Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies (Parve)

3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Credit: Foodcollection RF/Getty Images
  • 13 mins
  • Prep: 5 mins,
  • Cook: 8 mins
  • Yield: 16-20 Cookies (16-20 Servings)
Ratings

By Giora Shimoni

Updated 02/22/18

Reader Deborah Cigary shared this recipe for kosher gluten-free peanut butter cookies. Because it's so simple, it's a great recipe to make with young kids—with just three ingredients, even little ones with short attention spans will have fun measuring, mixing, and plopping batter on the cookie sheet. And best of all, they won't have to wait long to taste the fruits of their efforts. Giora Shimoni says when he made a batch, his son (who loved the cookies, by the way) walked into the kitchen and wondered "how'd you do that so fast?" You can leave the cookies plain, or take Shimoni's suggestion and press a few chocolate chips into the tops of each before baking. Or, for PB&J thumbprint-style cookies, use your thumb to make a small, shallow well in the top of each dough ball, and fill the depressions with about 1/4 teaspoon of your favorite jam, then bake.

Miri's Recipe Testing Notes and Tips

Because they don't contain flour, these cookies aren't as sturdy as traditional peanut butter cookies. If gluten is not a concern, and you prefer a less delicate cookie, try adding a little all-purpose flour. Mix in 2 to four tablespoons of flour, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough reaches the consistency you prefer.

Though Cigary's recipe doesn't specify what type of peanut butter to use, the cookies will hold together better if you stick to creamy peanut butter. Keep in mind that commercial peanut butter generally contains a small amount of added solid fat, (usually hydrogenated vegetable oil) to emulsify the product and keep it from separating. (Some natural brands add palm oil for the same reason). The recipe works with totally natural peanut butter—the type that contains just peanuts or peanuts and salt, but the cookies will be a bit more crumble-prone.

Many peanut butter brands contain sugar and salt as well. If yours contains sugar and you prefer a less sweet cookie, you may want to try reducing the amount of sugar slightly. Try making a batch with 3/4 cup sugar; if they're still too sweet for your taste, make your next batch with 2/3 cup instead.

What You'll Need

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

How to Make It

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Line two large, rimmed cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter, sugar, and egg until well combined. 
  3. With clean, oiled hands, roll pieces of dough into walnut sized balls. Place the dough balls 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets, and flatten each with the heel of your hand. Or, for less mess and cookies with a slightly more free-form appearance, simply drop the dough by the teaspoonful onto the prepared cookie sheets. 
  1. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned around edges. Transfer carefully to a wire rack to cool.

Updated by Miri Rotkovitz

Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 132
Total Fat 8 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Unsaturated Fat 3 g
Cholesterol 45 mg
Sodium 77 mg
Carbohydrates 13 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Protein 4 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)