Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies (Vegan Gluten-Free)
These are the ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies made with lots of nut butter, and sweetened with coconut sugar. They are made with oat flour and protein powder for a vegan, gluten-free, high fibre and high-protein cookie.
I love making peanut butter cookies and for Valentines Day this year, I wanted to make some festive cookies to celebrate love. The love comes in the form of the chocolate hearts pressed onto the warm cookies straight out of the oven so that the chocolate melts in such a luxurious way. The base is made with every ay ingredients like peanut butter, plant-based milk, oats and oat flour (which you can make yourself by blending oats into a flour-like texture in your blender/food processor) and come together with 10 minutes or less of work and they bake in 10 minutes, too.
Why will I love these cookies?
These cookies are amazing:
- Rich and peanut buttery
- With a melting dark chocolate heart
- Easy to make in one bowl
- Requires pantry staple ingredients
- Made with 8 ingredients
- Naturally plant-based, egg-free and dairy-free
- Naturally gluten-free with nut-free options
- Refined sugar free
- High in fibre and protein
- Bake in less than 10 minutes
- Great for a quick bake
- Made with wholesome, good-for-you ingredients
- Great for loved ones
- Ideal to make in advance as they keep for 5-7 days
- Delicious all year long
- Can be made with other chocolates in the middle
If you already love the sound of these cookies, then skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first let’s discuss the recipe in more detail.
What ingredients do I need?
You can see the ingredients with weights in the recipe card below and see my favourite and recommended products in the “shop the recipe” section.
For the cookies:
- Peanut butter: the runny, smooth kind is best for these cookies. I use the Manilife Deep Roast peanut butter and look out for ones with 100% nuts (or only a little salt added).
- Coconut sugar: for the rich caramel flavour and colour. You can also use light brown or caster sugar, too.
- Plant-based milk: any dairy-free milk will work here like oat, almond, soya or coconut.
- Vanilla extract: for flavour.
- Oat flour: make your own by adding oats to a blender or food processor and whizzing to a fine flour-like texture.
- Oats: make sure they are GF where needed.
- Vegan protein powder: I use Form vanilla protein for my recipes as the ingredients are great and the flavour is lovely. If you are not using protein powder, use more oat flour.
- Baking powder and bicarbonate of soda: for the rise and texture.
- Salt: for flavour.
- Dark chocolate: I used dark chocolate hearts to make these love-themed, but you can use a small peanut butter cup or use a large chocolate button. Or, you can melt dark chocolate and set into a heart-shaped silicone mould like this one.
Are these gluten-free and nut-free?
These are naturally gluten-free, as long as your oats are certified GF. To make these nut-free, the flavour will not be the same, but you can use tahini or sunflower seed butter.
How do I make them?
These are ready to go in a few steps:
- Combine the peanut butter, sugar, milk and vanilla: until smooth.
- Add in the oat flour, oats, protein, raising agents and salt: and stir to a thick, sticky cookie dough.
- Divide into 16 pieces and roll into balls: placing on a lined non-stick tray.
- Press the cookies down with your fingers: leaving a small gap around each one.
- Bake for 9 minutes: turning the trays around halfway through.
- Press a chocolate heart into each cookie: while they are still hot.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes as the chocolate melts: and carefully lift off the cookie sheet.
- Enjoy warm or allow to cool: and store in a sealed container.
How long will they last?
These cookies will for 5-7 days in a sealed container at room temperature. You can also freeze them for 1 month and allow to defrost before eating.
What other recipes can I try?
For more Valentines ideas and cookies:
- Raspberry White Chocolate Oat Cookies
- Vegan Iced Valentines Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
- Red Velvet Protein Cupcakes
- Chocolate Raspberry Fudge Brownies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies (Vegan Gluten-Free)
These are the ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies made with lots of nut butter, and sweetened with coconut sugar. They are made with oat flour and protein powder for a vegan, gluten-free, high fibre and high-protein cookie.
Ingredients
- 120g smooth runny peanut butter
- 120g coconut sugar
- 90ml plant-based milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 130g oat flour
- 50g oats
- 50g vegan vanilla protein powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- A pinch of salt
- 16 chocolate hearts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160Fan/180ºC and line two trays with parchment paper.
- Into a mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, sugar, milk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Add in the oat flour, oats, protein powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt and stir to a sticky cookie dough.
- Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces (about 40g each) and roll into balls.
- Flatten the cookie dough balls slightly on the baking trays, leaving a small gap around each one.
- Bake in the oven to 9-10 minutes, turning the trays around halfway through. The cookies will be firm to touch at the edges, golden brown and crinkled on top once baked.
- While still hot from the oven, press a chocolate heart into the middle of each cookie.
- Allow to rest for 10 minutes and then enjoy the cookies warm. You can sprinkle them with flaky salt, if you like.
- Or, allow the cookies to cool completely and store in a sealed container for 5-7 days or in the freezer for 1 month and allow to defrost before eating.
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Stay in touch
I look forward to hearing what you think of these Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies so please let me know in the comments below and leave a star review. If you do make this, I’d love to see so please tag me, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest – please say hello!
With heart cookie love x
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