Indulgent, chewy gluten free peanut butter blossom cookies made with 5 healthy ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. These flourless peanut butter cookies taste just like the ones from my (our?) sugar-loaded childhood, but are naturally sweetened with coconut sugar and loaded with healthy fats and protein to keep blood sugar levels balanced. There’s no butter, no flour, and no refined sugar. This healthy cookie recipe is the perfect dessert for kids and adults!
You may be the type of person who refers to these nostalgic cookies as “that peanut butter cookie with the Hershey kiss on top”. Even though most people don’t know what this cookie’s really called, we can all agree that Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies are delicious. These cookies are perfectly chewy, like peanut butter cookie dough, and you get a yummy bit of chocolate in every bite—and you can easily make them vegan with the flax egg option!
Before we get into this gluten free cookie recipe, I need to confess that I LOVE cookies– in all forms, at all times of day. I’ve made healthy monster cookie breakfast bars, healthy cookie dough pancakes, salted cookie dough banana bread, like 10 different kinds of healthy cookie dough, and even healthy cookie dough milkshakes. I’ve practically made it my life’s work to make cookies (in all of their glorious forms) a health food fit for breakfast, lunch, and dessert that won’t give me the anxiety-inducing blood sugar spike that normal cookies cause. If this sounds like you, and you want all the cookie recipes for every occasion, you can find my round-up of healthy, gluten free cookies here in this post: 17 Healthy Cookies to Bake ASAP. Now, back to these delicious, flourless peanut butter blossoms.
Is peanut butter healthy?
The short answer: yes! But it’s all about choosing the right, quality brands that maintain the peanut’s nutritional value throughout their process. Beware of widely available, cheap brands that use hydrogenated vegetable oils and sugars in their “simple peanut butters”. Look for nutrition labels that just say “organic peanuts” in the ingredients list! I promise, the health benefits of peanuts are so worth it:
- Peanuts are rich in magnesium which is proven to ease migraines, relieve PMS symptoms, and normalize blood sugar levels. Learn more about blood sugar on this podcast episode.
- With more protein than any other nut, peanuts are a healthy plant protein with all 20 amino acids, which is great for heart health. Dive deep into stress on this episode.
- Peanuts are loaded with fiber and complex carbs which help you fuller longer and feed the good bacteria in your gut microbiome. Learn all about the microbiome on this episode.
- Peanuts are high in antioxidants which counteract oxidative stress that lead to chronic disease. Uncover truths on chronic illness on this episode.
Ingredients in these peanut butter blossoms
These healthy peanut butter cookies use just 5 easy ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need to make them:
Peanut Butter— linked to reduction in heart disease and better blood sugar control.
Coconut Sugar— one of my favorite low-GI, unrefined sweeteners that helps to keep blood sugar levels balanced.
Flax Egg vs. Regular Pastured Egg— I’ve started using flax egg in a ton of other recipes, like my Healthy Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies, for its binding effect. Wondering what a flax egg is? This magical ingredient is just flax seeds mixed with water. Flax seeds have so many amazing nutritional benefits like being high in Omega-3 fats and their natural ability to help lower blood pressure.
Vanilla Extract— natural vanilla extract is researched for its anti-inflammatory and mood-boosting benefits.
Dark Chocolate— quality dark chocolate has a high cocoa content, which is loaded with nutrients, minerals and soluble fiber which aids in digestion.
What’s a flax egg?
Flax eggs are the perfect vegan baking substitute for eggs. I’ve started using flax egg in a ton of other recipes, like my Healthy Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies, because it’s so easy and healthy. A flax egg is just flax seeds mixed with water, which mimic the binding effect of eggs in baking recipes. Flax seeds have so many amazing nutritional benefits like being high in Omega-3 fats and their natural ability to help lower blood pressure. Feel free to use a flax egg in this recipe in place of egg to make vegan peanut butter cookies!
More gluten free cookie recipes to try
The Best Healthy Cookies from my Healthier Together Cookbook
Gooey Paleo Chocolate Lava Cookies
Cardamom Orange Tahini Cookies
I hope you love these Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, and tag me if you make them on Instagram (@lizmoody)—I can’t wait to see your creations!
Print
Healthy 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms (Dairy Free, Vegan Option)
- Yield: 18 Cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 pastured egg (a flax egg works too)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- Dark chocolate discs, for the center
Instructions
- Mix together peanut butter, coconut sugar, egg, vanilla, and salt until well combined.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until the dough can be rolled into a ping pong-sized ball with your hands.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Start rolling, then place the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake 11-13 minutes, or until bottoms are light brown. Remove from oven and immediately press one disc into the center of each cookie (this helps it melt a bit and adhere to the cookie).
- Let the cookies cool completely before removing from pan.
