These Easy Paleo SunButter Cookies are naturally green with no hidden veggies. With only 6 ingredients they are easy and delicious! Gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and naturally sweetened.
These cookies are so fun! SunButter naturally turns green when baking- the chlorogenic acid (chlorophyll) in the sunflower seeds reacts with the baking soda causing the green color. The color doesn't affect their taste at all so you don't have to worry about that. This makes these cookies perfect for St. Patricks Day or even Christmas and you can call them Grinch cookies.
I used to make a version of these when I was younger. Peanut butter, white sugar and an egg. A classic most people have made. I swapped out the peanut butter for SunButter and used maple syrup to sweeten them. Since the maple syrup adds some moisture, I added a little coconut flour. They came out amazing! A little crunch on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside.
Naturally Sweetened and Nut Free
Since I'm using my favorite No Sugar Added SunButter, they are completely sweetened with maple syrup. It also makes them nut free, so I used some coconut flour instead of almond. It worked great and you only need a little. The texture of these is so perfect! They don't flatten too much and aren't cakey either.
These are just as good as the traditional version- actually better! I know you will love them! They are so easy to make. Something I felt was important. I remade these over and over until they were perfect with as few ingredients as possible. You most likely have all the ingredients already and the most time consuming part is letting the dough chill for an hour.
These are low FODMAP as long as you stick to just a couple. Coconut flour is a limit food, but everything else is approved. Enjoy!
If you really don't want them green then you can use a half the amount of baking soda. If you're looking for another green recipe, you can make this Paleo Low Carb Nut Free Bread and use baking soda and leave out the vinegar. It will turn green on the inside.
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Easy Paleo SunButter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup no sugar added SunButter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup dairy free mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine SunButter, maple syrup and the eggs. Mix well. Add in the salt, coconut flour, and baking soda. Mix until no dry spots remain. Fold in the chocolate chips if using.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour or over night.
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a sheet tray with parchment paper. Scoop 1 tablespoon balls onto the sheet tray. Roll between palms to get smooth and press down slightly. You should get about 19 cookies.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool to get the inside to turn green.
Michelle says
These taste amazing. How ever, mine didn’t turn green inside. Not even the slightest tint of green. Any suggestions on what I may have done wrong.
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Michelle- have they cooled? Was the baking soda old? Those are the two things I can think of. And you did use sunflower seed butter, right?
Michelle says
They have been in a Tupperware container for 8 hrs now. I’m sure my baking soda could be thrown out. (Lol) they taste great. I did use the sunflower butter with the red lid(not the no sugar added one). I’ll try again with brand new box of baking soda. 🙂
Jessica DeMay says
Oh, that sunbutter will work perfect. Any kind will do. Yes, definitely try new baking soda. Hope you still enjoyed them! 🙂
Sara Campbell says
Can you use a different flour in place of the coconut flour? I don’t like coconut at all.
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Sara- you can use almond flour, but use 1 cup 2 tablespoons. Hope that helps!
Audrey Workman says
I'm super excited to try these. Is there an egg substitute that would work with these? Such as applesauce, flax seed, or chia seed?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Audrey0 a flax egg would work great here! Enjoy!
Jessica says
Hi I'm keto and was wondering if I could sub a sugar free maple syrup for regular? Thanks I would really like to try this.
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Jessica- yes, a sf syrup would definitely work. Enjoy!
HollyundHelga says
These cookies turned out green as advertised but when I checked the cookie jar the next day, the cookies had turned black! Any ideas as to what happened?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi- I'm sorry then turned black. I'm thinking it was very dark green. I've had that happen before and they're still fine to eat. Also I suggest storing them in the fridge after a day. Thanks for trying them!
Brenda Newman says
These were perfect! The only change I made was to roll the balls of dough in sugar before baking. I'm gonna make the next batch with some pumpkin pie spice in it. I think it will be great with the strong sunflower taste. Also a beautiful green inside!
Jessica DeMay says
Thanks for trying them, Brenda! I'm so glad you like them!
Stacy says
I finally got a jar of sunbutter and made these tonight! They are delicious!! I'll be making more!
Jessica DeMay says
Thanks for trying them, Stacy! I'm so glad you like them!
Dawn says
Hello my dough turned very crumbly after paying it in the fridge over night, I think all the moisture escaped. Is there a fix for this? I added some oil, will this affect the recipe?
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Dawn- adding some oil should be fine. Maybe just let it come to room temperature and see if it comes together better.
eric whitman says
sadly mine did not turn green. used sunbutter brand sugarfree sun butter. super confused what i did wrong. there are not that many ingredients. sun butter, coconut flour, salt, maple syrup, an egg and baking soda. i have enough left for another batch. any tips would great appreciated. thank you.
Jessica DeMay says
I'm so sorry, Eric! My initial thought is that maybe your baking soda is old? That is needed for them chemical reaction to take place. If they have fully cooled and are not green then try some new baking soda. Hope that helps!
eric whitman says
you are 100% right. it was older baking soda. i had popped them in the fridge and 24 hours later they are green inside. yay. thank you so much.
Jessica DeMay says
You're welcome! Great to know that was the issue and so glad they turned green!
Cindy says
This has become my favorite cookie recipe! I’ve made at least 5 or 6 batches since February this year. .
I typically use cacao nibs in lieu of chips. . I also used almond flour one time when I ran out of coconut flour. I used only the 6 Tbsp and they were great. Yesterday I received the mother load of Sunbutter from Amazon to get me through the Covid lockdown, but I just realized my maple syrup supply is dangerously low. I may be forced to experiment. LOL
For what it’s worth, I allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a rack. I’ve had no problems with breakage. Can’t wait for this dough to finish chilling because I’m ready for some cookies!
Jessica DeMay says
Thank you, Cindy! I'm so glad you like them! Thanks for making them and for the great feedback!