I’m so excited to share this cookie recipe with you! These Brown Butter Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are the perfect balance of crispy, chewy, and downright irresistible. Filled with gooey pockets of dark chocolate peanut butter cups and made with gluten-free ingredients, they’re the kind of cookie you’ll want to bake again and again this season. Best of all, there’s no chill time required, making them super quick to whip up!
Method
Brown the Butter
Start by melting the butter in a small to medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. As the butter begins to melt, keep stirring and watch closely. You’ll notice the butter will foam up and turn golden. After a few minutes, you’ll start to smell a nutty, caramel-like fragrance—that’s when you know it’s perfect. This browning process takes about 3-5 minutes, so be vigilant. If you leave it on too long, it can burn quickly, so once you see it turning golden brown and smelling heavenly, remove the pan from the heat and set it aside to cool slightly. The brown butter will give the cookies a rich, nutty flavor.
Mix the Sugars and Butter
Next, take a large mixing bowl and add the browned butter along with the coconut sugar and monk fruit (or organic cane sugar). Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to beat them together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. The butter and sugars should blend together to create a light, fluffy texture. This step is important because it sets the foundation for the perfect cookie dough by making sure the sugars dissolve well and start to create air pockets in the mixture.
Add the Wet Ingredients
Now, crack the egg and egg white into the bowl and add the vanilla extract. Mix everything together until just combined. You don’t want to overmix at this stage, as that could cause the dough to become too dense. The wet ingredients help bind the dough, and the vanilla adds a lovely, aromatic flavor that pairs perfectly with the brown butter.
Combine the Dry Ingredients
In the same bowl, add the gluten-free flour, baking soda, kosher salt, and gluten-free rolled oats. Gently stir everything together until fully combined. The oats provide the perfect chewy texture, while the baking soda ensures the cookies rise slightly as they bake. Once the dry ingredients are incorporated, it’s time to fold in the star ingredient—your chopped Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Gently stir them into the dough to ensure they’re evenly distributed throughout. These peanut butter cups add pockets of melty chocolate and peanut butter that will make each bite so special!
Form the Cookies
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking. Using a cookie scoop, form 12 large or 18 small cookies, depending on your preference. Be sure to leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie so they have room to spread out while baking. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, you can use a spoon to portion out the dough, but the scoop ensures each cookie is the same size and shape for even baking.
Bake
Place the cookies into the preheated oven and bake them for 8-10 minutes. If you prefer soft, chewy cookies like I do, I suggest checking them around the 8-minute mark. The edges should be golden brown, but the center will remain soft. If you like a bit more crunch, let them bake for a few extra minutes. Keep in mind that every oven is different, so check them early to avoid overbaking.
Finishing Touches
Once the cookies are out of the oven, you can add a little extra flair by sprinkling them with a pinch of flaky sea salt while they’re still warm. This small addition will help balance the sweetness of the cookies and bring out the deep flavors of the chocolate and peanut butter.
Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step ensures they won’t fall apart when you handle them. Once cooled, enjoy these mouthwatering cookies with a glass of milk (or a dairy-free alternative), or just enjoy them on their own as a delicious treat!
Necessary Tools
- Small/medium-sized saucepan
- Large mixing bowl or stand mixer
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cookie scoop
Brown Butter Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy12
servings10
minutes10
minutes20
minutesIngredients
1 stick salted butter or vegan butter
⅓ cup coconut sugar
½ cup monk fruit or organic cane sugar
1 egg
1 egg white
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup gluten-free baking flour
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt
1 ¼ cups gluten-free rolled oats
1 9.5 oz bag Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, roughly chopped (~1 cup)
Directions
- Brown the butter: Start by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Keep stirring and watching closely until the butter turns golden brown and smells heavenly—this should take about 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to burn it! Once it’s browned, take it off the heat and let it cool slightly.
- Mix the sugars and butter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown butter and coconut sugar with monk fruit (or organic cane sugar). Mix them well until it becomes creamy and smooth.
- Add the wet ingredients: Crack in the egg and egg white, and add the vanilla extract. Mix everything until it’s just combined.
- Combine the dry ingredients: In the same bowl, add the gluten-free flour, baking soda, kosher salt, and rolled oats. Stir in the chopped Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, ensuring they’re evenly spread throughout the dough.
- Form the cookies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop, form 12 large or 18 small cookies, placing them about 2 inches apart on the sheet.
- Bake: Pop the cookies into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. For a soft and chewy texture, I recommend checking them at 8 minutes. Once they’re golden brown around the edges, remove them from the oven.
- Finishing touches: If you want to take them up a notch, sprinkle a little flaky salt on top of the cookies while they’re still warm.
- Cool and enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Then, dig in and enjoy the deliciousness!
Notes
- Watch the butter carefully: Brown butter can go from perfect to burnt in seconds, so be sure to keep an eye on it while it’s melting.
- Don’t overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients, stir just until combined. Overmixing can lead to dense cookies.
- Oven times vary: Every oven is different, so check your cookies around 8 minutes to ensure they don’t overbake. You want them soft and chewy!
Serving Suggestions
These cookies are perfect on their own, but if you want to make them extra special, serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of extra dark chocolate. They’re also a hit with a glass of milk (or your favorite dairy-free alternative). Perfect for a family movie night or a holiday gathering!
Fun Fact
Did you know that brown butter is created by cooking regular butter until the milk solids turn golden and caramelized? This gives it a nutty, rich flavor that makes your cookies taste extra amazing!
Conclusion
These Brown Butter Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are everything you could want in a cookie—crispy, chewy, sweet, and full of flavor. With no chill time required and made with healthier ingredients, you can enjoy a guilt-free indulgence anytime. I hope you enjoy baking and, more importantly, eating these cookies as much as I do!
