These healthy peanut butter cup cookies are seriously the best you’ll ever have! They only require 7 ingredients that you probably already have on hand. They are soft, chewy, and have the perfect amount of creamy peanut butter.
The best peanut butter cup cookies
If you’re a peanut butter lover like me, definitely make a batch of these cookies. You won’t regret it! Everyone needs a classic (and easy) peanut butter cookies recipe and this recipe is just that. Also, since these creamy peanut butter cookies are studded with delicious peanut butter cups, they are completely irresistible! Keep reading to find all the details.
Ingredients you’ll needed for peanut butter cup cookies
You will need the below ingredients to make these easy peanut butter cookies.
Oat flour: I love baking with oat flour! Oats are a very nutritious grain as they have fiber and many important vitamins. They are also whole grain and gluten free. Oat flour makes super soft and fluffy baked goods. Just make sure your oat flour resembles the texture of regular flour – you don’t want it to be grainy.
Baking powder: Baking powder helps lighten and fluff up these cookies. We will be using 1/2 teaspoon.
Peanut butter: Need I say more about peanut butter? Peanut butter is essential for this recipe and is definitely the best type of nut butter (just my opinion)!
Maple syrup: Make sure you use pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup)! Maple syrup adds the perfect sweetness and chewiness to these cookies.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds the perfect hint of flavor and enhances all the flavors.
Salt: Salt enhances the flavors in these cookies.
Peanut butter cups: Lastly, adding peanut butter cups to these cookies is the cherry on top! They are absolutely delicious on their own but adding them on top of these cookies is a total game changer.
How to make oat flour peanut butter cookies
STEP 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
STEP 2
Cream together the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla in a large bowl.
STEP 3
Then add in the oat flour and baking powder and mix just until combined.
STEP 4
Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop 20 balls onto your baking sheet. Lightly press down on the cookies to flatten them a bit (but not all the way).
STEP 5
Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes.
STEP 6
Once the cookies are done press a peanut butter cup into the top and let them cool.
Why you’ll love these healthy peanut butter cookies
- Firstly, they are incredibly easy to make. Who doesn’t love an easy cookie recipe?
- These cookies have the perfect balance of creamy peanut butter and chocolate flavor.
- Additionally, these cookies require no chill time!
- This reeses cookie recipe is made with just seven ingredients.
- These healthy peanut butter cookies are gluten free since they are made with oat flour!
- Lastly, they are freezer friendly. Store these cookies in the freezer for up to three months.
What type of peanut butter can I use?
For this recipe you’ll definitely want to use creamy peanut butter. Chunky peanut butter will mess with the texture of these cookies. If you’re using a natural peanut butter make sure you mix it really well as natural nut butters tend to be very oily.
If you aren’t a fan of peanut butter, feel free to substitute any creamy nut butter of choice. But please note that using a different nut butter will change the flavor profile of these cookies. For example, you could use creamy almond butter or creamy cashew butter.
What makes these peanut butter cup cookies healthy?
- They are made with oat flour. Oat flour is a great nutritious baking flour. It provides a great source of whole grains and antioxidants. Oat flour also has a higher protein and fiber content compared to regular white flour. Another added bonus is that oat flour makes delicious, chewy, and moist desserts.
- They are sweetened with maple syrup. Maple syrup is an unrefined sugar that is a great substitution for regular white sugar. I love baking with maple syrup as it adds the perfect sweetness and it also adds chewiness.
- 160 calories per cookie. This recipe makes 20 peanut butter cup cookies. Enjoy these cookies as a tasty after lunch snack or for a delicious dessert. Beware, these cookies are irresistible!
Tips for making these peanut butter cup cookies
Use creamy peanut butter. Using crunchy peanut butter will mess with the texture of these cookies.
Store the peanut butter cups in the fridge or freezer. This will keep them from melting when you place them into the warm cookie.
Use a hand mixer. Use a hand mixer to cream together the ingredients! This will result in creamy and smooth cookies.
How to store these cookies
If not eaten immediately, let the cookies fully cool. Store the cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. This will allow the peanut butter cup to harden. To enjoy, serve them directly from the fridge!
Additionally, you can store these cookies in the freezer for a later date! They can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. To enjoy, simply let the cookies thaw at room temperature or you can defrost them in the microwave!
Other cookies recipes you’ll love by Brae’s Bites
If you love these peanut butter cookies, certainly try these recipes below!
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies – pb&j is the best combo, especially in cookie form!
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites – these cute snack-able peanut butter bites are so cute and fun to make.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies – chocolate and peanut butter? Say no more!
- The Best Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting – the best paleo and gluten free chocolate cup cakes!
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Bars – a crunchy peanut butter and chocolate treat that requires zero baking.
Did you make these cookies?
I hope you love these cookies as much as I do! If you love these cookies, I would really appreciate a review down below. Also, give me a follow on Instagram and Pinterest for some more recipe inspiration!
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (gluten free, easy)
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp salt
- 20 mini peanut butter cups
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla.
- Then add in the oat flour and baking powder and mix just until combined.
- Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop 20 balls onto your baking sheet. Lightly press down on the cookies to flatten them a bit, but not all the way.
- Bake for 11-13 minutes. Once the cookies are done press a peanut butter cup into the top and let them cool. You can also place them in the fridge to harden the peanut buttercup faster. Enjoy!
Micky Donovan says
Woah these are awesome! Perfect after lunch snack. You are so right, they are irresistible!
caitlinbrae says
Thank you, Micky! These cookies are definitely one of my favorites!