These perfectly soft, chewy gluten-free peanut butter cookies are downright irresistible!
This TRIED-AND-TRUE recipe makes traditional peanut butter cookies with that signature criss-cross pattern. Nobody will be able to tell they’re gluten-free!
Calling all peanut butter lovers! When it comes to peanut butter cookies, you can’t beat the classic. With their signature criss-cross pattern and rich peanut butter flavor, this gluten-free version is sure to hit the mark.
These gluten-free traditional peanut butter cookies are made with easy-to-find ingredients. All you need is a high quality gluten-free flour blend and a few pantry staples and you can be enjoying these cookies in less than an hour!
Jump to:
They’re soft, chewy with crisp edges and everything a good cookie should be!
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
- Soft & chewy
- Easy-to-make
- Simple ingredients
- Classic crisscross pattern
- Undetectably gluten-free!
Love chocolate chips? Try these flourless peanut butter cookies and add chocolate chips! You also might like these gluten-free peanut butter blossoms or peanut butter bars.
You also might like these gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free snickerdoodles and gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter works best but you can also use crunchy peanut butter. You can use a natural peanut butter (where the oil separates from the nut butter) but I think a brand like Skippy or Jiff works best. Check out this post on is peanut butter gluten-free?
- Gluten-Free Flour: I recommend using a high-quality gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. You want to look for one that contains xanthan gum as a binder. This is my favorite brand.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted will work – I usually use salted!
- Brown Sugar: Using a good proportion of brown sugar makes soft and chewy cookies!
- Egg: A flax egg works well as an egg substitute in these cookies.
How to Make the Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
- Start by whisking together the dry ingredients.
- In a large bowl, mix together the white sugar, brown sugar and butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add the peanut butter and mix until smooth.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and egg until creamy and evenly incorporated.
- Slowly (in 3 additions) mix in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
RESTING THE DOUGH
After you mix the dough altogether it’s important to give it a 30-minute rest. This gives the gluten-free flour time to hydrate and really makes a difference. It’s key for non-gritty gluten-free cookies! It also helps to make clean fork marks.
6. Roll the peanut butter cookie dough into balls and place on a lined baking sheet.
7. Use a fork to make a criss-cross pattern on the top of the cookies by pressing down on the dough balls. Then bake until golden brown! Cool on a wire rack.
Storage Tips
- Enjoy these cookies within 2 days for best results. Cookies can be stored in an airtight bag or container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- The baked cookies can be frozen. Stack with sheets of parchment paper between cookies in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature.
Recommended Tools
- Cookie Scoop -A 1 1/2 tablespoon capacity cookie scoop helps to perfectly portion these cookies.
- Silicone Baking Liner – I use these everyday and they’re great for clean-up!
- Baking Sheet – A good quality baking sheet is always good to have on hand.
More Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes
I hope you love these gluten free peanut butter cookies as much as we do! If you try it be sure to leave me a comment/rating below. I’d love to hear from you!
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup gluten-free 1:1 baking flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking liner.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl with a hand mixer), cream together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add the peanut butter and mix until smooth. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix to combine.
- With the mixer running on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet in 3 additions, stirring well between each addition.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl down and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the dough to hydrate.
- Scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized rounds onto the baking sheet. Press down with a fork to make a criss-cross pattern.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until set and lightly golden. Cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
- Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter works best. You can use a natural peanut butter (where the oil separates from the nut butter) but I think a brand like Skippy or Jiff works best.
- Gluten-Free Flour: I recommend using a high-quality gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. Look for one that contains xanthan gum as a binder.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted will work – I usually use salted!
- Enjoy these cookies within 2 days for best results. Cookies can be stored in an airtight bag or container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- The baked cookies can be frozen. Stack with sheets of parchment paper between cookies in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature.
My husband had a craving for peanut butter cookies yesterday so I made these. He is so happy! Thank you.
So nice of you to make them for him! I’m so glad he enjoyed them 🙂
I made these Peanut Butter Cookies for me because I’m gluten free & gave one to my hubby to try not knowing they were gf. He said these were the best peanut butter cookies he’s ever had, I agreed then told him! I’ve tried other gf recipes for desserts which failed on many levels. Making more of these again & can’t wait to try your other recipes. BTW, these freeze well, too!!
When using a print out of the recipe I noticed that there’s no mention of pressing the balls of dough with a fork, making the crisscross pattern. Just thought you might want to add that in for those of us who follow recipes and have no previous experience with making these.
Thank you for letting me know! That instruction is definitely supposed to be in there so I appreciate you letting me know 🙂 Just added it!
You are blowing me away with your gluten free recipes. First, the crustless pumpkin pie (just made those for the 5th time since Thanksgiving). Now this recipe. Just made these and they are fantastic.
These peanut butter cookies are delicious! I even substituted Crisco shortening for margarine. You wouldn’t know they were gluten and dairy free. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m so glad they turned out for you!
YES! I’m all about these pb cookies. A family favorite for sure. Perfect when that sweet tooth comes a callin’
The best of ALL WORLDS come together in these cookies. I love how soft and chewy these are!
I have been thinking that gluten is causing me some health issues. I made this recipe to see if there was any hope of yummy cookies if I have to go gluten free. These cookies were great, and my husband loved them too! That means I won’t have to make two separate kinds of cookies. Yay! They were soft and chewy. I just used all purpose gluten free flour, but I can imagine that Erin’s mix would make the texture even better. I’m looking forward to trying that because it will be healthier than the store bought mix. Thanks
Would these work dairy-free using coconut oil or coconut butter? I am dairy free…..thx
You can use Earth Balance Buttery Sticks in these cookies! They work great!
I love adding organic unsweetened coconut to cookies, it worked great with this recipe! I only added 1/2 cup to the whole batch but could have increased it to at least 3/4 cup.
Thanks for the recipe!
Great! I’m so glad they worked out for you.
Have you ever tried these with dairy free butter? I might try this recipe for a friend but she can’t have dairy.
I think these would work really well with dairy-free butter!
Just tried this recipe, is SCRUMPTIOUS!!!! I cut it in half, because I only wanted a snack. My 9 year old is enjoying these so much! Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
I’m happy to hear you liked them! That is great to know they work well reducing the sugar. I’ll have to try that myself!
Could I use part palm shortening for some of the butter? I don’t like to use a lot of butter…
Yes that would work great!
Great thanks!