This recipe is based on my 5-star Healthy Oatmeal Cookies. Like those cookies, this recipe is flourless, naturally sweetened with honey (there’s no refined sugar), and they’re a breeze to whip up anytime a craving strikes. What makes these healthy cookies special is peanut butter. They harness peanut butter’s rich, thick texture and healthy fats to bind the cookies and make them moist. Thanks to PB, there’s no need to make these peanut butter oatmeal cookies with oil or butter. Peanut butter holds them together!
While I’ve never been one to turn a cookie down (you know it, Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies), like many of you, I have my cookie hierarchy (oatmeal raisin cookies trend towards the bottom; anything with chocolate pops to the top). A few weeks ago, my mom, sister, and I were in a bakery with the most magnificent-looking, GIANT cookies, so we decided to split one. For the cookie flavor, we each had a different first choice, but you know which one ALL of us felt good about sharing? The monster cookie. Why? Because it contained the trifecta of oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate. (If you also are a fan, be sure to scope my recipe for the world’s best Monster Cookies.)
When it comes to today’s soft peanut butter oatmeal cookies, there’s no need to share. Like the other homey, healthy cookies you’ll find here (Banana Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Peanut Butter Banana Cookies come to mind), the ingredients are nutritious, the prep is simple, and the payoff is supreme. Craving a peanut butter oatmeal cookie after all this talk, but don’t feel like turning on your oven? I got you! Make these Healthy No Bake Cookies instead. But if you can brave 10 minutes of heat, these chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies are well worth turning your oven to 350 degrees F.
How to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
These cookies have only a handful of simple ingredients and will be ready to eat in no time!
The Ingredients
Quick Oats. Oats help give the cookies their shape and perfect oatmeal cookie texture. With oodles of fiber, the oats also help make these cookies extra satisfying (find out more about the health benefits of oats here). I prefer to use quick oats for a more tender texture, but you can use rolled oats if you don’t mind them having a heartier texture. Peanut Butter. The star of the show! Creamy, irresistible peanut butter is packed into every bite of these cookies. (If you love peanut butter flavor in cookies, try these healthy Granola Cookies too.) Cinnamon. A pinch of cinnamon adds delightful warmth and sets these cookies apart from the rest. Egg. The all-important binding agent. Vanilla. Accentuates the peanut butter flavor. Honey. To keep these cookies free of refined sugar, I used honey as the sweetener. It’s delicious paired with peanut butter and makes the cookies moist. You could also make these healthy peanut butter oatmeal cookies with maple syrup instead. Chocolate Chips. Because peanut butter + chocolate = BEST LIFE.
The Directions
Cookie Make Ahead and Storage Tips
To Make Ahead and Freeze. Prepare the cookie dough. Scoop the dough into balls as directed and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cookie dough is frozen solid. Transfer the cookie dough balls to an airtight freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as directed. You can also bake directly from frozen—simply add a few minutes to the baking time. To Store. Store leftover cookies an airtight storage container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To Freeze. Place baked leftover cookies in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes
Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies Almond Flour Cookies Coconut Flour Cookies Peanut Butter Protein Cookies Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Recommended Tools to Make Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
Baking Sheet. With these baking sheets, you’ll always be ready for another batch of cookies. Cookie Scoop. Ensures perfectly portioned cookies each time. Parchment Paper. Keeps your cookies from sticking to the baking sheet.
These peanut butter honey oatmeal cookies are here to be your healthy snack, dessert, or even breakfast (I won’t tell!). Whenever you choose to enjoy them, I know they’ll hit the spot!
