These vegan peanut butter cookies are soft, chewy, easy, and have only 4 ingredients! There are no eggs in these old fashioned peanut butter cookies.
I wanted to create a simple dairy-free peanut butter cookie, and I like what I came up with. I think the peanut butter lovers among us will like them too.
These classic peanut butter cookies aren't fancy, but they don't need to be. They're not too sweet either (they're still sweet), but my first batch was waaay too sweet. Ah, my first attempt at this recipe was a total fail in general, and I decided that taking out like half the ingredients would up my chances for success. 😛
Pro Tip: The cookies will probably seem too soft when you take them out of the oven, but that's fine! They will firm up as they cool. Gently remove them from the baking sheet and let them cool on a cooling rack.
Let me try to describe the texture of these cookies the next day (assuming you stored them in a sealed container): when you first bite into them, they're a little bit flaky/crumbly, then you get that soft chewiness.
I hope these cookies satisfy your peanut butter craving! We tested these out on a few of my husband's coworkers, and one lady said "That cookie was AMAZING!" and she couldn't believe it was vegan because she thought vegan meant bland. Well, I want to change that perception. One cookie at a time!
Have you ever made vegan cookies? Will you try this easy vegan cookie recipe? Let me know in the comments below!

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water)
- 1 cup smooth/creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Move the rack to the middle of the oven. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat non-stick mat or parchment paper.
- Prep your flax egg and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Add the peanut butter, sugar, flour, and flax egg to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, mix until combined.
- Roll the batter into balls (mine were just shy of 1.5" each, makes about 16-18 cookies). Use a fork to press them down a bit (make a criss-cross pattern). Space them about an inch apart since they do spread a bit.
- Bake the cookies for 18-20 minutes (I baked mine for 20).
- The cookies will likely seem too soft when you take them out of the oven, but that's ok. They will firm up as they cool. Carefully remove them from the baking sheet and let them cool on a cooling rack.
- Store cookies in an airtight container as soon as they've cooled. Their final texture is slightly crumbly when you bite into it, but soft and chewy inside.
Notes
- This is the hand mixer I used to make this recipe.
- Ground flaxseed is also sold as something called "flaxseed meal" (I use Bob's Red Mill brand).
- Be sure to spoon + level the flour (don't scoop it or you'll end up with more than needed).
Nutrition
You may also like my vegan sugar cookies or my vegan matcha cookies.
Toni says
I had to add a little bit more water because the mixture was so dry and crumbly. I had to bake a little longer because the middle still tasted like the mixture. They are okay, but don't taste like peanut butter and I scooped a little extra. Thank you for the recipe! It was great trying something different. Maybe if I add a little more sugar next time.
Natasha says
Hi Toni! Sorry they didn't work out so well for you.
Bread2Cook says
I just made these again and gave 5 stars, not 4 like my last review. Here’s why: I made again, still w/ almond butter and whole wheat white flour. I added hemp and chia seeds and chopped almonds (I cook for nutrition). And these are still great! I rate this 5 for taste, ease of making and the ability to doctor these up and they still come out really well. That’s a good recipe! I again mixed with my bare hands; wash the kid’s hands and let them have a go. Few tools, little clean up, but a good end product. Experiment as I did, tho I’m sure the original recipe is very good. I'm reasonably experienced in the kitchen, but always want to be inspired by new food ideas. This is a basic I hadn’t thought of, will make again (probably doctored up...). Thanks for posting this recipe. I’m “gifting” some of these to friends tomorrow.
Natasha says
Aww thanks for coming back! I am so glad you like this recipe and tried it again!
Bread2Cook says
I changed some stuff, as per usual, but these came out very well; I used what I had on hand. I used almond butter, lavender sugar (had lavender buds to use) and a wee bit of brown sugar. Added a pinch of salt and all the flour was whole wheat white (all I usually use for the fiber & protein benefits). I ended up using only about a 1/2 cup flour. I made the flax egg, thought it too runny so added a tablespoon of psyllium husks (a good binder and extra fiber, too). I mixed by hand, was worried I ruined it with my husks and changes, but got in there and mixed the dough w/ my barehands (mixing with spoon or mixer would not have worked), squeezing into the shapes for the pan, used fork to flatten and they came out great! I will make again, add the flour a bit at a time, etc. BTW I am not vegan or vegetarian, but like recipes that don’t have to involve animals in all my meals! 😉
Natasha says
I am so glad they worked out and you liked them. 🙂 I agree... I like to do the same and I am not veg/vegan either.
Rebecca says
Fantastic! I chose this recipe because it’s so similar to my mom’s (nonvegan) one. It brought back so many childhood memories! ❤️ It was super easy and quick to make, and I took them to a game night where I’m the only vegan. Halfway through my friend said, “Wait, YOU made these? No way they’re vegan!” I count that as a win lol
Some minor things I did differently: I mixed by hand because I didn’t feel like washing my hand mixer lol. I made smaller cookies and baked them for slightly less time, and I was out of both parchment paper and Pam so I just used my nonstick cookie sheet.
Otherwise I followed the recipe exactly and was so satisfied! My only complaint is that my friends ate them all and I didn’t get any leftovers lol
Natasha says
I am so happy you and your friends enjoyed them, Rebecca! Thanks for your sweet comment. 🙂
T webb says
Dry, crumbly and really just no flavor. Threw them in the trash after 1 bite.
Kirs says
I really liked this recipe. It was a tad crumbly so I added a tbsp or so of unsweetened applesauce ( and a chia egg instead of flax because that's what I had)
Natasha says
I'm glad it worked out, Kirs! 🙂 Love the apple sauce idea.
Luna says
Dry, crumbly. Pissed off that I had to use almost a whole jar of peanut butter only to have a fail sheet of cookies. Thanks.
Natasha says
I'm sorry they didn't work out for you! 🙁
Karen Miller says
I used honey instead of sugar and it works. I also use homemade peanutbutter too
Natasha says
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!
Bob says
One note, use raw sugar, as refined sugar contains bone char, and is not vegan.
Good stuff these cookies!
Natasha says
So glad you liked them, Bob!
Bryce Lockhart says
Cookies were very dry and crumbly, did not taste well either.
Nisha says
Can we replace sugar with something else ?
Natasha says
Hi Nisha! I'm not really sure what else you'd replace it with since this recipe has only 4 ingredients and I haven't done any testing.
Kayla says
These turned out super crumbly for me. It worked out better as cookie dough for topping ice cream rather than making actually cookies. I'm not sure if it was just the way I made them, but I did use the right amount of each ingredient. I'd say it might be helpful to whip the peanut butter and sugar together first, but I think there's something to be said for more ingredients in a recipe.
Natasha says
Hi Katie! Thanks for the tip. Sorry they turned out crumbly for you.
Cassiopee says
Is it possible to replace the flax egg with something? A normal egg or a chia egg? I can't find flax where I am.
Natasha says
Hi! I haven't tested either, but I think that a chia or regular egg should be fine. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Kirs says
I did the chia 'egg' and the dough was just a tad dry so I also added a bit of unsweetened applesauce. The cookies came out great!
Azhia says
I am so excited to try these! Half of the recipes I've looked up need baking powder and brown sugar. I don't have time buy either of those items. I was going to improvise until I came across this website. I am so relieved, haha!
Natasha says
I hope you like them, Azhia!! Let me know what you think. 🙂
Matt Robinson says
Love these! So easy, so healthy, so wish I had a few right now!
Natasha says
Thanks, Matt!!
Leigh Ann says
Can't wait to try these! My guys are going to flip out over them!
Natasha says
Enjoy!! 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
These could be dangerous! Only 4 ingredients and 30 minutes from start to finish?! Uh oh!
Natasha says
Haha... I know, right!?
Jennifer Farley says
So simple and easy! Love it!
Natasha says
Thanks, Jennifer!
Sarah Fennel says
I just LOVE how easy these are. YUM.
Natasha says
Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
Tieghan Gerard says
These look so delicious! I love that they're so simple too!
Natasha says
Thank you!! 🙂