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The Best SunButter Cookies (Easy Nut-Free Recipe)

Delicious SunButter Cookies made with sunflower seed butter and just 5 other ingredients! Sweet, chewy, simple and tasty!

sunbutter cookies on an antique cooling rack

This Sunbutter Cookie Recipe makes cookies that are chewy and sweet with sunflower seed butter flavor throughout. They are super easy and nut-free! A perfect alternative to peanut butter cookies if you have a nut allergy to consider. Plus just 6 simple ingredients! Let’s make them!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase any of the items linked in this post, I should earn a small commission. This creates no additional cost to you and helps support the work that goes into running The Fig Jar. Thank you! -Becky 

Ingredients

SunButter cookies

  • Sunflower seed butter (I prefer to use a jar of SunButter brand organic sunflower butter or Trader Joe’s – the creamy variety. If you’re more of a “chunky” nut butter type, that works just fine too!)
  • Light brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • Baking soda

Is there no flour in these SunButter Cookies?

Nope! These cookies are flourless and peanut-free, making them not only perfect for those with food allergies but also extra chewy and moist! Some recipes call for the use of all-purpose flour, but I find this unnecessary for this particular cookie. These are similar to my peanut butter cookie recipe except that one uses oat flour instead of all-purpose flour. 

What is SunButter?

SunButter or sunflower seed butter is just what it sounds like. It’s a seed butter, similar to nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter but instead made with sunflower seeds. So it’s perfect if you have a peanut allergy or just want to change things up! SunButter is actually a brand of sunflower seed butter but I just use it as a blanket term. Sunflower seed butter can also be used as a spread on toast, crackers, or fruit, added to smoothies or oatmeal, or used as a dip for vegetables. Its versatility makes it easy to incorporate into a variety of dishes and snacks. Plus sometimes its just fun to switch things up and enjoy a different flavor. 

Where can I find SunButter?

I get sunflower seed butter on Amazon (affiliate link) or Trader Joe’s. I recommend using the no sugar added kind as we are already going to be adding plenty of sugar to the cookies!

What are the health benefits of SunButter?

  1. Nutrient-rich: Sunflower seed butter is a good source of various essential nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, and copper. These nutrients play crucial roles in supporting overall health, including immune function, skin health, and energy production.
  2. Heart health: Sunflower seed butter is rich in unsaturated fats, particularly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
  3. Protein: Sunflower seed butter contains protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting immune function, and maintaining muscle mass. It can be particularly beneficial for individuals following vegetarian or vegan diets who may struggle to get enough protein from other sources.
  4. Fiber: Sunflower seed butter is a good source of dietary fiber, which is important for digestive health. Fiber helps regulate bowel movements, prevents constipation, and may also help lower cholesterol levels and control blood sugar levels.
  5. Antioxidants: Sunflower seeds contain antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants play a role in reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
  6. Nut-free alternative: For individuals with nut allergies or sensitivities, sunflower seed butter provides a safe alternative to nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter.

How to make SunButter cookies

These cookies really couldn’t be much simpler. 6 ingredients, 1 bowl and just a wooden spoon to mix everything up? I love recipes like this. Let’s do it.

Heat Oven

Preheat oven to 375F. 

Combine SunButter and sugar

Mix sunflower seed butter, granulated (white) sugar and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl using a wooden spoon. 

ingredients for sunbutter cookie recipe in a mixing bowl

Add egg, vanilla extract and baking soda

After you’ve added the SunButter and sugars, next add egg, vanilla extract and baking soda and stir until all ingredients are fully combined. The dough will be fairly wet and will feel a little bit oily. This is the perfect cookie dough consistency you’re looking for!

sunbutter cookie dough with egg, vanilla and baking soda added

Roll dough into roughly 1-inch balls

Use a cookie scoop to roll dough for each cookie into a ball. The balls will be about 1-inch in diameter. Arrange them on a cookie sheet at least 3 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, as they will spread as they bake. Then gently flatten each one into a disc with the palm of your hand. 

Bake

Bake cookies for 10 minutes until golden brown.

Cool

Allow cookies to cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.

sunbutter cookies cooling on a cookie sheet after baking
sunbutter cookies with a jar of sun flower seed butter in the background

Possible Additions for SunButter Cookies

Looking to level up your SunButter cookies? Try adding chocolate chips to the cookie dough or on the top of the cookie after you flatten the dough balls with your hand. Also a sprinkle of cinnamon is a nice addition!

Storage Instructions for SunButter Cookies

I love eating fresh, warm cookies, so I usually only bake what I want to eat and freeze the rest. That way I can pop cookies in the oven whenever I have a craving and enjoy a freshly baked cookie anytime. To freeze them, scoop dough balls with a cookie scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, flatten and freeze on the baking sheet for an hour. Then transfer the dough discs to a Ziploc bag or other freezer-safe airtight container. 

If you would like to bake them all at once and save these sweet treats for later, simply store them in an airtight container for up to a week after they’ve completely cooled to room temperature.

Tried these SunButter Cookies?

If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating below and let me know how it went. I’d love to hear from you!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

You can also connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Print

SunButter Cookies

sun butter cookies on a cooling rack next to a yellow napkin

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.3 from 3 reviews

A unique nut-free cookie made with sunflower seed butter! Chewy, sweet and oh-so-good!

  • Author: Becky Schmieg
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 16 cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup sunflower seed butter (sunbutter)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Combine sunbutter and sugars in a bowl using a wooden spoon. Add egg, vanilla and baking soda and stir until fully combined.
    sun butter cookie dough with egg, vanilla and baking soda added
  3. Roll 1.5 tbsp balls of dough for each cookie and gently press into a disc. Arrange on a baking sheet at least 3 inches apart. Cookies will spread.
    sun butter cookies dough being pressed into a disc
  4. Bake for 10 minutes.
  5. Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

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