It’s cookie time! These peanut butter oatmeal cookies are perfectly soft, gluten-free, vegan, and made with simple, straightforward ingredients that are probably already sitting in your pantry.
I love how easy these cookies are to throw together when I’m craving something sweet but still want to make healthier choices. They are the kind of cookies that satisfy my sweet tooth without taking me out in a sugar crash.
Now that I’m in my 30s, I crave foods that make me feel good inside and out. These cookies do exactly that. They’re sweet, delicious, and full of fiber thanks to the oats, plus they use wholesome, plant-based ingredients that keep things light and nourishing.
When I crave something cozy and quick, I usually go for my oatmeal mug cake or chocolate chia seed pudding, but sometimes nothing beats a warm, homemade cookie.
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Why You’ll Love This
- Simple and wholesome ingredients: These vegan peanut butter oatmeal cookies are made with pantry staples like oats, peanut butter, and plant-based milk. You don’t need any fancy flour blends or special equipment to make them.
- Perfectly soft and chewy texture: Each bite is soft, chewy, and loaded with nutty peanut butter flavor. They’re everything you want from a cookie but made with better-for-you ingredients.
- Healthier treat that satisfies your sweet tooth: These healthy peanut butter oatmeal cookies are full of fiber and plant-based protein, keeping you full and satisfied without the sugar crash.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Oats: Use old-fashioned oats for texture and oat flour for a smooth, soft cookie. Both make these gluten free peanut butter oatmeal cookies hearty and wholesome.
- Natural peanut butter: Choose smooth, natural peanut butter without added oils or sugars. It brings that rich, creamy flavor and helps bind the dough.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moisture to the cookies. You can also use coconut sugar or another granulated sugar of your choice.
- Vegan milk: Any plant-based milk works well, such as oat, soy, or almond. I usually go for soy milk because it’s what I have on hand.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor and adds a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with oats and peanut butter.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise slightly and keeps them from being too dense.
- Vegan chocolate chips: Optional, but they make everything better. Use dark or semi-sweet vegan chocolate for the best flavor.
Allergic to Peanuts?
No problem! This recipe works perfectly with sunflower seed butter (also known as sun butter). It has a similar creamy texture and rich flavor, making it a great peanut-free alternative. The result is just as soft, chewy, and delicious. Completely peanut-free but just as satisfying.
Step-By-Step Recipe
- Mix wet ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, peanut butter, vegan milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add dry ingredients: Add oat flour, whole oats, and baking powder. Stir until everything is fully combined, then fold in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
- Bake and cool: Scoop the cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, flatten each with a fork, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Let them cool before enjoying.
Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Don’t overbake the cookies: They may look underdone when you pull them out of the oven, but they’ll firm up as they cool. This keeps them soft and chewy.
- Use natural peanut butter: The consistency of natural peanut butter gives the best texture. Avoid using thick, processed spreads that can make the dough dry.
- Chill the dough: This helps the flavors meld and keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
What To Serve With Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
These cookies are perfect on their own, but they’re even better with a glass of cold soy milk or a hot cup of coffee.
You can also crumble them over a bowl of chocolate chia seed pudding or serve them alongside oatmeal mug cake for a cozy dessert combo.
If you want to go the extra mile, sandwich a scoop of vegan ice cream between two cookies for a fun treat. Or, dunk them in a warm, cozy mug of hot chocolate.
How to Store Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
These cookies stay fresh for 3 to 4 days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container or reusable silicone bag.
If you want to keep them longer, refrigerate them for up to a week or freeze them for up to three months. I like to reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds to bring back that soft, just-baked texture.
For a cute display, store them in a clear cookie jar on your counter.
More Sweet Recipes with Oats
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Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar (40 grams)
- ¼ cup natural, smooth peanut butter (64 grams, no added salt or sugar)
- ⅓ cup warm vegan milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup oat flour (80 grams)
- ½ cup whole old-fashioned oats (40 gram)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips (30 grams)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, peanut butter, vegan milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
- Add the oat flour, whole oats, and baking powder to the wet ingredients. Using a silicone spatula or spoon, gently mix until well combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips. Cover and chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- While the dough chills, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop about one tablespoon of dough per cookie and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each cookie with a fork.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for another 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- To make oat flour, simply take old-fashioned oats and blend them until they are flour-like. You can use just about any blender. I use my Oster blender or Nutribullet - depending on how large of a batch I am blending up.
- If you want to opt out of peanut butter, use sun butter instead. m
- This recipe makes about 12 small cookies, or 6 large cookies.
- These cookies are mostly WFPB, so they will be more dense than your typical cookies. But they're still soft and chewy!
Nutrition
Did you try out these Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie recipe?
Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it, or tag a picture @plantbasedandbroke on Instagram and hashtag it #plantbasedandbroke. Show off that creation with us.
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Jackie
Wow! Love these simple and tasty cookies. Just follow the recipe and they will come out delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Aly Michell
Hi Jackie! Thank you for trying out the peanut butter oatmeal cookies! I am glad you enjoyed them!