3-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
By Carine Claudepierre
Published on 07/08/2019 - Last updated on 11/19/2023
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These 3-ingredient no-bake peanut butter cookies are easy healthy no-bake cookies without milk or butter.
This easy vegan peanut butter cookie recipe is for health-conscious peanut butter lovers!
You will not believe those are made with only 3 ingredients!
Yes, the chocolate shell is optional, so technically, you don’t need this fourth ingredient to make these no-bake cookies! It is the cherry on the cake, up to you to add this or not.
Plus, they taste like a real peanut butter cookie without the hassle of using your oven!
They are melt-in-your-mouth, slightly sweet cookies 100% vegan with a keto-friendly option!
How To Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
The secret to this amazing texture is a simple combo of peanut butter and coconut flour!
Ingredients
The 3 ingredients you need to make these easy peanut butter no-bake cookies are:
- Natural Peanut Butter – this refers to pure peanut butter with no added sugar, and no added oil in the jar. You need peanut butter just made of peanuts! It’s ok if salt is added, it won’t compromise the taste of these vegan no-bake peanut butter cookies.
- Coconut Flour – this is an amazing healthy gluten-free flour. Plus, it is safe to eat raw coconut flour. So it makes it perfect to use in no-bake cookies. It’s also a healthy flour as it contains a high amount of fiber, protein, and iron! Indeed, 1/4 cup of coconut flour covers 20% of the iron daily value. Also, it has very few net carbs (8 grams per 1/4 cup of flour. It means it is a very fulfilling flour that releases energy slowly to your body and stabilizes your blood sugar level. As a result, coconut flour is great flour for diabetic or keto baking.
- Maple Syrup – or any unrefined liquid sweetener you love like agave syrup or sugar-free maple-flavored syrup made of Monk fruit for a keto option.
Prepare Storage
Before you start making the cookie dough, I recommend preparing baking sheets with parchment paper.
These cookies will not be baked, but you will pop them in the freezer to set.
Prepare any flat surface like a baking sheet or plate covered with waxed paper and grease with coconut oil.
Combining Ingredients
First, combine peanut butter and maple syrup in a large mixing bowl. It should be quick and easy to do so using a fresh jar of peanut butter.
If it’s too hard to stir at room temperature, pop the mixing bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften the peanut butter and make it easier to stir.
If you don’t have a microwave, place the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat and stir to melt and combine.
When the liquid ingredients are well combined, stir in coconut flour.
First, stir with a spoon, then when it starts to be difficult to stir, knead the mixture with your hand until a dough ball forms.
Shaping Cookie Balls
Now, shape cookie dough balls and place them on the prepared surfaces leaving 1 thumb space between each ball.
Flatten each cookie dough ball with the back of a fork to form a cross on top of the cookie, as seen in the picture below.
Freezing The Cookies
Place the lined baking sheet with the cookies on it into the freezer for 10 minutes to set.
Making Chocolate Shell
To male chocolate peanut butter, no-bake cookies, as seen in my picture above, you need to create a chocolate shell.
To do so, melt 2 ingredients below in a small bowl in the microwave:
- Vegan Dark Chocolate Chips – 1/2 cup is enough for the whole recipe.
- Coconut Oil – This is optional, but this helps the chocolate melt. Use 1 teaspoon. You can use refined coconut oil to avoid coconut flavor.
Remove the cookies from the freezer and dip half of the cookies into the melted chocolate.
Return each cookie onto the lined baking sheets.
When all the cookies are dipped into chocolate, bring the sheets back to the freezer until the chocolate shell is hard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies Taste?
These are soft no-bake cookies with a delicious peanut butter flavor and light coconut taste from the coconut flour.
If you don’t like coconut flavor, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract into the dough to cover it.
Can I Use Other Flours?
You can’t make the recipe with almond flour or wheat flour.
Wheat flour is not safe to be eaten raw. Almond flour won’t absorb liquid well and let the dough runny and oily.
However, you can use oat flour in this recipe. Check the recipe card for measurements.
To make oat flour, add quick oats or rolled oats in a blender and blend for 30 seconds on high speed until a thin flour forms.
You can also follow my tutorial on how to make oat flour.
Are No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies Healthy?
These cookies are made with natural ingredients. Consequently, they are the most healthy no-bake cookies for snacking.
In fact, raw baking preserves all the nutrients from food as it doesn’t involve high temperate.
Plus, this recipe, compared to the classic no-bake peanut butter recipe, doesn’t use refined sugar and healthy high fiber, fulfilling flour, so it is better for you!
Can I Make Keto Vegan Cookies?
I don’t eat sugar at all, and my husband is vegan. That is the reason why this recipe has been tested with a keto sugar-free liquid sweetener as well.
However, if you eat sugar, I recommend using maple syrup for the best flavor. Both work very well with the same amount.
More No-Bake Peanut Butter Treats
If you love easy no-bake peanut butter cookies, I recommend you also check my Healthy peanut butter oatmeal cookies.
It is a delicious vegan breakfast cookie with peanut butter chocolate flavors and nutrient-dense oatmeal!
Enjoy the raw cookie recipe, and don’t forget to share this on your Pinterest board to save it for later.
Did You Like This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or head to our Facebook page for tips, our Instagram page for inspiration, our Pinterest for saving recipes, and Flipboard to get all the new ones!
No-bake Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup Peanut Butter (Unsalted) - no added sugar, no added oil
- ½ cup Coconut Flour
- ¼ cup Maple Syrup - or sugar-free syrup
Chocolate shell – Optional!
- ½ cup Dark Chocolate Chips - or sugar-free
- 1 tesapoon Coconut Oil
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add peanut butter along and syrup. Microwave 30 seconds if too firm, stir to combine.
- Stir in coconut flour and keep mixing with the spatula at first, until the dough is consistent.
- If it is too dry, this can happen if you did not measure the coconut flour carefully and add too much. Then, add 1-2 teaspoons of extra liquid sweetener until the ingredients come together and a shiny cookie dough ball forms.
- Roll 8 balls of the same size between your hands and place each ball onto a plate covered with parchment paper. Leave 1 thumb space between each cookie ball.
- Flatten each cookie ball with the back of a fork to form a cross on top.
- Place the plate in the fridge for 5 minutes to set the cookies while you are melting the chocolate.
Chocolate shell – optional
- Meanwhile, place chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl with coconut oil and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between. Stop when fully melted and shiny.
- Remove the peanut butter cookies from the fridge. Dip one cookie at a time into the melted chocolate. Hold one side of the cookie and dip the other half only.
- Place the dipped cookie onto the plate covered with parchment paper. Repeat the chocolate dipping steps until all the cookies have been covered with chocolate.
- Place the plate into the freezer for 10-15 minutes or until the chocolate shell is set.
- Store your cookies in the fridge for 3 weeks. in a sealed container. You can also store them at room temperature. They will be slightly softer.
- You can freeze your no-bake cookies in a sealed box or bag. Defrost 1 hour before eating.
Oh my these are unbelievable! I may have “dropped” a whole cookie into the chocolate…. It may be like a peanut butter cup….
Husband (who is a carnivore) loves them – this will be on regular rotation in my house!
Also, dipped some banana slices in the leftover chocolate & froze for an extra treat!
I made these and they are very good. I would like to add chocolate next time but it says to microwave the chips with coconut oil, however it doesn’t say how much oil to use.
I updated the recipe for you sorry for that. Enjoy! they are even better dipped in chocolate
Can I use other nut butter no oil added? I am going to try Kirkland (Costco) nut and seed butter. Your thoughts?
My nut butters doesn’t contains added oil so yes any nut butter works as a swap : almond butter or mix of nut and seed too
I prefer molasses to maple syrup.
I am in the uk what peanut butter can i use
Look for a natural peanut butter with no added sugar and no added oil, just peanuts listed in the ingredient list. I don’t like in UK so I am not familiar with the brands in your country sorry
I notice the recipe says 5 net carbs per servings, how many cookies would this be?
Serving size appears before the ingredient list, enjoy!
I didn’t think oats were keto friendly since they’re mostly carbs. (Referring to using oat flour)
Oat is not keto friendly the original recipe is made of coconut flour which is keto approved if you use SF maple syrup. Oat flour is given as an alternative for non-keto followers, Enjoy.
Are you supposed to eat them frozen or thawed?
No, you set the cookie in the freezer then store in the fridge to eat them. Enjoy! XOXO Carine
I make these almost every weekend hoping they will last a whole week! Am I delusional? Lol
I’m addicted to them! My sister gets mad at me when I don’t make them, I guess it means they’re good!
AND incredibly easy to make!!
Can I substitute the syrup for honey or blue agave?
Sure, any liquid syrup will work here. Enjoy, XOXO Carine
Loved them!!! Super easy to make! I’m a messy chocolate dipper but I had fun making them. Thank you.
I made these today in 2 batches: one with smooth peanut butter and the other with chunky peanut butter. They are both good and the texture is nice. Thank you for sharing this quick simple sweet-tooth-calmer-downer that is healthy!
Thank you for the lovely feedback I am so happy you enjoy the healthy treat, XOXO Carine
Good recipe.
But my god, your website is the absolute worse to navigate. Full of ads, pop ups, takes forever to just get to the recipe. Absolutely not user friendly.
I am happy you enjoyed the recipe. The blog is free and the ads is what keep the blog alive and cover all cost associated to sharing free content. We display the same amount of ads as others website and you always have a jump to recipe button on top of page to be redirected in a sec to the recipe card without seeing the ads. There is also ad blocker on any device if you wish.
Simple, healthy and delicious!
I have critical anemia and getting enough iron sometimes can be a crazy task. Not only These cookies are super high on iron but they also taste great.
Just made them and OMG! Sooooo good!
I really am a peanut butter junkie and those cookies perfectly satisfy my sweet tooth! Love your recipes!!!
Thanks for the lovely comment! Enjoy all the recipes around here, XOXO Carine
My husband and I are on a low carb diet..I made these for us tonight and they are delicious..a welcome treat…
It’s awesome to hear that you liked it, I can’t wait to see what other recipes you’ll try!
XOXO Carine.
Love these cookies! The most easy baked cookies I’ve ever tried! And healthy! Great for the kids snack time! I will definitely do them again!!
Thank you so much for this lovely feedback! I am so glad the kids love them too. Enjoy the blog, XOXO Carine.
These were awesome! Even my boyfriend loves them and he tiptoes lightly onanything new especially in the “healthier” department, but baby steps are better no steps and definitely will make again 🙂
That is so exciting ! I love when men get on board with healthy food 🙂 I hope you will enjoy more of my recipes round here. XOXO Carine.
I knew I had to make these when I saw the video. So easy and so good. Thank you. I love that you’ve included the macros, this is fantastic!
Thank you SO much for trying my recipe. I am so happy you love the cookies and the nutrition panel. See you soon around here . XOXO Carine.
Fast, super easy and delicious! Thank you!
Thank you !!!
Delicious!!! I’ve been looking for an easy PB cookie recipe. Thanks 🙂
I am glad you find my blog and enjoy this simple cookie ! Enjoy all the vegan recipes around here. XOXO Carine.
Amazing! Easy & delish!
Thanks for the beautiful feedback ! Enjoy the recipes on the blog. XOXO Carine.
Super easy quick dessert. My kids and husband really enjoyed them .
Do you have the nutritional information for if you don’t dip in chocolate?
No but if you track your macro closely enter the info into a nutrition app on your phone using the exact ingredient brand you are using. You will ensure full precision. Enjoy the treat! XOXO Carine.
Hi, Carine – these look delicious and a great treat! Have you tried almond butter or any other nut butter? We lean toward Paleo which would mean no legumes – considering trying cashew butter, my favorite. 🙂
Sure ! Sunflower seed butter or almond butter are great paleo option for this little treat! Enjoy.
Can you substitute almond flour for the coconut flour?
Hello! Coconut flour contains 4 times more fiber than almond flour. It means it is much more liquid absorbent. If you swap, be aware that you will need much more almond flour. I didn’t try this so I am not sure how much. Enjoy the recipe, XOXO Carine.
This is labeled as three ingredients, but chocolate makes four. Also, I don’t see anything that says how much chocolate chips are needed for 8 cookies.
Hi, I am no sure why you are not seeing how much chocolate chips it needs. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of vegan sugar-free chocolate chips. As I said in the post, adding a chocolate shell is optional, technically the recipe is for no bake peanut butter cookies, which required 3 ingredients. But anyway, whatever how we count those are super easy to make and o delicious ! I really wish you give this a go and report back on how it was. Enjoy ! XOXO Carine.