Meet the great cookie equalizer: Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. Whatever the members of your household might agree (or not agree) on, everyone can rally around a soft, chewy cookie that’s made of wholesome ingredients, especially when said cookie includes peanut butter and chocolate.
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, and the classic Oatmeal 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
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- Mix the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. We’re practically done here.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough. 30 minutes will do it.
- Drop cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and flatten.
- Bake the peanut butter oatmeal cookies at 350 degrees F for 9 to 10 minutes. ENJOY!
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!
Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and honey. Whisk until blended.
- Scrape the liquid mixture into the oat mixture and stir just until combined. The dough will be wet and sticky. Fold in the chocolate chips. Place in the refrigerator and let chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.
- When ready to bake, place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. Remove the dough from the refrigerator (if it is very stiff, you may need to let it sit out for 5 to 10 minutes). With a cookie scoop or spoon, drop the dough into 2-inch balls and arrange on the baking sheet, leaving 1 inch of space around each. With your fingers, gently flatten each cookie to be about 3/4-inch thick.
- Bake until the cookies are golden and firm around the edges and set on top, about 9 to 10 minutes. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely.
Notes
- *I prefer quick oats for the most soft, chewy cookies. Rolled oats will also work, but the cookies will just have a heartier texture. Do not use steel cut oats or instant oatmeal. To make your own quick cooking oats: pulse rolled oats in the food processor 3 or 4 times to lightly break them up (do not pulse all the way into a flour).
- 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 cookies in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE: If you are making this cookie for someone who cannot tolerate gluten, be sure your oats are certified gluten free.
- TO MAKE VEGAN: Use maple syrup instead of honey. For the egg: I haven’t tried this with a flax egg instead of the regular egg yet, but I’d love to hear how it goes if someone does play around!
Nutrition
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im literally addicted to these cookies they are so delicious!
Hi Martha! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
If you don’t have parchment paper, can you just grease the cookie sheet?
Hi Maria! You probably could! I just normally use parchment paper or a silpat. ENJOY!
These are gorgeous, I’m pregnant and have been addicted to cookies, so I wanted a healthier alternative and these do not disappoint! Great with a cold glass of milk, and make up really easily too! Thanks for the great recipe 😀
Hi Rebecca! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review! Congratulations!
HOLY SMOKES these are good.
Hi Mike! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Made these with a flax egg and they were magnificent. Love this recipe. Our new household go to for a sweet treat!
Hi Lindsey! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
My second time making these and they are absolutely delicious! Definitely counts as a treat but I look forward to them every time, they’re so soft and chewy!!
Hi Anisah! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This recipe sounds delishious, can I double the ingredients?
Of course Donna! You’ll just be making a double batch of cookies! Enjoy!
My son and I are allergic to oats. What would you suggest yo use in place of the oats?
Hi Anna! I’m sorry to hear that. The oats are a staple ingredient for these cookies. Here is an alternative cookie that might work for you: https://www.wellplated.com/peanut-butter-banana-cookies/ Enjoy!
how much sodium ? it is missing in the nutrition info. how can this be healthy with a bunch of salt and baking soda ?
Hi Byron! I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!
what is 0.38 teaspoon ? How to convert it to used in baking teaspoons?
Hi Bo! It looks like you are trying to triple the recipe so just triple the 1/8 teaspoon. Or you can use 1/4 + 1/8. Hope this helps!
Wonderful
So glad you enjoyed it Ebru!
Love the flavor but cooking it the way you mentioned is gooey and it doesn’t really form, it breaks :( any advice?
Hi! I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe. The batter is normally pretty thick and forms well. You might need to chill your dough for a little bit before baking. Hope this helps!
Great recipe! We enjoy them on our camping trip. I substituted the chocolate chips with organic dried coconut macaroon. Thanks much!
Hi Michael! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Loved it ! I separated the dough and added cocoa powder in the 2nd half. Cookies stick together, it’s very good
Hi Anne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Not the best cookie – I wouldn’t make it again. Odd texture and could have been a little sweeter, just okay. Thanks for the recipe though – it was an interesting try. :)
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Susan. I know it can be so disappointing to try a new recipe and it does not turn out for you. It has worked well for myself (and others) and I wished it would have been a hit for you too.
i ate this raw after being in the fridge for a few minutes!! super good
Thanks for the feedback Camille!
Delicious and so simple! My favorite flavors in one cookie! Amazing- substituted natural peanut butter since it was all I had on hand but it came out great. Thank you!!
Hi Debbie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These cookies are great! I used maple syrup instead of honey and I added a scoop of chocolate collagen powder instead of the chocolate chips. I will make them again and again.
Hi Aneila! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
SO delicious! Can’t believe there’s no sugar in these. It’s taking all my will power to not eat them all in one night.
Glad you enjoyed them Kelsie!
I know this is super petty, but could you also tell me the quantity of the ingredients in grams? It’s just… your recipe looks so good and reliable, but I struggle measuring and converting because of the kitchen supplies that I have. Thanks a lot for sharing, I’m a big fan of yours.
Hi Anja, unfortunately, I’m not able to provide metric measurements. There are several online conversion sites—one good one is from King Arthur! Here’s the link: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/ingredient-weight-chart. Hope this helps!
Very good cookies, thanks for the recipe. My husband doesn’t want to eat flour or refined sugar, this recipe has neither. I made them twice. I followed the recipe faithfully the first time, the second time I used chunky peanut butter and added more choc chips and added a few raisins too.
So glad you enjoyed them, Gail! Thank you!