lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart. (I used a greased 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop.)
  • Add the tablespoon of gluten-free flour into a small bowl. Dip the bottom of your fork into the gluten-free flour and then press down on the tops of the cookies to make a crisscross “x” shape.
  • Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with granulated sugar. (optional)
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light brown on the edges. (Please watch your cookies because every oven is different.)
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Always use a cookie scoop. I use a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop. It was a game changer for me!
  • Store in an air-tight container.
  • To Freeze: Scoop out the dough into balls just like before you are about to bake it, but place the cookie sheet in the freezer. Once the cookies are frozen place the frozen cookie balls plastic freezer bag. Cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. You will need to add 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
  • Mama says, “Always check your labels!”

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 98mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 128IUCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @mamaknowsglutenfree or tag #mamaknowsglutenfree!

About Audrey Roberts

I'm Audrey Roberts, a busy mama of four and I love sharing the recipes that I make for my family. I make gluten-free family-friendly recipes that are simple and delicious that you can too! I use easy to find ingredients that won't break your budget. You will also find dairy-free options and Paleo recipes. I am also the author of The Everything Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Cookbook, which is an Amazon Best Selling Cookbook in the US and Internationally. Living gluten-free since 2010. I hope by me sharing my journey it may help you with yours.

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5 from 18 votes

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33 Comments

  1. Since you mention not to use natural peanut butter, is there anything else I can use as a substitute to regular peanut butter if I don’t want to use refined sugar in the cookies?

    1. While you certainly can make this without a hand mixer, it will require quite a bit of muscle to get the butter/sugar/peanut butter mixture creamed together.

    1. When we say granulated sugar, we are always referring to granulated cane sugar. Coconut sugar should work, but it does often have a coarser grain size, so you may want to blitz it in a food processor first.

  2. At first I tried to cut the sugar as I do with most other recipes but I found that the sugar adds to the spread ability and texture, which make these cookies Soooo good! I sprinkle sea salt instead of sugar before baking and it comes out like gourmet cookies!! Excellent recipe!

  3. Great cookies! Would never know they are gf!
    My daughter had some of the cookie dough and commented that there was zero difference in the texture! Thank you for sharing the recipe!!!❤️

  4. Seriously so good! I add chocolate chips and then put in the fridge for a few hours or over night. The best ever!

  5. Audrey was correct when she said ‘the best gf peanut butter cookies”. These were so delicious. Gluten free and non-gluten free family members LOVED them. We have decided to make another batch for an upcoming church event. I’m sure they will be a hit. Thank you Audrey!!!

  6. Wonderful in so many ways. Sorry to say I’m not a peanut butter fan, but these had the perfect amount in them. I’ll try some other recipes soon. So happy I found this site. Thank you!

  7. Absolutely love this recipe. Made them and froze them so I wouldn’t eat them all in one sitting! I love your recipes!

  8. I have yet to be “skunked.” So far I’ve made pancakes, banana bread, pb n oatmeal cookies, n biscuits. My non-celiac husband can’t get enough!

  9. Great recipe – easy and delicious. We added vegan chocolate chunks and that was a great addition. When using Smart Balance the cookies spread out more than with butter. Two options to fix this problem is to refrigerate the dough for 30-minutes or add a tablespoon of vegetable shortening in place of a tablespoon of margarine.

  10. I love, love these cookies. Even my husband who eats glutenful cookies likes them.
    And they’re pretty easy to make.

    1. Thank you so much Lourae for the wonderful recipe review, it really made my night! I am so happy that you love the peanut butter cookies and your husband enjoys them as well. Thank you again!

  11. Shes done it again!!!! Sheesh! These are amazing. I used earth balance butter and Bob’s red mill GF flour. A++ SO YUMMY.

    1. Thank you so much Taylor for the awesome 5-star recipe review, it really made my day! I am so happy that you enjoyed the peanut butter cookies and that they were amazing. Thank you for sharing which brand of dairy-free butter and gluten-free flour you used, as I know it will help others. Thank you again!

  12. In me and my Family’s opinion, these are the BEST peanut butter cookies ever!!! I have tried the 3 or 4 ingredient PBC recipes and they taste good but are lacking something … FLOUR! Again it’s just our opinion but the cookies came out fantastic and weren’t any trouble to make at all. They are exactly how I like them which is a bit on the crispy side instead of chewy. Thanks so much for the recipe and btw I bought your cookbook recently for myself and one for my daughter as we’re both gluten free and should be Dairy free (my Grandson is both) ?. We both love the cookbook and have made a few of your recipes. I look forward to trying more! Have a blessed day ?

    1. Thank you so much Kim for the awesome 5-star recipe review, it really made my day! I am so happy that you and your family think that these are the BEST peanut butter cookies. Thank you so much for buying my cookbook, I hope you enjoy all of the recipes. You are so welcome, I love sharing the recipes that I make for my family. Thank you again for your kind words and encouragement, they really blessed me.

    1. Thank you so much Betty for the awesome 5-star recipe review, it really made my night! I am so happy that these are the best peanut butter cookies and it’s hard to believe that they are gluten-free. Thank you again!

    1. Thank you so much Bev for the awesome 5-star recipe review! I am so happy that you and your family enjoyed the peanut butter cookies. You are so welcome I love sharing what I make for my family. Thank you again!

    1. Thank you so much Betty for the awesome 5-star recipe review, this really made my day! I am so happy that you enjoyed the peanut butter cookies and they are the most delicious peanut butter cookies ever. You are so welcome Betty, I love sharing what I make for my family. Thank you again!

    1. Thank you Linda for the wonderful 5-star recipe review! I am so happy that you enjoyed the peanut butter cookies. They are one of my family’s favorites. Thank you again!