Crispy Peanut Butter Cookies

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5 from 43 votes
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Crispy peanut butter cookies are made with crunchy peanut butter and topped with roasted peanuts! No chilling needed and made in one bowl, these 4 ingredient crunchy peanut butter cookies are the perfect cookie for peanut butter lovers! 

When it comes to keto cookie recipes, nothing beats chocolate chip cookies, almond butter cookies, and these crispy peanut butter cookies

crispy peanut butter cookies

Peanut Butter cookies are a classic, and as someone who loves plenty of texture, these crispy and crunchy version of them are my absolute favorite. While these cookies are still slightly soft and chewy, they also have the added crunch for the chopped peanuts. The thinner cookie also yields even crispier edges. 

These cookies are pretty much a taste and texture lovers’ dream! 

How do you make crunchy peanut butter cookies

The Ingredients

  • Peanut butter– Smooth and creamy peanut butter, with no added sugar. Don’t be tempted to use crunchy peanut butter, as the cookie dough will be very hard to form. The crunch will be added with the roasted peanuts. 
  • Eggs– Be sure that the eggs you use are room temperature, so it doesn’t chill the peanut butter and make it harder to make into a cookie dough. 
  • Sugar of choice– Any granulated sweetener can be used. Coconut sugar and light brown sugar are great, but if you only have white sugar, that can be used too. 
  • Roasted Peanuts– Dry roasted peanuts to top the cookies with, and to fold into the dough. You want the peanuts to be chopped finely, for the best texture. 

The Instructions

Start by mixing together your peanut butter, eggs, and sugar, until combined. Fold through half the chopped peanuts using a rubber spatula. You’ll then form 12 balls of dough and roll each one in extra chopped peanuts. Place the balls of dough onto a cookie sheet or baking sheet, and press each ball into a thick, cookie shape. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, until the edges have crisped up and are brown. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet completely. 

crisp peanut butter cookies

Can I make these cookies without eggs?

If you’d like these cookies to be made vegan, you can substitute the eggs with the following options-

  • Flax egg– Combine 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water and let sit for 10 minutes, for a gel to form. 
  • Chia egg– Mix together 1 tablespoon ground chia seed with 3 tablespoons water. Cover, and refrigerate for 15 minutes, to firm up. 

Can I use crunchy peanut butter?

I don’t recommend using crunchy peanut butter, especially if you use an all natural brand.

The only crunchy peanut butter that would work is the more generic brands, that contain added fillers and preservatives that make them spreadable. You can use that if you choose to. 

Are these keto cookies? 

If you use a sugar free sweetener, like monk fruit or erythritol, these cookies will be keto friendly.

Alternatively, you may enjoy making keto peanut butter cookies.

Tips to make the best crunchy peanut butter cookies

  • Do not overbake the cookies, as the cookies continue to cook significantly while they cool down. 
  • If you’d like thicker cookies, chill the dough for 2 hours prior to baking them.
  • Feel free to fold through some chocolate chips or chocolate chunks into the batter, for an added chocolate boost.
  • For a sweet and salty cookie flavor, use a peanut butter that has some added salt in it. Alternatively, add 1/4 teaspoon salt or sprinkle the tops with coarse sea salt. 

Storing and Freezing Cookies

  • To store: Cookies will keep well at room temperature, in a sealed container. They will remain fresh for up to 2 weeks. If you’d like to keep them longer, refrigerate them. 
  • To freeze: Place cookies in a freezer friendly container or ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

crunchy peanut butter cookies

More Delicious Cookie recipes

crunchy peanut butter cookies

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

5 from 43 votes
A light and crispy peanut butter cookie which takes less than 15 minutes to make! 4 ingredients, no flour and no milk needed, and perfect crunchy cookies with soft centers!
Servings: 12 Cookies
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 17 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar of choice * See notes
  • 1 large egg ** See notes
  • 1 cup salted peanuts chopped roughly

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a large cookie sheet or baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all your ingredients, except or the chopped peanuts. Mix well. Gently fold through half the peanuts.
  • Form 12 balls of dough. Roll each ball in the chopped peanuts mixture, and transfer to the lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges go golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the baking sheet completely.

Notes

* White sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or a sugar free substitute can all be used.
** You can use a chia egg to make it vegan. Combine 1 tablespoon ground chia seed with 3 tablespoons water and mix. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, for a gel to form. 
TO STORE: Cookies will keep well at room temperature, in a sealed container. They will remain fresh for up to 2 weeks. If you'd like to keep them longer, refrigerate them. 
TO FREEZE: Place cookies in a freezer friendly container or ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. 
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

 

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. Can I sub monkfruit granulated for the coconut sugar? Your recipes have saved me from depriving myself of eating what I want. I’m in better shape now than when I was withholding! Thank you…

  2. My brother wanted me to make peanut cookies similar to the ones Aldi sells! So happy to find this recipe, it’s crispy and peanutty just like the Aldi ones, only better because they’re home made. This is a fantastic recipe ?

  3. Made these crispy peanut butter cookies for my dear hubby and he ❤️them! Says they remind him of the ones his mom made when he was a kid. #pbscore

  4. Hi just about to make some of these delicious looking biscuits.
    Sorry to be thick the cup size used is it Australia or American?

  5. I’ve been making these cookies for several years and they are a house favourite. But the amount of sugar or sweetener is way too much. You can easily cut it by half and still have a really good cookie. I also change it up by adding dark chocolate chips in place of the peanuts.

  6. they look awesome 😀 how many do you get out of this, vagualy if you’re making them golf ball big? because I want to bake them as a present 🙂

  7. You are correct in that we all like different textures for our cookies…for me, it just depends on the type of cookie. Some must be soft and chewy, other crispy. These are wonderful.

  8. These look SOOO amazing!! I actually do love crispy cookies(chewy too… Ok I just love cookies hahahahha 😉 ). And what kind of person doesn’t like cookies??!! Hahah… Weird lol Jkjk 😉

  9. I was just eating peanut cookies this week and thinking that I should find a recipe to make my own. These look delicious and so simple to make.

    I’m with you on cookies, generally I prefer them soft, but I’ll make an exception for a peanut cookie – definitely best with a crunch.

  10. Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!

    -Cindy

  11. Oh Arman! I am a Cookie Monster at heart! And since my mom always made crispy cookies…so my dad could dunk them in his coffee…that’s what I favor. Hubby likes soft. Every now and again he gets them, but mostly we enjoy crispy and chewy cookies. Thanks for sharing this ‘lovin’ recipe with us at Weekend Potluck. Enjoy your weekend. Oh – and OF COURSE I have foodie discussions with family….it’s a ‘given’. =)

    1. Haha, thank you! I knew we were friends- We are both cookie monsters- and these were most definitely dunked in black coffee!

      One day, we have share a meal and talk about food 😉

  12. I am a texture whore… totally on board with these! Peanut butter cookies were my favorites to make as a kid.

  13. I like chocolate chip cookies overcooked slightly—not burned, but dark brown around the edges. I don’t eat those sugar bombs these days, but I remember always going for the slightly charred cookies. I also like crust on bread and pizza. I like the crunch (but not if it’s burned). I talk about food stuff with the fam, but they don’t eat what I eat, so it’s exhausting. I like my nuts raw, except for almonds. Almonds take on flavors and spices better than other nuts—Blue Diamond totally dominates the market. But I don’t care much for nuts that are coated in salt. This recipe looks really good! I might give it a try with stevia and egg whites and unsalted nuts, and maybe sprinkle sea salt on top to make up for using unsalted nuts.

    1. I love blue diamond almonds! Good luck using stevia- I can’t vouch for that, I don’t cut calories from recipes.

      1. Yeah…stevia sometimes makes baked goods a little chewy…but it’s worth a try! I could always overcook them for even more crunch. 😉

  14. Have you ever had lace cookies? They’re very thin, crunchy, sweet and oh so glorious. They’re perfect when cooked to a crisp and they somewhat remind me of these.

    I keep telling you to listen to your mum.

  15. I’ve always liked my cookies soft and chewy… but these may make a convert out of me!

    My family pretty much always talks about food. Before we eat, while we eat, in our sleep… it’s how we bond lol.

  16. So these cookies would literally be the death of me. Stay away!

    And I’m a soft and chewy cookie kind of girl. With oats. And chocolate. And raisins… which I used to hate as a little kid, but apparently now love.

  17. I love PB cookies! I usually like my cookies slightly underdone so I get a bit of the doughy taste.

  18. I can’t believe that these cookies are held together with just peanut butter and eggs, and they’re topped with more NUTS! Where’s my tea? I’m totally dunking these!

  19. I’m an undercooked cookie kinda gal all the way because then it’s like cookie dough, except more acceptable in a social setting. BUT I do absolutely love the crispy edges of some cookies. I also love peanut butter and roasted sweet and salty peanuts, I need these cookies.

    What a hand model, Arman! Check out those beautiful nail beds.

    1. LOL. Did you know my mum used to put this disgusting polish on my nails because I bit them?

      ….I then accustomed myself to the taste of it lol!

  20. Dude (or should I say mate?), those are totally my kinda cookies. Couple of ingredients, easy, quick and delicious. AWESOME!

  21. oh good god! you are going to turn me into a cookie monster with this recipe. LOOK at those NUTS… peanuts that is. hehe

  22. Moms just know everything, don’t they? I don’t know how they do it, but it’s honestly annoying sometimes. But when it comes to cookie convo it’s not annoying at all. THANKS MOM, or in your case, mum.

  23. Your mum is a genius!!! I love a crispy treat with my coffee 🙂 Can you smuggle a few of these in your suitcase when you come for me??

  24. Cookies – soft in the middle, crunchy on the outside! Yum!
    David and I always talk about food! Then again we are such foodies! I do talk about food to my mum a lot, she is paleo too so is always coming to me for ideas!
    And I just LOVE roasted and salted nuts – especially cashews… And pistachios… And almonds… Oh and pecans!

  25. 5 ingredient flourless cookies? YES puhleez – I will eat ’em all!!!
    Arman – your pictures look fantastic! Hope your weekend is just as fantastic!

  26. These sound delicious! I absolutely could not trust someone who doesn’t like cookies… or ice cream, or burgers, or fries… haha

  27. I’m usually a soft and chewy cookie kinda girl but let’s be honest…I won’t turn down a cookie of different consistency. I am 100% against cookie discrimination!

    I’m not picky when it comes to nuts. GIMME ALL THE NUTS! (errr….you know what I mean)

  28. Don’t you just hate it when your mum is right? My mother would have read this post and immediately started with the ‘I told you so’ texts. She’s considerate like that

  29. Ahhh love everything about this recipe. Especially love that they’re flourless and actually super healthy… you sneaky little baker you! And looove the salted peanuts on top. Let’s make these when you come to LA… but more like eat the batter and maybe pop one or two in the oven to half bake them!

  30. I like cookies in my face; I’m not picky. Salted dry roasted nuts are THE BEST. I know they’re not “healthy” but IDGAF.

  31. Those look sooooo good – I’ve only made chewy pb cookies but if I were going to add big nuts like this (lol) I can definitely see why crispy ones would be better. Nuts HAVE to have salt on them. I’m sorry…I know it’s “healthier” to have them roasted w/o salt but then they taste so much worse haha

    1. Hahaha big nuts. The big nuts give it the ‘crisp’ factor.

      Nuts without salt are punishment. Well, not really but still.

  32. mmmm.. these looks super good, can’t say I’ve ever made cookies with peanuts on top! I’m a crispy on the outside soft in the middle cookie girl

  33. Those are gorgeous. Going to have to give them a go with almond butter– peanuts are death to me! 🙂 I am an all cookie person. And a not-cooked cookie person. Yum, cookies!

  34. Once again, you said mum 🙂 There are really not enough mums in the blogging world, too many MOOOOMMS. These do sound good, and they remind me of a BISCUIT! Although unfortunately we have both conformed and are using the American word…..but its okay, we both know what they really are. Look good, I am sure they taste good!

  35. Brilliant! Here comes the weekend, and here comes lots of cooking and baking 🙂

    Having recently returned from Las Vegas, where I got addicted to anything Reece’s, I figure their Peanut Butter will go nicely into this recipe.

    It’s just as well I run Marathons……. 😉

    Have a great weekend!

  36. I bet these are amazing! Especially with a cup of coffee.
    I like my cookies to be soft and chewy usually. But I love all cookies.