Best Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

Name: Best Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup almond flour (superfine or almond meal); ¾ cup creamy peanut butter (natural without additives); ¼ cup maple syrup ( or honey if not vegan); ¼ cup coconut sugar (or any granulated sugar); ½ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; flaked sea salt (optional)

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Easy, healthy and delicious one bowl Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies that are rich in protein and naturally gluten-free and vegan.

A silver wire rack is topped with tan cookies with a sprinkle of salt and a criss cross pattern.

Full of creamy peanut butter goodness, these Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies are unbelievably healthy. These soft and chewy cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and refined sugar-free. Not only are these cookies irresistibly delicious, but they are full of protein and nutrients as well.

A small silver rack topped with peanut butter cookies.

This vegan cookie recipe is easy to prepare, freezer-friendly, and uses only clean ingredients such as almond flour, maple syrup, natural peanut butter, and coconut sugar. From their chewy and crunchy texture to the delicious nutty flavor, you’ll surely finish these cookies with delight!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Vegan. This recipe is egg free and uses only the healthiest ingredients.
Easy to prepare. It only takes a few ingredients and a few simple steps to whip up these delicious cookies! It’s easy to prep in advance and to store as well.
Full of protein. Tons of protein from the almond flour and peanut butter!
Uses a natural sweetener. This recipe uses maple syrup and coconut sugar which are full of antioxidants and nutrients, all with fewer calories!

If you like this recipe, see these almond flour cookie recipes and these almond flour chocolate chip cookies.

A close shot of flaked sea salt on top of a golden cookie.

What is Almond Flour?

Almond Flour is made by blanching almonds in boiling water to remove the peel and then grinding them until they become a fine flour. Almond flour is known to be packed with nutrients, high in protein, low in carbs, and has a slightly sweeter taste than regular flour. Almond flour is also naturally gluten-free.

A wire rack with a spread of salted peanut butter cookies resting on top.

Ingredient Notes

Almond Flour: Blanched almond flour is my favorite choice for this recipe as it tends to be a finer in texture and lighter in color, however almond meal can be used in a pinch!

Peanut Butter: Use a natural smooth and creamy peanut butter for this recipe, not the thick and crunchy peanut butter as it might make the batter too thick. Alternatively, you can also use almond butter or seed butter as well!

Maple Syrup: We use maple syrup for a natural and healthy sweetener as it has a lower glycemic index while adding a delicious caramel-like flavor to the recipe!

Coconut Sugar: Another healthy sweetener alternative, coconut sugar is has a similar flavor to brown sugar.

Baking Powder: To help our cookies rise and stop the batter from spreading too much.

Salt: To add complexity and deepen the flavor of the cookies.

Vanilla Extract: A must for every cookie recipe, vanilla extract adds complexity and deepens the flavor. If you’re looking to mix the flavor profile up a touch, almond extract also makes a fun alternative.

Close shot of a peanut butter cookie on silver rack on a pink table.

How to Make Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

A silver mixing bowl filled with wet and dry baking ingredients. — **Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients.**

A wooden spoon stirs a brown dough in a silver mixing bowl. — **Step 2: Mix well until a smooth dough forms.**

A silver textured baking sheet topped with rounds of tan dough. — **Step 3: Grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place rounded tablespoon scoops of cookie dough balls on prepared baking tray.**

A fork pressing into cookie dough making a pattern. — **Step 4: Use a wet fork to imprint the dough with a criss-cross pattern.**

Top view of peanut butter cookie dough resting on a silver cookie sheet. — **Step 5: Place the cookies in the oven to bake.**

Close shot of freshly baked peanut butter cookies resting on a baking sheet. — **Step 6: Optionally sprinkle with flaked salt and enjoy!**

Expert Tips

Use seed butter for a nut-free version.

For a nut-free and allergy-free version of these cookies, you can replace peanut butter with seed butter such as sunflower seed butter, pumpkin seed butter, pure ground sesame tahini, or other variations of your choice. Simple replace peanut butter for a 1:1 ratio with your chosen seed butter.

Add chocolate chips for a fun variation.

Adding chocolate chips to any recipe will definitely make them more delicious! You can add chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars to these almond flour peanut butter cookies by adding them to your batter and mixing them just until they are combined.

Shape the cookies to your desired size

These cookies will not spread as much so make sure to shape them to the size and thickness that you desire. It also helps to flatten them a bit with a fork before baking. If the fork is sticking to your batter, make sure to wet the fork with water for every few cookies that you flatten.

Do a double batch

These almond flour peanut butter cookies will definitely not last long in your pantry! Consider doing a double batch or preparing another batch in advance that you can bake later.

Let them rest for 10 minutes after baking.

The cookies will still be very soft when you take them out of the oven. Let them rest for 10 minutes after you take them out to give them time to harden and set to a perfectly moist and chewy cookie with crunchy edges. After letting them rest for 10 minutes, transfer them to a cooling rack and let them cool for another 5-10 minutes before serving for even better results!

Storage

These gluten-free peanut butter cookies keep lightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. Any longer, I recommend sealing them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or freezing for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does almond flour do to cookies?

Almond flour adds a nutty flavor and rich texture to cookies. It is also known to be more dense, so cookies do not rise as much when using almond flour. Cookies also tend to bake faster when using almond flour.

What kind of peanut butter works best in peanut butter cookies?

Use a natural peanut butter that’s creamy, unsalted, and unsweetened. A thick and crunchy peanut butter will make the batter too thick and hard to mix, and can result in cookies that are too thick as well.

Can I use almond meal instead of almond flour in these peanut butter cookies?

Yes, you can use almond meal to replace almond flour and it will still turn out good. Almond meal is basically ground unpeeled almonds while almond flour is ground peeled almonds. When you use almond meal instead of almond flour, to cookies will result in darker colored cookies with a stronger almond flavor.

What does almond flour taste like in baking?

Since it is made from ground almonds, almond flour tastes just like that — almonds. It has a mildly sweet, nutty flavor with a slight hint of bitterness.

Is almond flour keto?

Yes, almond flour has lower carbs than most traditional flours and is a great alternative for those on a keto diet.

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