Healthy peanut butter cookies without sugar! These keto cookies are vegan (dairy-free, eggless), low-carb, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, soft, and chewy. They are a great treat for kids and adults alike and can be quickly prepared!
When I crave something sweet, I often make vegan cookies! Baking cookies isn’t as complicated as making a layer cake, and it takes just 10 minutes of prep time. Cookies are a perfect dessert that can be made healthy with peanut butter instead of regular butter. This low-carb cookie recipe is furthermore egg-free, which makes the cookie dough edible, yum!
I already shared a recipe for Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies with only 3 ingredients, however, it’s a no-bake recipe. Also, I was asked many times if I can create recipes that are keto-friendly, so I whipped up these keto peanut butter cookies with simple ingredients!
These low-carb cookies contain only 8 ingredients in total, and you might have them all in your pantry. And if not, I will list a couple of substitutes below in the printable recipe card and under “Tips & Substitutes”.
How To Make Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies?
You just need two bowls, all ingredients, and then you can start to make these easy peanut butter cookies. Check the step-by-step pictures below:
STEP 1: First make the flax eggs and here is how: Add flax seeds and water to a small bowl, whisk and set aside for 5 minutes. I recommend grinding whole flax seeds in an electric coffee/spice grinder or blender.
STEP 2: Combine all dry ingredients for the cookies in a mixing bowl and whisk.
STEP 3: Add the wet ingredients and mix with a hand mixer or use a spoon. If the dough appears too dry, simply add a little more water or plant-based milk.
STEP 4: You can also add 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of vegan chocolate chips or raisins. Use sugar-free chocolate chips or nuts/seeds of choice for a low-carb keto version.
STEP 5: Scoop about 1 heaped tablespoon of the dough into your hands and form a ball.
STEP 6: Place the dough balls onto your lined baking tray. Gently press each dough ball down with your hands or with a spoon. Bake the vegan cookies in the oven for 13-16 minutes. Let cool completely & enjoy.
Which Peanut Butter?
I used creamy peanut butter which is basically unsweetened, but it contains a little salt. You can use peanut butter without salt, however, then I would recommend adding a pinch of salt to the cookie dough! Crunchy peanut butter is fine too!
Please do not use powdered peanut butter (such as PB2) because it contains 90% less fat than regular peanut butter and the cookies won’t turn out as soft and delicious.
Tips & Substitutes
- Soft cookies: If you are just like me and prefer soft cookies, I recommend shaping the cookie dough into thicker cookies. If you make them thin, they won’t turn out as soft, but rather crunchy or crisp. Also, don’t bake them for too long. I noticed 13-16 minutes are just perfect (depending on your oven).
- Peanut butter: You can make these gluten-free vegan cookies with different kinds of nut butter, for example, almond butter, cashew butter, or coconut butter.
- Ground nuts/seeds: You can use any ground nuts (e.g. ground almonds which is almond flour), desiccated coconut (if you like coconut cookies), or seeds of choice. Please note that the cookies will turn greenish if you use sunflower seeds because of a reaction with the baking powder. They are still fine to eat, it just looks strange, haha.
- Coconut flour: If you don’t have coconut flour, you can use the double amount of most other flours. I have tried 4 tablespoons of oat flour, which worked fine. Oat flour is just ground oats (blend oats in a blender until it’s flour). Please leave a comment below if you try out any other flour (e.g. regular flour if you are not gluten-free).
- Sweetener: I used a sugar-free sweetener (birch sugar/Xylitol) for these sugar-free cookies. But you could use coconut sugar, date sugar, or any other granulated sweetener if you don’t mind whether the cookies are low-carb or not. A liquid sweetener like maple syrup should be also fine, but then you will need to add a little more flour. Use Erythritol (e.g. Swerve) for a keto version.
- How to store? Store these healthy chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container on the counter for a few days or in the refrigerator for about a week (probably even longer). You can also freeze the cookies!
Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chips
As mentioned in the printable recipe below, chocolate chips are totally optional. I used just 1 1/2 tablespoons of semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can actually use sugar-free chocolate chips to make keto cookies. Or use a bar of dairy-free, sugar-free dark chocolate and chop it into chunks with a knife.
It’s also possible to make your own keto chocolate. I shared the recipe in the blog post of my homemade Vegan Bounty Bars. You will find it in the recipe notes!
Should you give these healthy peanut butter cookies a try, please leave a comment and rating below, and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan #elavegan because I would love to see your remakes!
More Healthy, Vegan Cookie Recipes
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies
- Soft Coconut Sugar Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chip Fudge Cookies
- Hazelnut Cookies
- Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
- Vegan Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Stuffed Cookies
- Vegan Coconut Macaroons
- Vegan Snickerdoodles
- Edible Vegan Cookie Dough
Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
For The Cookies
- 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax seeds + 6 tbsp water, see notes)
- 3 tbsp (48 g) peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
- 1/2 cup (60 g) ground nuts/seeds of choice (see notes)
- 2 tbsp (20 g) coconut flour (see notes)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 tbsp sweetener of choice (see notes)
Add-Ins (Optional)
- Dairy-free chocolate chips
- Raisins
- Nuts/seeds
Instructions
- You can watch the video in the post for visual instructions.Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- To make the flax eggs, simply add ground flax seeds and water to a small bowl, whisk and set aside for 5 minutes.
- Combine the dry ingredients for the cookies in a bowl and whisk. Add the wet ingredients and mix with a hand mixer or spoon. If the dough appears too dry, simply add a little more water or plant-based milk.
- Add-Ins: You can also add 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of vegan chocolate chips or raisins. Use nuts/seeds of choice for a keto version.
- Scoop about 1 heaped tablespoon of the dough into your hands and form a ball. Place the dough balls onto your lined baking tray. Gently press each dough ball down and bake the cookies in the oven for 13-16 minutes. This recipe makes just a small batch of 6 cookies.
- Let cool completely and enjoy. Store leftover cookies in an airtight container, either on the counter for just a few days or in the fridge for about a week.
Notes
- Flax eggs: You can also use ground chia seeds instead of flax seeds. Half of a large banana (mashed) or 1/4 cup of applesauce should work fine as well.
- Nuts/seeds: You can use any ground nuts (e.g. ground almonds = almond flour), desiccated coconut, or seeds of choice.
- Coconut flour: If you don't have coconut flour you can use the double amount of a different flour, for example, 4 tablespoons of oat flour. Read the blog post above for more information.
- Sweetener: I used a sugar-free sweetener but you could use coconut sugar, date sugar, or regular sugar if you don't mind whether the cookies are low-carb or not. A liquid sweetener like maple syrup is also fine but then you will need to add a little more flour. Use Erythritol (e.g. Swerve) for a keto version.
- Add a pinch of sea salt if your peanut butter brand doesn't contain salt.
- Check the step-by-step process shots above in the blog post.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
Starbirch
Have made these cookies several times now – super delicious. Also, the recipe is so versatile for working with what I have in stock in the pantry. A very satisfying, healthy snack. Thank you Ela.???? ????????
Ela
You are very welcome! So glad you like the cookies. 🙂
Milosz
One of my favorite quick cookie recipes! Do you think white rice flour will work instead of nuts/seeds flour? Maybe I should add a bit more coconut flour if I use it?
Ela
Hi Milosz, I am glad you like them. I believe rice flour won’t work, as they will be quite dry then and not as yummy. 🙂
Jim Dickinson
LOVE this recipe. Substitutes that turned out great: Used creamy almond butter, ground walnuts, and coconut sugar (makes darker cookies), and Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips (smaller, no added sugar, sweetened with stevia). These cookies were loved by all and got devoured.
I also made another batch with almond flour (instead of ground walnuts above), and added shredded coconut. Delicious as well.
Thank you so very much Ela! Relatively new to plant based, and excited to try more of your amazing looking recipes!
Ela
That’s wonderful, Jim! Thanks so much for sharing your substitutes, it’s so helpful for other readers. 🙂
Rina
I’ve just made these and eaten three! I used what I had in the cupboard and ended up swapping the coconut flour for oat flour (which I made by whizzing oats in a food processor), used hazelnuts instead of almonds, didn’t have chocolate chips so added a tablespoon of cacao powder and an extra spoon of peanut butter plus a couple of tablespoons of trail mix, with seeds and dried fruit. Oh and about half a teaspoon of cinnamon as well! Needless to say they didn’t look like the photo at all, but they were absolutely delicious and I think I stayed true to the intention of the recipe 🙂 so nice to find something sweet that’s also healthy, vegan and grain free. Thank you Ela <3
Ela
So glad they turned out delicious, Rina! Thanks for sharing your substitutes. 🙂
Steph
Hi Ela,
If I want to make this oil-free, what can I use to substitute the coconut oil?
Thanks ????
Steph
Ela
Hi, you could try adding 1 tbsp peanut butter in addition. 🙂
Angela
Hi Ela!
If I sub almond flour for the coconut flour, how much would I need? Would it be a 1:1 ratio ?
Ela
Hi Angela, please check the recipe notes, where I already answered this question:
Coconut flour: If you don’t have coconut flour you can use the double amount of a different flour, for example, 4 tablespoons of oat flour. Read the blog post above for more information.
I hope this helps! 🙂
Valerie
I have a question about the 1/2 cup of ground nuts/seeds. Should I grind 1/2 cup of almonds or can I use 1/2 cup of almond flour/meal? Thanks.
Ela
Please use 1/2 cup (60 grams) of almond flour. 🙂
Dalia
Dear, should I add 6 tb of water to the smashed banana instead of flax seeds , or just banana without water , thx
Ela
Just the banana. 🙂
Ayu
Should i baked nuts/seeds before ground them? Or just make it raw?
Ela
Hi Ayu, I normally don’t do it. Be careful not to over-blend the nuts! If you process them too long in the grinder/blender, they’ll turn into nut butter.
Audrone
Absolutely live them, thanks for the lovely recipe. Easy to makecand so delicious!
Ela
Happy you love the recipe! 🙂
Oxana
Thank you, Ela!
Just cooked it with rise/oats flour and banana and it worked perfectly ????
Ela
I am glad they turned out amazing, Oxana. 🙂
Helene
Thank you so much for this beautiful recipe Ela 🙂 I just made the cookies and they are to die for. I mixed in some Macademia nuts and it’s divine! It is slightly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside – lecker lecker as you say it in Germany 😉 I will post it on my IG account and will tag you so that my friends know where I got this super dooper recipe. Greetings from Ireland!
Ela
Aww, that’s awesome, Helene! Macadamia nuts sound incredible! Many greetings to Ireland. 🙂
Zuza
These are the best cookies I’ve recently made, LOVE this recepe.
Ela
Hi Zuza, I am so glad you loved the cookies! Thanks so much for your amazing feedback. 🙂
Dominique
These cookies are amazing! I used ground almonds and added raisins instead of choc chips and they turned out perfect! Thankyou for another great recipe which will be saved to make again… maybe tomorrow as they are nearly gone already ????
Dominique
Forgot the stars
Ela
Thank you! 🙂
Ela
That’s awesome, Dominique! I am so glad they turned out amazing with raisins and ground almonds. Thanks for your great feedback. 🙂
Cara
Hi, is the coconut oil melted or whole and I’d you used pure maple syrup for the sweetener how much extra flour is needed
Thanks
Ela
Hi Cara, the coconut oil is melted. Also, just add more flour (1 tsp at a time) until the cookie dough has the same texture/thickness as the one in my step-by-step photos. 🙂
Susan
Perfectly delicious! Thank you ???????? ????
Ela
My pleasure, Susan! I am glad you liked them. 🙂
Nancy
I am allergic to peanuts. Can I use either almond or sunflower seed butter?
Ela
Yes, Nancy, and that’s actually mentioned in the blog post and in the recipe notes. 🙂
Paige
These are delicious and so, so simple to make! We had fun using the various ingredients and chose to use creamy almond butter instead of peanut, and we used almond flour for the ground nuts. We also doubled the recipe knowing these cookies would not last long in the house. Huge hit! They are not too sweet, which I love. And they have a nutty, healthy flavor with just the right amount of sweetness. These will absolutely become a staple in our house for a quick, healthy dessert. No one else in my household is vegan, but they were gobbled up in no time. Definitely a keeper!
Ela
That’s awesome, Paige! I am so glad you all loved the cookies. Thanks so much for your wonderful thorough feedback. 🙂
Nina
If we use regular eggs, how many do we need?
Ela
Hi Nina, I can’t tell you since I am vegan and don’t use eggs. You can also use 1/2 of a banana (mashed) or 1/4 cup applesauce instead of the flax eggs. 🙂
Crystal
I would think 2 eggs, as that amount of flax and eggs would replace two in a recipe that you convert to vegan.
Shweta
Can we use more coconut flour instead of the ground nuts/seeds?
Ela
Hi Shweta! No, that won’t work. The cookies would be totally dry and brittle if you don’t add ground nuts/seeds and use coconut flour instead. Coconut flour is mainly fiber and absorbs a lot of liquid and should be used only in small quantities. 🙂
Giselle
Is the any substitution for the coconut oul?????
Ela
Any other oil is fine. 🙂
Cherese
Definitely trying this tomorrow! Haven’t managed to get flax. Can I sub with anything else to keep it vegan?
Ela
Hey, you can use chia seeds. Just grind them in an electric spice/coffee grinder. Hope this helps. 🙂