If you love peanut butter, these decadent gluten free peanut butter cookie bars are pretty awesome. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate creates a delicious and satisfying flavor that goes together perfectly. Make a batch in about 25 minutes!
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If I had to choose one recipe to make repeatedly, this would be it. These peanut butter bars are easy to make and fill your mouth with peanut butter and chocolate. How awesome is that?
These gluten free peanut butter bars are moist, chewy, and yummy. My kids devoured the first batch I made. That shouldn't surprise you at all. That is how we roll in our house. It is fair game if a food doesn't have a "DON'T EAT ME" sign on it.
If you love cookies as much as we do, try some of these gluten free cookie recipes! If your family loves peanut butter, you will want to try these too. They are seriously the BEST Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies!
Post Its are commonly seen on food in the pantry and our refrigerator. I put these signs on foods I want to use in a recipe so my family (mostly Mr. Fearless Dining) doesn't eat them before I use them.
Mr. Fearless Dining wants me to tell you that if you love peanut butter, you MUST check out these gluten free peanut butter cinnamon rolls!
Why This Recipe is Great:
- The contrast of flavors: Peanut butter has a rich, nutty flavor that contrasts nicely with chocolate's sweet and creamy taste. The saltiness of the peanut butter also enhances the flavor of the chocolate.
- Texture: These gluten free cookie bars are denser and chewier than regular cookies, providing a delicious cross between a cookie and a snack bar.
- Convenience: Cookie bars are usually faster to make and serve than individual cookies. (No scooping cookies on a baking sheet!) They are also easier to transport and store, making them a great option for potlucks or parties.
- Nostalgia: For many people, the combination of peanut butter and chocolate flavors brings back childhood memories and favorite treats like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
- Quick and easy. Make a batch in about 25 minutes! They are perfect for parties and bake sales too!
This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work; I have not tested other flours. Note with the Bob's. You may need a bit more flour to make the cookies the right consistency. Every gluten free flour blend is different and absorbs liquid differently.
- Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- Almond Flour - I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cookie bars grainy.
- Baking Powder - Use aluminum-free baking powder.
- Brown Sugar - You can use either dark or light brown sugar.
- Eggs - Use size large.
- Butter - I recommend using unsalted butter.
- Peanut Butter - Use creamy unsalted or crunchy if you like more texture.
- M&Ms - For my recipe, I used M&Ms. Feel free to use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or even bittersweet chocolate chunks.
Tools For Baking Cookie Bars:
- Wire Whisk
- 8x8 Pan
- This Baking Spay
Tips For Success:
- Ensure the oven rack is set to the middle position in the oven so your cookie bars bake evenly.
- I recommend warming the butter and peanut butter together. This will help soften the peanut butter to mix into the cookie batter easily.
- Use the right Cookie Baking Equipment so that your cookies turn out consistently.
- Read my Gluten Free Cookie Troubleshooting Guide if you need more tips.
I absolutely love these glass stackable bowls. They make it easy to hold separate ingredients. They are also great for entertaining when you need to serve bowls of snacks!
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. (I like to use a whisk to ensure they are all blended.)
I like to balance my gluten free baking with almond flour. I love this almond flour brand because it is so finely ground. (Adding a bit of protein also helps balance the sugar in this recipe.)
Step 2: Add all wet ingredients to a microwave-safe bowl and mix well. (I melt my butter so that the peanut butter blends a lot easier.)
Note you can easily use a stand mixer to mix your cookie dough if you prefer.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the mix-ins and mix well.
Step 4: Spread the peanut butter cookie batter into a prepared 8x8 pan. You can use spray oil or line the pan with parchment paper.
🔑 Sandi says: Gluten free flour can be gritty due to rice flour in the blend. I recommend letting the cookie dough sit in the pan for 15 minutes so that the rice flour softens. It makes a huge difference!
Step 5: Bake the at 350º F for 20-24 minutes until done. Note the actual baking time will depend on the size pan that you use.
To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the bars. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cookie bars need to bake longer.
You may also love these Gluten Free Maple Walnut Bars!
Recipe FAQ:
I used peanut butter to make these cookies. You can use Sun Butter if you are allergic to peanuts. I used regular peanut butter. You can use natural peanut butter or even almond butter. Also, you can add ¼ cup additional gluten free flour to the recipe.
You can easily make this recipe dairy-free by using vegan butter.
Nuts, peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, Butterfinger candy bars, shredded coconut, and white chocolate chips.
These cookies will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Cut out the cookie bars and gently place them into freezer bags. Lay them out in rows, do not stack them on top of each other. Zip to lock and place them in the freezer.
More Gluten Free Cookie Bar Recipes:
- Gluten Free Cookie Cake
- Gluten Free Magic Bars
- Gluten Free Apricot Jam Bars
- Gluten Free Cranberry Shortbread Bars
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- ½ cup almond flour * see note
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup butter melted
- ½ cup peanut butter * see note
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a medium sized bowl, add all wet ingredients. (You may need to soften the peanut butter in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften if it is hard.) Mix well.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add M&Ms or chocolate chips and mix well.
- Use coconut oil to grease an 8x8 baking pan.
- Spread the cookie dough in the pan.
- Bake 22-24 minutes until done.
- Allow to cool and slice into bars.
Video
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cookie bars grainy.
- To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the bars. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cookie bars need to bake longer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older June 2018 post with more recipe details.
Fearless Dining
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Serena
These cookie bars are so fun to make and so delicious! I knew they would be so good as I have made a wonderful couple of her recipes and they were delicious too.
I used chocolate chips instead of the M and M’s. I also did not use almond flour but replaced the almond flour with the same measurement of my gluten free flour blend.
These cookie bars are so tender, flavorful. The texture is exactly like s cookie bar as they should be. I also cannot even tell the cookie bars are gluten and dairy free.
This will be another of my regular go to recipes.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved these Serena, thank you!