Chewy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

Annie Lampella @ Ketofocus

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published July 13, 2019 • Updated January 6, 2026

Reader Rating
4.4 Stars (18 Reviews)

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

I’ve been baking these keto peanut butter cookies nonstop for my family lately, and they’re the ones everyone keeps ‘accidentally’ grabbing two of on the way through the kitchen, thanks to a little unexpected ingredient I sneak in that makes them extra chewy.

Peanut butter cookies were a childhood staple in my house. The kind with the criss-cross fork marks, a soft center, and that slightly crisp edge that somehow always tasted better the next day. When I went low-carb, I tried all the “three-ingredient” keto versions that float around the internet…and every single one disappointed me. They were crumbly, dry, and mostly tasted like sweetened peanut butter pressed into a cookie shape.

I wanted the real thing. Chewy. Soft in the middle. The kind that bends a little when you pick it up instead of snapping in half.

After a lot of batches (and a lot of sad cookies), I finally cracked it…and this has been our go-to peanut butter cookie ever since.

A stack of peanut butter cookies in from of another stack with a jug of milk behind them.

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Chewy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

4.4 (18) Prep 10m Cook 8m Total 18m 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 tablespoon beef gelatin
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts or nuts of choice
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar substitute
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar-free sweetener
  • 1/4 cup almond butter or nut butter of choice
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step by Step Instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1
Preheat oven & mix dry ingredients

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together almond flour, gelatin, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

A stainless steel bowl with dry ingredients inside.
Ingredients for this step
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
2
Grind up the peanuts

Grind the peanuts using a food processor or mini blender until they have a course breadcrumb appearance.

A food processor with ground, crushed peanuts inside.
Tip I've made these using almonds and they add delightful flavor.
Ingredients for this step
  • 3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts or nuts of choice
3
Cream butter and wet ingredients

In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sweeteners using an electric mixer until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes). Beat in the almond butter, egg and vanilla extract until just combined.

Creamy peanut butter mixture in a bowl over a stand mixer.
Ingredients for this step
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup brown-sugar substitute
  • 3 tablespoons sugar-free sweetener
  • 1/4 cup almond butter or nut butter of choice
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4
Mix in dry ingredients

Gently stir in the dry ingredients into the nut butter mixture and mix until fully combined. Mix in the ground peanuts until combined.

A ball of peanut butter cookie down in a bowl.
5
Roll and bake

Roll the cookie dough into a 1-inch balls and place on a parchment lined baking tray. Press the cookies down with the back of a fork to make a crisscross pattern. Bake for 8 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are set and slightly golden. Let cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Unbaked cookies on a tray with parchment paper with crosshatched patterns.
Tip I freeze baked cookies in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and they stay soft.
Nutrition Per Serving 1 cookie
120 Calories
11.1g Fat
4.6g Protein
1g Net Carbs
2.5g Total Carbs
12 Servings
Nutrition disclaimer

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

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A stack of cookies on a cutting board with a cookie falling off the ball.

The problem with those 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies

Most keto peanut butter cookie recipes rely on just peanut butter, sweetener, and an egg. On paper it sounds easy, but structurally it’s a disaster. Peanut butter has a high fat content and very little protein structure. When you bake it without a proper binder, the fat melts out, the sweetener crystallizes, and you’re left with a crumbly cookie that dries out fast and tastes flat.

What makes my cookies special

This is where gelatin changes everything. As a Pharm.D. with a science background, I’m always looking at how ingredients behave, not just how many carbs they have. Gelatin is a protein that forms a flexible gel network when hydrated and heated. Inside cookie dough, that network traps moisture and fat, creating a soft, bendable crumb instead of a dry, sandy one. That’s the difference between: • crumbly peanut butter “pucks” • and an actual chewy cookie It also improves shelf life. These cookies stay soft for a few days longer instead of turning into dry hockey pucks by the next morning. I use Great Lakes Gelatin in the orange canister. And no, your cookies will not taste weird. Once baked, gelatin is completely neutral. No barn smell. No hoof vibes. Just chew.

What I've learned after making these cookies over and over

The dough should feel slightly sticky but scoopable. If it’s dry and crumbly, your cookies will bake dry. • Don’t overbake. Pull them when the centers still look slightly underdone. They set as they cool. • Let them cool fully before moving them. Hot keto cookies are fragile, chewy keto cookies are stable. • These are even better on day two. The texture actually improves overnight. This is one of those recipes where people swear they’re “not keto cookies” because they actually behave like real cookies.
Chewy Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute almond flour with another type of flour?

If you're looking for a substitute that measures cup for cup with almond flour, you can try using sunflower seed flour, but keep in mind that it may alter the flavor and texture.

What can I use instead of beef gelatin?

If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan option, you can use agar-agar or a plant-based gelatin substitute. Just be aware that this might change the texture of your cookies slightly.

How should I store the cookies to keep them fresh?

To keep your chewy keto peanut butter cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze them for longer storage. Just make sure to separate layers with parchment paper.

About the Author
Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis, she has over 14 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism.

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13 Comments

  1. Just made these & love them! Used Swerve brown sweetener as i didn’t have monkfruit golden. Came out delicious!

  2. I loved how the combination of almond flour and beef gelatin created such a chewy and satisfying texture. Using a food processor to grind the roasted salted peanuts added a deeper nutty flavor and a bit of crunch throughout. Mixing both golden monkfruit and Swerve gave just the right balance of sweetness without overpowering the peanut butter flavor. Baking for exactly 8 minutes gave me cookies with soft centers and lightly crisped edges.

  3. I followed the recipe exactly and was so impressed by how soft and chewy these came out thanks to the beef gelatin and almond butter. Grinding the peanuts gave a great texture and added a nice crunch in every bite. The mixture of monkfruit and erythritol gave just the right amount of sweetness without any aftertaste. Pressing them down with a fork made them look just like classic peanut butter cookies. Definitely making these again.

  4. Delicious! I tweeked it a bit because of a different recipe that crumbled apart so I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t do that again, so I added a Tablespoon of flaxseed meal, 1/4 teaspoon xanthum gum. Also added 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder (unsweetened) for flavor. I also used mostly Splenda and a bit of powdered stevia to sweeten mine. Delicious recipe. Some dough is freezing for future use, hopefully it will bake well. Thanks for the tasty recipe!
    I eat these with sugar free whipped cream and a drizzle of sugar free chocolate syrup-really good. I think these would make a good pastry crust.

    1. I’m not sure. I haven’t tried that substitution. Maybe try half and check to see how the consistency compares to my video. You could always bake a couple cookies, see how they turn out, then add more flour if needed.

  5. Hi, I was wondering would I be able to use avocado oil instead of butter and use an allulose blend of allulose, stevia and Monkfruit as my sweetener? Thank you.

    1. I haven’t tried using avocado oil or coconut oil in place of the butter. It might work but they might need more nut flour too. As for the sweetener, you can use any sweetener as long as it measures cup for cup with sugar.

  6. I haven’t tried the recipe yet because I don’t understand the one carb count was 3/4 cup of peanuts in it. Is that for one cookie is supposed to be one carb? And how many cookies are you considering that recipe to make so I know about how large they are? Although I would like to add that I find the majority of recipes of yours that I have tried to be top notch!

  7. I love these cookies and they are a big hit with my friends and family too! I’ve made them a few times ever since I first saw this on YouTube! I love your recipes and this one is no exception! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes that has helped me lose over 85 lbs so far…!

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