Grain-free Peanut Butter Cookies
gluten-free | grain-free | tree nut free
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 22, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information.

A soft center with crispy edges and bursting with peanut butter flavor… there’s not much to not like about these grain-free peanut butter cookies! Super easy to make… uses simple ingredients… could be considered a healthy cookie… have I sold you on making these cookies yet? Peanut butter is my flavor. Chocolate, it’s okay, but peanut butter, anything with peanut butter will float my boat. So it would be quite obvious that I fell in love with these peanut butter cookies after the first bite. They are sure to be a hit with modern pioneers of all ages on your homestead!

a stack of grain-free peanut butter & jelly cookie sandwiches on a white plate

Modern Pioneer Recipe

These grain-free peanut butter cookies are a modern pioneer recipe. I don’t know exactly when peanut butter became a household commodity, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t something the trail cooks kept stored in their chuckwagon. I would have loved trying to be an early pioneer, but the lack of peanut butter might have been challenging for me.

With that being said, I think these grain-free peanut butter cookies are a modern pioneer recipe staple. Make them into mini cookies and munch on them as a snack, or make traditional size cookies to enjoy as a sweet treat. I tried to keep the ingredients as wholesome and simple as I could, which results in a delicious but ‘healthier’ cookie to indulge in!

These peanut butter cookies are allergy-friendly. Obviously they are not peanut free (that would defeat the purpose of a peanut butter cookie), but they do contain anti-inflammatory ingredients and ones that are easier for your body to digest and metabolize. For a cookie, these peanut butter cookies are pretty healthy without sacrificing any taste or texture!

These peanut butter cookies are….

gluten-free
grain-free
tree nut free
no refined sugars
corn free

For more allergy-friendly cookies, including my favorite almond butter cookies, make sure you get The Pioneers Chicks Cookie Cookbook! You’ll never be lacking for cookie recipes with this cookbook.

the modern pioneer checklist challenge free printable

homemade nutter butter cookies dipped in chocolate

How to Make Different Types of Peanut Butter Cookies

Not only are these grain-free peanut butter cookies super simple to make, but they also allow for endless creative options! Getting creative with cookies is one of my favorite parts about cookie baking. When making my favorite peanut butter oatmeal cookies, I like to try a variety of add-ins, such as chocolate gems, marshmallows, and chocolate chunks.

For the versatile grain-free, egg-free cookies that I like to make, I get creative with that recipe by experimenting with all the different flavors I can turn the recipe into: chocolate chip, double chocolate, mint chocolate, lemon poopy seed… you name it… that recipe can make it.

Of course, we all love the classic peanut butter cookie with the fork prints, and I’m not above staying classic! These peanut butter cookies taste fantastic in the classic peanut butter cookie style, but if you want to add a little variety to your peanut butter cookies, try these fun alternatives:

Creative Cookie Ideas

chocolate dipped: Melt some allergy-friendly chocolate chips and spread the chocolate over half of each cookie.
add-ins: Melting and spreading chocolate chips sound like too much work? Try doing some add-ins right to the batter before making the cookies. I’ve added mini chocolate chips to these cookies and they turned out great! Basically like a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie.
cougar tracks/bear paws: Instead of fork printing the cookies, flatten them into disks before you bake them. Then use melted chocolate to put different animal tracks on the cookies!
double-peanut cookies: There can never be too much peanut flavor if you ask me. Try adding in some chopped peanuts to the batter to make a double-peanut peanut butter cookie.
cookie sandwich: Since I love peanut butter, I also have a soft spot for pb&j sandwiches. Try turning these cookies into peanut butter and jelly cookie sandwiches!
nutter butters: You can easily make nutter butters with this recipe. Simply place two cookie dough balls close together on the baking sheets. When you fork press the cookies make sure the two cookies are touching. Once baked, you will have nutter butter cookies you can pair together with peanut butter filling!
mini cookies: Make mini peanut butter cookies by forming miniature cookie dough balls, fork pressing them, and then baking them until they are crispy.

With the endless options for creativity, you will never get tired of these peanut butter cookies!

grain-free peanut butter cookies made into pb&j cookie sandwiches

How to Store Peanut Butter Cookies

While I highly doubt these peanut butter cookies will last too long on your homestead, I do want to give you a few storage tips in case you are trying to horde some cookies or need to implement some measures to improve your self-control.

Once the cookies have completely cooled, you can transfer them to a storage container. These grain-free peanut butter cookies should be kept in an air-tight container to preserve their freshness and prevent them from drying out. I like to use re-usable glass pryrex dishes or re-usable plastic bins to store my cookies in.

Grain-free peanut butter cookies can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days. In the fridge, they can be kept for 5-7 days. However, my favorite way to store (and eat) these cookies is by putting them in the freezer. I LOVE frozen cookies! Just about any kind of cookie tastes better frozen if you ask me.

Keep in mind that if you chocolate dip the cookies, you will want to wait for the chocolate to harden before moving the cookies to a storage container. Anytime I store cookies, I always put a layer of parchment paper or waxed parchment paper between the cookie layers.

These cookies also make a great travel dessert option! Whether you’re rustic camping, RV camping, or staying in a cabin… these cookies make a great high-energy accompaniment to anyone’s travels!

gluten-free nutter butter cookies dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with flakey sea salt

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe Tips

No, there aren’t just 3 simple ingredients in these cookies, but more ingredients doesn’t have to make a complicated recipe! These peanut butter cookies are still super easy to make because they use ingredients that are wholesome and handy in the modern pioneer kitchen. Here are some recipe tips to ensure your cookies turn out perfect:

Peanut Butter– I use all-natural peanut butter that needs to be stirred before using and should be stored in the fridge. At room temperature, the peanut butter should be runny and creamy. Do not use peanut butter that contains extra sugar or is no-stir.
Not Egg Free– I have not tried making these cookies egg-free. The egg really helps these cookies hold together, so I’m afraid that omitting the protein and moisture provided by the egg would affect the end results.
Flour Subs– For flour substitutions, I have not tried any other flours in this recipe. Cassava flour is an excellent stand-alone grain-free flour that ensures the texture of these cookies is not too thick or too tacky.
Sugar Options– I like to use coconut sugar in most of my recipes because it is a slow-metabolizing sugar that is natural and easier to digest. The recipe also calls for maple sugar or cane sugar to keep the cookies from being too dark in color.
Baking Powder– When choosing a baking powder, make sure it doesn’t contain corn starch as an anti-caking agent. I have found Otto’s Naturals baking powder to be a reliable option.

homemade gluten-free peanut butter cookies topped with flakey sea salt

These grain-free peanut butter cookies are super easy to make, contain wholesome ingredients, and are bursting with peanut butter flavor! For peanut butter addicts like me, having a batch of these cookies stashed away in my freezer is perfect for sweetening up any day.

Grain-free Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe by The Pioneer Chicks

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings 3 dozen cookies

Author Alexa Lehr

Ingredients

1/2 cup organic, grass-fed butter, melted
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup maple sugar or cane sugar
3/4 cup organic, creamy peanut butter (no sugar added)
1 large organic, pasture-raised egg room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 cup cassava flour

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cookie baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, coconut sugar, maple sugar, peanut butter, and egg. Beat with hand-held beaters until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and light in color, about 2 minutes.
Add the baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, vanilla extract, and cassava flour. Stir until combined and a smooth dough forms.
Take tablespoon scoops of the dough and roll the dough into a ball. Place the dough balls evenly spaced out on the cookie trays. For nutter butter cookies, place two cookie dough balls close enough together that they are touching.
Using a fork, go through and press down the dough balls twice, once in each direction.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. The cookies should be flattened out and soft but firm to the touch. Let them cool on the trays for 3 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before dipping them in chocolate or making nutter butter cookie sandwiches with them.
Store the cookies in an airtight container for 3-5 days. These cookies freeze well too!

Notes

Note: For nutter butters, I simply used an organic no-stir peanut butter to put between the cookies. I like using True Goodness no-stir peanut butter sweetened with honey.

Where to Find the Ingredients

grain-free peanut butter cookies with fork hash marks

These grain-free peanut butter cookies are the perfect allergy-friendly, modern pioneer dessert option! They whip up so quickly and there are endless ways to get creative with this recipe! I loved turning my cookies into nutter butter cookie sandwiches or dipping the cookies in melted chocolate… or both. Any way you look at it, these cookies are sure to be a crowd pleaser amongst kids, adults, chocolate lovers, or peanut butter addicts alike!

And don’t forget, you can try a slew of other gluten-free (and grain-free) cookies recipes when you get The Pioneer Chicks Cookie Cookbook! There are so many options, the cookie jar will never be empty on your homestead.