23 Best Cookie Recipes Without Butter

Cookies are one of the greatest joys in life. They are super tasty and super comforting, and when they are fresh out of the oven, there’s nothing that compares! 

But we’ve all been in a situation where we want to make cookies, but we’re missing an ingredient or two. If we can’t make it to the store, then that usually means the concept of making cookies is gone for the day. 

If you’re in a situation like that now and you’re just missing butter, then you’re in luck! We’ve put together a list of 24 of the best cookie recipes you can make without having to use any butter at all! So let’s take a look! 

23 Best Cookie Recipes Without Butter

Whether you’re just trying to be a bit more healthy or you just want to try something different, there are so many butterless cookies out there for you to try! 

Lots of the recipes we have included are low in fat and gluten-free too, so you will be able to make delicious cookies for any dietary needs by the time you have finished reading the list. 

So without further ado, let’s get started! 

1. Molasses Crackle Cookies

Kicking off this list we have these molasses crackle cookies. This recipe is super tasty and easy to make- you’ll have the whole thing done in no more than 30 minutes! 

Molasses cookies are traditionally made with a lot of butter, but this version doesn’t use any at all!

This recipe is actually quite low in both fat and sugar as well, so if you want something a bit healthier that still tastes great, you are going to love this recipe! 

2. Italian Orange-Fig Cookies

If you have never tried oranges and figs together in a sweet treat before, then this is a sign that you definitely need to! The orange and fig flavors pair exceptionally well together to create an absolutely delicious taste sensation. 

To make these cookies even better, they are also 100% gluten-free! To add to that, you won’t be able to tell they are gluten-free unless you bake them.

They taste just like how cookies are meant to taste, but they are much more inclusive of restricted dietary needs. 

You can have these Italian orange-fig cookies ready in just under an hour, so you dont have to spend all day in the kitchen making them. 

3. Chewy Maple Cookies

A good cookie should always be chewy and soft in the center, and that is definitely the case when it comes to these chewy maple cookies! 

As the name would suggest, one of the main ingredients in this recipe is maple syrup and it tastes absolutely fantastic when it’s baked into cookie form.

This recipe is really easy to make and you only need 30 minutes to have them ready. 

4. Vegan Orange Cookies

If you love orange flavored sweet treats then you are going to love these orange cookies. There isn’t a stick of butter in sight for this recipe, so you can definitely make them if you haven’t got any butter in the kitchen. 

To make this recipe even better, it is 100% vegan and gluten-free.

If you want to make a batch of tasty cookies for your family, friends, or a party, these cookies tick all the boxes, being full of flavor and inclusive of everyone’s dietary needs. 

5. Peanut Butter Cookies

Everyone loves peanut butter, and when it’s used to make cookies, you end up with a seriously delicious treat.

You’ll be using cream sugar, vegetable oil, peanut butter, salt, vanilla, egg, and milk to make these cookies, and you won’t need any butter at all. 

This recipe is really easy to make as well, and you can have a sizable batch ready in no more than 20 minutes. If you’re after a recipe that tastes delicious and is quick and easy to make, this is the perfect recipe for you to try. 

6. Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

The title isn’t just for show, you’ll actually be using cake mix to make these cookies! It might seem like an odd choice at first, but once you’ve tried these lemon cake mix cookies for yourself, you’ll see just how genius of an idea it is. 

The lemon flavor is deliciously tangy and refreshing and you won’t be able to help yourself going back for seconds! 

7. Great-Grandma’s Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are another classic recipe that is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world.

This particular recipe is based on the recipe belonging to the chef’s great-grandmother, so you know that they are going to be completely authentic. 

You won’t need any butter to make this recipe and you can have these cookies made in less than an hour. 

8. Coffee Crinkle Cookies

This is a cookie recipe for all the coffee lovers out there and no, you won’t be using any butter for this recipe! 

The main ingredients consist of coffee powder, vanilla extract, sugar, oil, and brown sugar. It might sound like it’s a bit simple, but if you love coffee, these cookies are absolutely delicious! 

They don’t take very long to make either, so if you just want a quick recipe, this is a great option for you to try!

9. Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

We couldn’t make a cookie list without including a recipe for everyone’s favorite: chocolate chip! These cookies are absolutely classic, super gooey, and just a delight to make.

Usually, chocolate chip cookies are made with a nice helping of butter, but you won’t need any at all for this recipe. 

The cookies themselves only take about 9 minutes to make, so overall, you’ll only need about 20 minutes to make them and have them ready to go! 

10. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Snickerdoodle cookies are another cookie recipe that everyone loves, and now you can make them even if you don’t have butter. 

This recipe is super easy to make and these snickerdoodles taste even better because they are coated in cinnamon and sugar… delicious! 

11. Grandma Krause’s Coconut Cookies

Here’s another recipe that comes from four generations of one family!

These coconut cookies are absolutely dreamy. The coconut is incredibly refreshing and it is paired with oats to create some fantastic cookies you won’t be able to stop eating. 

You don’t need many ingredients to make these coconut cookies and they can be ready to eat in less than an hour. If you love coconut-flavored things and you love cookies, then this is the perfect recipe for you to try. 

12. 3-Ingredient No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies

Here’s a great recipe for anyone who loves oatmeal cookies and wants to make them completely stress-free. They taste exactly how oatmeal cookies should taste and you won’t be using any butter to make them. 

As the title suggests, you will only need 3 ingredients to make these cookies and they come in the form of oats, peanut butter, and a sweetener (something like honey or maple syrup works best). 

Because this is a no-bake recipe, these oatmeal cookies can be ready in about 5 minutes! If you don’t have much time to make cookies but you really want some, this recipe will definitely benefit you. 

13. Soft Pumpkin Cookies

These pumpkin cookies are absolutely delicious and perfect for the Fall or Halloween. They are incredibly moist and that is thanks to the mashed pumpkin! 

One thing you do need to remember before you start making these cookies is that you need to use pumpkin puree rather than pumpkin pie filling for the best results. 

For this recipe, you will also be using coconut oil with sugar, pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 

14. Chocolate Brownie Cookies

If you really love chocolate, then you are going to absolutely adore these chocolate brownie cookies. They are incredibly fudgy and filled with double chocolate, this recipe is truly an indulgent dream! 

One of the best things about this recipe is the texture of the cookies, and the secret to getting that texture involves putting the dough in the refrigerator for a few hours and also taking them out of the oven when they look underdone.

This is a true test of “trust the process” but it’s 100% worth it!

15. Chewy Vegan Trail Mix Cookies With Chocolate Chips

If you are following a vegan diet and you want a cookie recipe that is absolutely out of this world, then these chewy vegan cookies are for you!

They are absolutely delicious and incredibly easy to make, and they don’t take very long either. 

Some of the main ingredients in this recipe include vegan chocolate chips, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and no butter! 

16. 3-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies

This recipe is especially unique because it uses no flour! You might think that it’s impossible to make nice cookies without flour, but once you try this recipe for yourself, you will be pleasantly surprised! 

This is a great recipe to make when you want something quick and easy and you don’t have a lot of ingredients to play with. There is absolutely no butter in this recipe as well, so you don’t need to worry about that. 

17. 3-Ingredient Banana Cookies

Banana cookies are incredibly delicious and once you try this recipe for yourself, you’ll find yourself making it again and again! 

These cookies taste just like banana bread and they are incredibly comforting. With just three ingredients, you will be able to make these banana cookies in no time at all.

This is a great recipe especially if you are looking for some cookies for the whole family to enjoy. 

18. Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here’s another fantastic cookie recipe designed for all the coffee lovers out there.

This recipe is inspired by deliciously, chocolatey mochas and once you have one cookie, you won’t be able to stop yourself from grabbing another. 

They are super easy to make and they are more coffee than chocolate, so they aren’t too overpowering in flavor. These cookies are incredible and you definitely need to try them!

19. Chewy Vegan Ginger Spice Cookies

If you want a cookie that is a bit stronger in warm spice flavors than pumpkin, then you should try these ginger spice cookies! 

Warm and tasty, these cookies are 100% vegan and deliciously chewy. You won’t be able to get enough of them once you start eating them! 

20. Apricot-Filled Cookies

Cookies dont always have to be chocolate or oaty, they can be fruity too! These apricot-filled cookies are absolutely sublime and they are a refreshing take on the classic cookie recipe. 

These cookies aren’t to hard to make either, so you will have no problem making them for yourself. 

21. Anise & Wine Cookies

If you want to be a bit bolder with your flavors, give these anise & wine cookies a try! They are rich in flavor and incredibly unique, making them stand out from some of the more classic recipes. 

22. Mexican Cinnamon Cookies

Cinnamon is just an incredibly comforting and tasty flavor, and these cookies are all about that cinnamon flavor!

These cookies are super easy to make and you won’t have to spend more than 25 minutes baking them, so you can enjoy them faster. 

23. Chocolate Chip Cookies

And finally, we have one more butterless chocolate chip cookie recipe for you to try. Like the other recipe, these cookies taste exactly how chocolate chip cookies should taste and they don’t take very long to make at all. 

Try both chocolate chip cookie recipes and see which one you prefer!

Frequently Asked Question

How Much Oil Do I Substitute For Butter?

There is no set amount of oil you should use in place of butter for your cookies. The best way to work out how much oil is to follow the recipe and use the recommended amount there. 

Which Oil Is The Best Substitute For Butter?

The best oil to substitute for butter is neutral oil like safflower, canola, or vegetable. If you want to experiment with flavors though, you can opt to use virgin coconut or olive oil. 

What Is The Healthiest Butter Replacement?

There are lots of different healthy butter replacements you can use. Some of the best include Ghee butter, olive oil, greek yogurt, and pumpkin puree.

Conclusion

There are plenty of cookie recipes out there for those days when you cant, or don’t, want to use butter! Give these recipes a try for yourself and see which ones you enjoy the most! 

Once you’ve made butterless cookies, you will very rarely make them with butter again!