These vegan gluten-free peanut butter cookies are about to become your new favorite treat. Because they're entirely plant-based, made with fiber-rich oat flour, naturally sweetened, and oil-free, they're a nourishing dessert (or snack!) you can feel good about enjoying. I've been making these on repeat because they're easy, fast, healthy, and delicious.
There’s something especially satisfying about a cookie recipe that comes together in just one bowl, don't you think? There's no fuss, no extra cleanup, and (most importantly) very little waiting time. As long as you have the simple ingredients on hand, you can go from craving to cookie in about 25 minutes. These vegan peanut butter cookies are perfect for when you want a homemade treat without a long list of steps or a bunch of dishes to wash.
What makes this recipe different is the addition of vegan cream cheese. It acts as an egg-free binding ingredient while adding a subtle richness that pairs beautifully with the peanut butter and pockets of melty chocolate. The result is a cookie that’s soft, balanced, and just indulgent enough. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just want something sweet to keep on hand, this is one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again.
You won't find any butter, refined flour, refined sugar, or oil in these healthy peanut butter cookies. Instead, they're made from just a few simple, whole-food ingredients. A combination of vegan cream cheese (the real, cultured kind!) and peanut butter replaces the usual butter, eggs, and oil; together, they act as both the fat and the binding agent. Fiber-rich oat flour replaces the usual refined wheat flour, and maple syrup replaces the usual refined sugar. You'll also add in some indulgent chocolate chunks and finish the cookies with some flaky sea salt for the perfect sweet/salty balance.
These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are easy to make. You'll just whisk together the wet ingredients, add the dry ingredients to the wet, and stir to make a thick dough. Add in plenty of chocolate chunks, and you're ready to bake. Unlike many vegan gluten-free cookie recipes, these don't require any fussy flours, starches, or gums.
Vegan cream cheese is a surprisingly versatile ingredient in baking. Because it contains both fat and moisture, vegan cream cheese can help create baked goods that feel tender, satisfying, and surprisingly fluffy without the need for eggs or butter. In these cream cheese peanut butter cookies, it yields a soft, delicate texture. The cream cheese also adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor of the peanut butter and chocolate.
Although this recipe is easy and uses minimal ingredients, I have a few tips to make sure your peanut butter cream cheese cookies turn out perfectly. Most importantly, make sure you're using a high-quality, real cream cheese, i.e. one that has been cultured. Your results won't be the same if you use a cream cheese imitation with starches and gums. I adore the Original cream cheese from Dare Vegan Cheese.
Because these one-bowl peanut butter cookies don't contain butter or oil, they don't spread. Accordingly, you'll want to gently flatten each one into a cookie shape before baking.
Finally, make sure not to over-bake them. This is important for all cookies, but is especially critical for healthy vegan cookies since they can become dry if baked for too long. Take them out of the oven as soon as the edges are set and you'll be rewarded with a soft, fluffy texture in the middle.
Here's what you'll need for these vegan gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
If you love these one-bowl peanut butter cookies, then I have plenty more here on the blog for you to explore. Personally speaking, I'm definitely a cookie/bar person and will happily take a cookie or brownie over any other treat. However, I always try to bake with nourishing ingredients, so I'm constantly on a quest to create healthy cookie, brownie, and blondie recipes.
For vegan gluten-free cookies, you'll love these White Chocolate Macadamia Matcha Cookies, which use a similar combination of nut butter and oat flour for the dough. For a nostalgic treat, these Healthy Monster Cookies are one of the most popular recipes on The Rogue Brussel Sprout and are a personal favorite.
If bars are more your style, these Tahini Chickpea Blondies are famous. For a chocolatey treat, check out the Ultimate Healthy Brownies, which are a versatile recipe you can dress up with whatever mix-ins you're in the mood for. Those brownies form the base for these Vegan Snickers Brownies and these Vegan Samoa Brownies. All four of these bar recipes are not only vegan and gluten-free, but entirely grain-free as well.
Aren't you excited to try these vegan gluten-free peanut butter cookies? The combination of the rich peanut butter and the bitter dark chocolate is truly a delight. Using a plant-based cream cheese in the dough creates cookies that are surprisingly soft and fluffy, plus it adds a subtle tang. Each bite is a joy!
These cookies are a treat you can feel good about enjoying too. There's no refined flour or sugar, no heavy dairy, and no oil; just a few simple, real-food ingredients. Snack on one of these healthy peanut butter cookies after a workout, bring one on a hike, enjoy a couple as a nourishing dessert, or gift them to a friend or family member; they're sure to make everyone smile.
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
Disclosure: This recipe has been developed through a paid partnership with Dare Vegan Cheese. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.
These one-bowl vegan gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies use vegan cream cheese for structure and flavor. An easy, delicious cookie recipe with minimal cleanup!
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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