These easy to make vegan peanut butter cookies contain only 3 ingredients and one of them will surprise you because it’s unusual but very healthy! The cookies are plant-based, gluten-free, soft, chewy, and they can be prepared in less than 10 minutes! This no-bake recipe doesn’t require an oven!
Easy Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
Three ingredients! Can you believe it?! I am not kidding! Well, if you decide to dip these cookies in chocolate, then there are 4 ingredients. I definitely recommend doing this because, you know, chocolate! However, they also taste great when you leave them plain!
I tried to make these peanut butter cookies as easy, quick, healthy, and delicious as possible, and I am very satisfied with how they turned out!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
This is a no-bake recipe that can be made without an oven. The cookies need to be chilled in the freezer for a bit to firm up. They aren’t dry at all like most cookies. I am really not a fan of crunchy/crispy cookies, I prefer them soft and chewy.
However, you can bake them in the oven for 12 minutes, and then they won’t be as soft and gooey anymore!
How To Make Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies?
All you need is a food processor, 3 ingredients (4 if you want to dip them in chocolate), and then you can start.
STEP 1: Soak 150 grams of pitted dates in hot water until they are soft (about 15 minutes). Skip this step if the dates you are using are already soft and juicy. Discard the water and pat dry the dates.
STEP 2: Measure the peanut butter. I used exactly 160 grams which is about 1/2 a cup + 2 tablespoons.
STEP 3: Rinse and drain one 15 oz can of white beans and pat dry them. Use only 175 grams (1 cup) of white beans and save the rest for a salad or any other savory dish.
STEP 4: Process all 3 ingredients in a food processor, scraping down the sides of the processor every 30 seconds or so. The dough will come together after about two minutes.
STEP 5: Scoop out 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of dough and form into balls. Flatten the balls with your hands and place them on a tray (or platter) lined with parchment paper. Use the back of a fork to create a cross-hatch on one side of the cookies.
STEP 6: Enjoy the peanut butter cookies as-is or dip in melted chocolate! Simply melt about 60 grams of dairy-free chocolate in a microwave or double boiler (you can add one to two teaspoons of coconut oil to make the chocolate runnier). Then dip just half of the cookie in the chocolate. Freeze for about 20-30 minutes.
Which Peanut Butter?
I used natural peanut butter which contains only peanuts and salt. You can use peanut butter without salt and simply add about 1/4 tsp of salt to the mixture!
You can also use sweetened peanut butter if you have a sweet tooth, but in my opinion, it’s not necessary for these vegan cookies.
I wouldn’t recommend a peanut butter that contains palm oil or any other additional ingredients except peanuts (and salt).
I tried making these cookies with powdered peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter and the result was not very good. The taste was fine, however, the mixture was quite sticky and not as manageable as with normal peanut butter. Probably because the powdered peanut butter contains 90% less fat.
Peanut Butter Cookies With White Beans?!
You might think, why did she use white beans in cookies?! Well, I love to experiment in my kitchen and I love using unusual ingredients, haha. 😀 Beans and chickpeas are awesome in desserts and the other ingredients will mask the taste. They also add healthy plant-based protein to desserts!
You can most likely also use cooked chickpeas instead of white beans.
Here are some gluten-free vegan dessert recipes which contain legumes and I promise they are delicious:
- Vegan Blondies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
- Edible Vegan Cookie Dough
- Chocolate Stuffed Cookies
- Flourless Brownies
- No-Bake Cookie Dough Bars
- The Best Vegan Brownies
Variation
You can make these gluten-free no-bake cookies with different kinds of nut butter, for example, almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter (for a nut-free version). Of course, you can’t call them “peanut butter cookies” anymore, but “almond butter cookies” sounds great as well. 😀
These Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies Are:
- Dairy-free
- Egg-free
- Gluten-free
- Refined sugar-free (if you don’t use chocolate)
- Soft
- Chewy
- Gooey
- Super easy + quick to make with just a few ingredients
- A no-bake recipe
- Protein-rich
- Healthy
Should you give these vegan no-bake 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 and #elavegan because I would love to see your remakes! 🙂
3-Ingredient Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Cookies
- 20 small/medium (150 g) dates pitted
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp (160 g) natural peanut butter salted (*see notes)
- 1 cup (175 g) white beans canned
Chocolate (Optional)
- 1/3 cup (60 g) chocolate chips (dairy-free) melted
Instructions
- I recommend using a kitchen scale for this recipe. Check the step-by-step process shots and the video above in the blog post.
- Soak pitted dates in hot water until they are soft (about 15 minutes). Skip this step if the dates you are using are already soft and juicy. Discard the water and pat dry the dates.
- Rinse and drain one 15 oz can of white beans and pat dry them. Use only 175 grams (1 cup) of white beans and save the rest for a salad or any other savory dish.
- Process all 3 ingredients in a food processor, scraping down the sides of the processor every 30 seconds or so. The dough will come together after about two minutes. Check the step-by-step photos above in the blog post.
- Scoop out 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of dough and form into balls. Flatten the balls with your hands and place them on a tray (or platter) lined with parchment paper. Use the back of a fork to create a cross-hatch on one side of the cookies.
- Enjoy the no-bake peanut butter cookies as-is or dip in melted vegan chocolate! Simply melt about 60 grams of dairy-free chocolate in a microwave or double boiler (you can add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil to make the chocolate runnier). Then dip just half of the cookie in the chocolate. Top with crushed nuts and salt (optional). Freeze for about 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
- If your peanut butter doesn't contain salt, simply add a pinch of sea salt (or to taste). The peanut butter should be thick and not thin and runny (check the photo above in the blog post) otherwise the batter won't come together. Optionally, you could add some oat flour to make the batter thicker.
- I would NOT recommend making the cookies with powdered peanut butter as the mixture will turn out sticky and not manageable.
- You can also bake these cookies at 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for about 12 minutes if you like them to be firmer and not as soft.
- Store cookies in an air-tight container at room temperature or in the fridge. You can also keep them in the freezer for up to three months.
- Recipe makes about 16-18 cookies. Nutrition facts are for one cookie (without the melted chocolate).
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
Equipment
Simple and Delicious Vegan Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!If you are using Pinterest, feel free to pin the following photo:
Do these compare to Reese’s in flavour?
Hi Hannah, I don’t think so. 🙂
Made these yesterday using cannellini beans. I ended up only using 10 dates because mine were larger. I then put them in the oven, as they were a bit soft for me. I didn’t add salt to the mixture prior to forming the balls, but added them right after I took them out of the oven. OMG!!! These were the easiest cookies EVER!!! AND as I’m not a baker(and use store bought cookie or cake batters), I really felt like I did something! LOL my husband and children LOVED them and they are all very picky! I’m trying to transition us all to a full plant-based lifestyle and it has been a bit tough, BUT recipes such as this are helping me to become more confident. Thank you! I will be using more of your recipes! Oh!! I also made your Chickpea and Broccoli stir-fry too! It was a hit as well! I forgot to take pics before everything was gone LOL Next time though! Thank you again!
Aww, that’s awesome, Chelsea! I am so glad they turned out amazing. 🙂 Thanks for your kind comment!
Made these today. They are delicious but a bit too soft so baked them and they are now perfect. Thank you. I used butter beans but you really don’t taste them.
Thanks for your feedback, Anne! 🙂
I loved how I could give my children a healthy dessert, that was truly delicious! Thanks 🙂
Wonderful! I am so glad you like the cookies, Candace. 🙂
These look delishhhh. Would chickpea work instead of beans?
Yes! It should work fine. 🙂
can i use a blender rather than a food processor to mix up the ingredients?
It probably won’t work as good but it should be ok! 🙂
I made these for my kids, they were very wet so I baked them for 12 mins. They are still very soft inside? The kids liked them though 🙂
Hello Carly, what was the consistency of your peanut butter? Was it rather thin and runny? Can you compare it to the photo of the peanut butter which I show in the blog post? If it was too runny, that might have been the reason. I will add a note to the recipe! I am glad your kids liked the cookies. 🙂
Also, I will upload a video soon, maybe that will make it easier to see the consistency and texture of the batter. 🙂
I have been eyeing this recipe since I saw your post on Instagram. These cookies look so soft and lush! Can’t believe they are so healthy, and made with white beans. Love a healthy sweet treat. Can’t wait to give them a try.
Thank you, Hannah! I hope you will love them. 🙂
Lots of love ❤️
These were great! I wasn’t super accurate with my measurements, so the dough ended up too wet (my fault, not the recipe), so I just added some coconut flour, and it worked great! I made half the batch plain and half the batch dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with shredded coconut. The whole family loves them. I love being able to give these healthy desserts to my kids. Thank you for the recipe!
I am so glad you like the cookies, Lisa! Thanks for your great feedback. 🙂
These cookies look so delicious, Ela! Love anything with peanut butter and chocolate! ?❤️❤️ Lots of love, Bianca
Thank you, Bianca! Peanut butter and chocolate is the best combo! 🙂
These are awesome Ela! Packed with protein and rich delicious flavour.
Thanks so much, Maria! So glad you like them. 🙂