Peanut Butter Treats

Featured in Irresistible Sweet Treats.

You only need almond flour, maple syrup, and peanut butter to make these cookies. They’re ready in less than half an hour and perfect for gluten-free, vegan-friendly snacking!

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Updated on Sun, 13 Apr 2025 10:58:21 GMT
A soft background with a bowl of textured peanut butter cookies piled on top of each other. Pin it
A soft background with a bowl of textured peanut butter cookies piled on top of each other. | cuisinegenial.com

These simple 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies need just a few kitchen basics to make a treat that's got no animal products, wheat, or high carbs. There's no eggs, white sugar, or milk products in them, and you can whip them up in less than half an hour. Anyone who can't get enough peanut butter will flip for these - they're creamy, decadent, and just dissolve in your mouth!

What Makes These Cookies Special

You'll fall for these cookies if you want something sweet without all the fuss. They need just one bowl and three things to make, and they don't take long to bake up perfectly. The texture comes out soft and rich thanks to the almond flour, and the maple syrup makes them naturally sweet without needing eggs. You can dress them up with extras or keep them plain - either way, they'll disappear as soon as they hit your tongue.

What You'll Need for No-Egg Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Main Components:
    • 2 cups peanut butter (only peanuts and salt variety)
    • 2 cups finely ground almond flour
    • 2/3 cup real maple syrup
  • Extra Flavor Boosters:
    • 1/2 cup chopped peanuts to sprinkle on top
    • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
    • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Finishing Touches (If Wanted):
    • 8 oz vegan dark chocolate for coating edges
    • Flaky sea salt for the tops
    • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • Kitchen Tools:
    • Wire cooling rack
    • Fork to make patterns
    • Baking sheets
    • Parchment paper
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Measuring cups and spoons

Easy Method to Follow

Set Up Kitchen
Put oven rack in middle spot. Heat to 350°F (175°C). Cover two cookie sheets with parchment. Get everything ready and make sure it's not cold from the fridge.
Combine Wet Stuff
In your big bowl, mix peanut butter till it's smooth. Pour in maple syrup and stir until they're completely mixed, for about a minute. Throw in vanilla if you want.
Mix In Dry Parts
Slowly add almond flour, using a spatula to blend it all together. You should end up with soft dough that sticks to itself but not your hands. Toss in any extras you like now.
Form Your Cookies
Use a 2-tablespoon scoop for each cookie. Roll them into balls with your hands. Put them on sheets with 2 inches between each. Push down with a fork to make grid lines, dipping the fork in water so it won't stick.
Add Toppings
If you want, dust with coconut sugar or sea salt flakes. Push any other toppings gently into the cookies.

How to Bake Them Right

First Cooking Time
Cook just one tray at a time for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn slightly golden but middles still look a bit soft. Don't leave them in too long - they'll get firmer as they cool down.
First Cool Down
Let the cookies sit on the hot tray for exactly 5 minutes. They'll be super delicate right now.
Complete Cooling
Using a wide, flat spatula, move them carefully to a wire rack. Let them cool all the way, about half an hour, before you touch or dress them up.
Fancy Extras
If you want chocolate on them, wait till they're totally cool. Melt chocolate using a double boiler, dip half of each cookie, then let them harden on parchment.
A plate holds stacked peanut butter cookies with one showing a bite mark, alongside a small coffee cup and some chocolate chips in a bowl. Pin it
A plate holds stacked peanut butter cookies with one showing a bite mark, alongside a small coffee cup and some chocolate chips in a bowl. | cuisinegenial.com

Fixing Common Problems

Got dough that's too wet? Just add more almond flour, one spoon at a time. If it's falling apart, add a bit more peanut butter. Are your cookies spreading too much on the pan? Chill the dough for half an hour first. Want them chewier? Take them out a minute or two early. Like them crunchy? Leave them in a minute or two longer. Make sure your peanut butter isn't cold and is mixed well before you start.

Keeping Them Fresh

Keep them on the counter in a sealed container for 5 days with parchment between layers. They'll stay good in the fridge for up to two weeks if covered tight. Want to save them longer? Wrap each cookie in plastic and stick them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Let them sit out for half an hour before eating. You can also freeze the raw dough balls for up to 3 months - just bake them frozen and add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I swap peanut butter for another?

Sure! Almond or cashew butter works too, as long as it’s the natural kind (no added oils or sugar).

→ Why dampen my hands when rolling them?

Wet hands keep the sticky dough from clinging to you, making cookie shaping much smoother.

→ How can I tell they’re done baking?

Look for lightly golden edges. For soft cookies, bake close to 10 minutes. Go up to 15 minutes for crispy ones.

→ They seem soft fresh out of the oven; is this fine?

Totally! Let them cool all the way on the tray; they’ll firm up perfectly as they rest.

→ Can I replace the maple syrup?

You could try other liquid sweeteners, but be aware that the flavor and texture may turn out slightly different.

Peanut Butter Treats

Simple and quick peanut butter cookies made with almond flour, natural peanut butter, and maple syrup. Easy, healthy, and gluten-free.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
25 Minutes
By: Ferdaous

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Vegan, American

Yield: 20 Servings (20 bite-sized cookies)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 ⅓ cup (115g) maple syrup.
02 1 ¼ cups (125g) almond flour or blanched almond meal, leveled and scooped.
03 1 cup (250g) smooth and plain peanut butter.

Instructions

Step 01

Turn your oven on to 180°C (350°F) and get two baking trays lined with parchment paper.

Step 02

Dump all the ingredients in a bowl and stir until it all comes together. Wait about 2 minutes so the mixture thickens a bit into a dough-like consistency. It should be soft, sticky, and easy to roll into balls.

Step 03

Grab clean, slightly damp hands or a small scoop, and shape the dough into 20 balls weighing about 24g each. Arrange them neatly onto the prepared trays.

Step 04

Gently press each ball down with a fork to leave a criss-cross design. You can flatten them more or less, depending on your texture preference. A flat hand works just as well if you skip the fork.

Step 05

Pop the trays into the oven for 10-15 minutes. Pull them out when the edges just start to turn a light golden color. Keeping them in less time makes them chewy, but going longer results in crunchy cookies.

Step 06

Let the cookies cool completely on the same trays. They'll feel really soft at first but will harden up a lot as they chill.

Notes

  1. Measuring by grams works best for this.
  2. You can swap out almond flour for 100g oat flour or 50g white rice flour.
  3. Store them for 5 days at room temp, 2 weeks in the fridge, or freeze for 2 months.

Tools You'll Need

  • Two baking trays.
  • Sheet of parchment paper.
  • Optional: cookie scoop.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Peanuts.
  • Almonds (tree nuts).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 125
  • Total Fat: 9 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 8 g
  • Protein: 4 g