These simple and easy Spicy 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are soft and chewy like the classic but with an updated twist. They're perfect for the holidays!
I'm not a big dessert person so I rarely eat cookies. I can't even remember the last time I had a cookie - it's been that long.
Actually, thinking about it, I made some Low Carb Almond Cookies over two years ago, but before that, I don't think I have had a cookie for a good 15 years or so. No joke.
Until now.
These Spicy 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are the cookies that are about to change everything. Yes, they are that good.
These flourless peanut butter cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. They are addictively good. I have to make more of them good!
Even my husband who also rarely eats sweets loves these cookies. I mentioned to him last night that I wanted to try them without cayenne pepper just to see how they taste without it, and he pleaded with me not to.
Maybe the next batch will have to be half spicy and half not.
So what made me want to make spicy peanut butter cookies before making a plain old vegan peanut butter cookie recipe? I guess it's my love of everything sweet and spicy.
I love peanut sauce with a touch of sriracha sauce to add some spice. Peanut butter and spice just go together.
Since writing this recipe, I've added more cookie recipes: my Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies and my Trail Mix Cookies recipe.
Serve them with some Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate, Vegan Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate, or Vegan Nog.
Jump to:
❤️ Why You'll Love Them
- They have the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors.
- They're made with only 4 ingredients!
- They are a fun twist on a classic.
🧾 Ingredients
- Peanut butter: I used all-natural peanut butter. Shelf-stable peanut butter would also work.
- Maple syrup: Adds sweetness. You could also use agave syrup, but I like the deep rich flavor that maple syrup adds.
- Chia seeds: Helps bind the cookies together. You could try using flaxmeal, but I don't think they will taste as good. Flax seeds have a strong nutty flavor.
- Cayenne pepper: Adds spicy flavor. Adjust it to your liking.
- Salt: Enhances sweetness. (Not counted in the four ingredients because it's added to everything.)
This is an overview of the ingredients. To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Mix ground chia seeds with water. Let sit to get gelatinous.
Step 2: In a bowl combine peanut butter, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, salt, and chia egg. Mix well. Refrigerate.
Step 3: Scoop out the dough and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 4: Dip a fork in water and press down one way into each cookie, then the other to make the criss-cross hash marks.
Step 5: Bake for 10 minutes.
💭 Tips
- Yes, you need the chia egg. It binds the dough together. You could use a flax egg instead, but it will change the flavor. I didn't try it with a flax egg because I didn't want the strong nutty flavor the flax seeds impart.
- Taste the dough before baking the cookies. You may want more spice. If you can't handle the heat, start with less cayenne pepper.
- To make the dough easier to form into balls, refrigerate it for 30 minutes to 1 hour first.
- To make the criss-cross marks, wet a fork in water after each cookie.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Dip a fork in water and press the fork onto each cookie, then press in the other direction to make the criss-cross marks. A large fork with long tines works best.
These spicy peanut butter cookies will last 4-5 days in an airtight container in the pantry and up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Other Vegan Desserts
These easy soft and chewy peanut butter cookies are the cookie you are going to want for the holidays every year!
If you tried this Spicy 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!
📋 Recipe
Spicy 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Chia egg
- 1 tablespoon ground chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons water
Cookies
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper + more for sprinkling on top
- Pinch salt
For sprinkling on top
- Turbinado sugar (optional)
Instructions
Chia Egg
- Mix ground chia seeds with water. Wait 30 minutes while the mixture becomes gelatinous.
Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour for easier scooping. Scoop onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Dip a fork in water and make criss-cross marks on each cookie, rewetting fork as necessary. Sprinkle cayenne pepper and turbinado sugar on top.
- Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
*Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.
Cindy says
Is one cookie considered a serving?
Willow Moon says
Yes, one cookie is a serving.