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!

If I had to choose one recipe 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?

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!

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Texture: These gluten free cookie bars are denser and chewier than regular cookies, providing a delicious cross between a cookie and a snack bar.
  3. 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.
  4. Nostalgia: For many people, combining peanut butter and chocolate flavors brings back childhood memories and favorite treats like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
  5. Quick and easy. Make a batch in about 25 minutes! They are perfect for parties and bake sales, too!
Top Pick
King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

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.)

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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.

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.
Top Pick
Luminarc Stackable Bowl 10-Piece Set, Glass, 1, Clear

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!

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Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Peanut butter cookies steps 1 and 2 photos.

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: Mix all wet ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. (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.

Mixing up the gluten free peanut butter cookie dough with M&Ms.

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the mix-ins and mix well.

A pan full of raw cookie dough ready to bake.

Step 4: Spread the peanut butter cookie batter into an 8×8 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 to soften the rice flour. 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. The cookie bars need to bake longer if you see batter or crumbs.

Gluten free peanut butter cookie bars stacked up on a plate.

You may also love these Gluten Free Maple Walnut Bars!

Recipe FAQ:

Can you make these cookie bars nut-free?

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.

Can you make these cookie bars dairy-free?

You can easily make this recipe dairy-free by using vegan butter.

What are good mix-ins to use?

Nuts, peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, Butterfinger candy bars, shredded coconut, and white chocolate chips.

How do you store gluten free cookie bars?

These cookies will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an airtight container.

How do you freeze cookie bars?

Cut out the cookie bars and gently place them into freezer bags. Lay them out in rows; do not stack them on each other—zip to lock and put them in the freezer.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

Sandi Gaertner
How to make moist and delicious gluten free peanut butter cookie bars.
4.89 from 27 votes
gluten free allergy icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cookies and Bar Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookie bars
Calories 347 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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
  • â…› 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 8×8 baking pan.
  • Spread the cookie dough in the pan.
  • Bake 22-24 minutes until done.
  • Allow to cool and slice into bars.

Video

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  3. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  4. I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cookie bars grainy.
  5. 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

Serving: 1gCalories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 6gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 191mgPotassium: 137mgFiber: 3gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 391IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 1mg
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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.

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Recipe Rating




38 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Love making your recipes! If you follow all the easy instructions the recipe turns out perfect every time. These bars are super delicious, I mean how can you go wrong with the peanut butter and chocolate combination!

  2. 4 stars
    I made these for my mother in law who is celiac. She said the flavor was there but they were very dry. Any idea on why? I am new to baking gluten free for her so any tips on what I can do would be very helpful. Thank you!

    1. Hi Renee, What flour blend did you use? Every single blend has a different grain-to-starch ratio, and this affects the moisture. If your batter looks dry, you must add more liquid, or start with less flour (easier option) until you know how the blend you use performs.

  3. 5 stars
    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.