Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies
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Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies are an excellent excuse to eat cookies for breakfast! The peanut butter, oats, pecans, pretzels, chocolate chips, and coconut create the best, soft, chewy cookie.
These healthy breakfast cookies do not use all-purpose flour and are packed with protein. Make them ahead for a quick on-the-go breakfast or an early afternoon snack.
I’ve never really been a big breakfast person during the week, but give me a big batch of biscuits and gravy on the weekend, and I’m in heaven! These cookies are a game-changer for my busy mornings—they’re perfect for grabbing on my way to a meeting or keeping in the car for a quick snack throughout the day.
I’m also a big fan of having protein bites, peanut butter baked oats, granola bites, and breakfast burritos ready to go for those hectic mornings when I need something quick and easy. You can find even more breakfast recipes here.
Why you will love this simple recipe
- The perfect balance of salty and sweet hits the spot every time and always satisfies my sweet tooth!
- If you’re a classic peanut butter and chocolate combo fan, these cookies are made for you! There are endless ways to switch up the recipe for different flavor combinations.
- Most ingredients are already in your pantry, with everything except the egg at room temperature. And with wholesome ingredients like these, you can totally feel good about enjoying this cookie for breakfast!
Cookie Ingredients
You can find a full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
- Peanut Butter – There are so many choices when it comes to peanut butter. Should you use creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter? What about almond butter, sesame butter or natural peanut butter? For me, the peanut butter in my pantry works great in this recipe.
- Oats -The only difference between old-fashioned and quick oats is their size. The difference in size and shape affects the cooking time and texture. I prefer the texture of quick oats for most baked goods. Don’t use any instant oats as they have added sugar.
- Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips – Dark chocolate chips would be a great substitute.
Recipe notes
If you only have old fashioned oats on hand, throw the oats in a food processor just long enough to create a smaller size, but honestly either will work for these cookies.
Steel-cut oats are not interchangeable for quick or old-fashioned oats in this recipe.
How to make healthy breakfast cookies
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up. If using a dark colored baking sheet, lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
STEP 2: In a large mixing bowl, start by combining the wet ingredients: 1 cup peanut butter, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/2 cup brown sugar with a hand mixer. Now mix in the dry ingredients: 1/2 cup oats and 1 tsp baking powder.
STEP 3: Add in 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup chopped pretzels, and 1/4 cup coconut.
STEP 4: Use a 1/4 cup dry measuring cup or a 1/4 cup ice cream or cookie scoop to scoop the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each cookie with a spoon or you can use the palm of your hand.
The size might seem like it will create a monster cookie shape, but remember, they are a meal.
STEP 5: Bake for 13-15 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are firm and golden brown.
Other add-ins
Substitute pistachios or almonds for the pecans. Try adding craisins instead of chocolate chips or do you love the flavor of cinnamon? Add 1/2 tsp of cinnamon for additional flavor.
A great way to add more protein is to add sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, or chia seeds.
Storage
MAKE AHEAD: Although this is a small batch recipe, feel free to double the recipe so you’ll have plenty for the freezer.
FREEZE: To freeze, bake as directed, cool completely, and place in an airtight container for up to six months.
More cookie recipes
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Oreo and Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pancake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
- Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Cookies
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Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Peanut Butter Crunchy or Creamy
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Oats
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup Coconut
- 1/2 cup Pecans Broken
- 1/2 cup Pretzels Broken
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 if using a dark colored baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, egg, vanilla, brown sugar, oats and baking powder with a hand mixer.1 cup Peanut Butter, 1 Egg, 1 tsp Vanilla, 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, 1/2 cup Oats, 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- Add in chocolate chips, chopped pecans, broken pretzels, coconut and mix until well combined.1/2 cup Chocolate Chips, 1/4 cup Coconut, 1/2 cup Pecans, 1/2 cup Pretzels
- Using a 1/4 cup dry measuring cup or a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop to scoop the cookies onto the baking sheet. Flatten each cookie with a spoon.
- Bake for 12 – 15 minutes.
Notes
- Double the recipe and make extra for the freezer.
- Try different mix-ins. Use craisins instead of chocolate chips, almonds instead of pecans or you could even add marshmallows.
- Freeze cookies individually for up to 3 months.
- If using a dark cookie sheet, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
I have a mild allergy to coconut. What could I use as a substitute?
If it were me, I’d add more nuts. The coconut gives texture to the cookie, but not a strong coconut flavor. Pick your favorite of the add-in ingredients. Love to hear how they turn out for you.
Sugar and pretzels in a “healthy” cookie? What can we substitute for these?
Well they still cookies. You could definitely leave out the pretzels and no substitute would be necessary.
I love cookies in the morning, these are perfect! I made these for the ICU Nurses working the night shift at Freeman Hospital, they all love them!
I am going to use a banana instead of an egg this way it would be vegan friendly.
That’s a great idea. I am going to test these with a banana too. Thanks for sharing!
Jill, thank you so much for this recipe. It is so easy to bake these cookies. I love that it does not require flour. My family loves these cookies. They always get excited when they know I am going to bake another batch. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Thank you Katherine!
Jill, I have to add another comment. My dogs LOVE these cookies (not just my family). They always insist we share with them, when we eat these cookies. I mean they are in your face with begging excitement! Thank you again!
Hi Jill, I just posted a new comment about my dogs loving these cookies. So it is not just my human family, but also my furry family that loves these cookies. When I make these cookies, I don’t put the add-ins like chocolate chips (bad for dogs), or the other add-ins. It is very simple with just the peanut butter and oats. I add an extra egg and exchange the vanilla extract with almond extract. Thank you again for your great recipes.
Hi Katherine! We have fur babies too. I’m going to have to give them a taste. Thanks for the comments!
I don’t eat peanut butter, but my family does, so I made these cookies for them. I did add cranberries instead of chocolate chips, and everyone loved the pretzels in the cookies.
I’m so glad your family enjoyed the cookies!