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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.

This post is sponsored on behalf of SunButter. All opinions are 100% my own, of course! Thank you for supporting brands that help make RealFood with Jessica possible!

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
Author:Jessica DeMay
Prep Time:10 minutes minutes
Cook Time:8 minutes minutes
Servings:19 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup no sugar added SunButter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 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.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 139kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 14g (5%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 9g (14%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.05gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 10mg (3%)Sodium: 98mg (4%)Potassium: 33mg (1%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 7g (8%)Vitamin A: 21IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 34mg (3%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
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99 Comments
Crystal says
How long can this sit in the fridge?
Made these cookies a bunch of times great substitute for peanut butter cookies!!!Reply
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Crystal- they should stay good up to 10 days in the fridge and they also freeze great 🙂
Reply
Azuree says
Hi! Will this recipe come out just as tasty with standard flour?
Reply
Jessica DeMay says
AP flour does not convert 1:1 with coconut flour. You can try using 3x as much, but I can’t guarantee the results
Reply
FAQs
Why didn t my SunButter cookies turn green? ›
Remember, the key to your cookies turning green is using enough baking soda to react to the chlorophyll in the Sunbutter. Applesauce adds to the acid, so we don't have to use so much soda that we can taste it.
Does SunButter turn green when baked? ›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.
What does SunButter taste like? ›It has an earthy, roasted flavor that is more intense than peanut butter. According to my research, sunflower seed butter made with just sunflower seeds can be a little bitter, so you may see things like sugar and salt on the ingredients list.
What is SunButter made of? ›SunButter is made with US grown, roasted sunflower seeds. It has 7 grams of protein per serving and more vitamins and minerals than nut butter. SunButter provides 45% of the US recommended daily allowance for Vitamin E with no trans fat and less saturated fat than the leading brand of almond butter.
Does SunButter sunflower butter need to be refrigerated after opening? ›Does SunButter have to be refrigerated? SunButter does not need to be refrigerated–it is entirely personal preference whether SunButter is stored in the refrigerator or cupboard. (We don't judge!) Refrigerated SunButter stays fresh longer, but you can safely store it in a cool place.
Does SunButter go bad? ›SunButter® can be stored in the refrigerator, but it does not extend the product's shelf life. What is the shelf life? 1 year from date of manufacture (BIUB on package) opened or unopened.
Does SunButter cause inflammation? ›Luckily, because sunflower butter is made up mainly of unsaturated fats, it helps lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation.
Which is healthier SunButter or almond butter? ›Total fat – all three nut/seed butters provide about ¼ daily value of total fat per 2 tbsp. magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and selenium than either almond or peanut butter. Almond butter had significantly more fiber, calcium, and potassium than sunflower seed or peanut butter.
Is SunButter healthier than peanut butter? ›MAXIMIZE YOUR MINERALS WITH SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER
Sunflower seed butter has four times the iron found in peanut butter; more than twice as much copper and selenium and nearly twice as much magnesium, phosphorous and zinc! Both butters are good sources of potassium.
"Of all the nut butters, walnut butter has the most omega-3 fatty acids," Andrea says. The healthful fat ratio helps lower LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol, and reduce inflammation. The hitch: Walnut butter is lower in protein and fiber than other nut butters.
Is SunButter good for your heart? ›
The fat is primarily monounsaturated fat, which is considered to be a "good" fat. You'll get 6.24 grams in a serving, along with 1.6 grams of polyunsaturated fat, another healthy fat. You may boost heart health when you use poly and monounsaturated fats to replace less healthy fats (like saturated fat) in your diet.
Which nut butter tastes closest to peanut butter? ›1. Sunflower Seed Butter. The closest spread to peanut butter I've found in terms of flavor and texture is sunflower seed butter. It's also relatively easy to find; I've seen it in large chain grocery stores right next to the peanut butter.
Does SunButter have a lot of sugar? ›Because it doesn't contain added sugar, it's our go-to choice for baking–making it an easy swap for your favorite nut-free recipes.
What are the benefits of eating SunButter? ›Sunflower butter is made from little nutrient-dense sunflower seeds, which are a great source of protein, healthy fats, vitamin E and magnesium. The protein and healthy fats keep you satiated and feeling full and energized.
Can dogs eat SunButter? ›As a general rule, sunflower seeds should be an occasional snack given in moderate amounts. Small dogs can have ten to 20 seeds a week, while large dogs should have no more than 20 to 40 seeds per week. Moderation also goes for products like sunflower butter, limiting it to a spoonful once in a while.
Do you have to stir SunButter? ›Natural SunButter is perfect for dipping, dolloping, and spreading. (No wonder why it's our most popular variety!) Oil separation occurs naturally. Stir before each use.
Can you freeze SunButter? ›Stored in the refrigerator, sunflower butter should keep for several weeks in a lidded glass jar. Freezing: You can store sunflower butter in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Does SunButter freeze well? ›Store: you can store the sunflower butter in the refrigerator for at least 6 weeks. Freeze: alternatively, transfer the sunbutter to a freezer-safe container and freeze for between 3-4 months.
Is anyone allergic to SunButter? ›Sunflower seed butter is a peanut-free alternative to peanut butter, and sunflower seed allergy is an uncommon but reported entity.
Is SunButter hard to digest? ›Sunflower seed butter — or sunbutter — is a healthy alternative for anyone with a tree nut allergy, Everyday Health reported. The spread is easy to digest and boasts tons of health benefits.
How many calories are in SunButter? ›
Seed butters contain a powerful blend of nutrition. One serving—1 tablespoon —of unsalted sunflower butter contains about the following: 99 calories. 3 g of protein.
Is sunflower seed butter constipating? ›Excess consumption of sunflower seeds may cause vomiting, stomach ache and constipation.
Can sunflower seed butter cause gas? ›Eating too many sunflower seeds will likely lead to abdominal discomfort, including cramps, bloating, and flatulence. This may be accompanied by nausea and diarrhea if you've eaten an excessive amount of the seeds.
What butter is best for inflammation? ›For example, grass-fed butter is higher in omega-3 fatty acids. These are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and have been linked to many health benefits. One analysis found that grass-fed butter provides about 26% more omega-3 fatty acids than regular butter, on average ( 7 ).
What is the best nut butter for diabetics? ›- Peanut butter. Let's start with the original favorite. Peanut butter is a great, high protein alternative to meat on your sandwich. ...
- Almond butter. If peanut butter isn't your favorite, give almond butter a try! ...
- Cashew butter. Another alternative is cashew butter.
Skippy Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread
Skippy's entire line of natural spreads are free of preservatives, artificial flavors and colors. Like most peanut butters, this one is also free of cholesterol and trans fat.
- Crazy Richard's 100% Peanuts All Natural Peanut Butter. ...
- 365 Everyday Value Organic Peanut Butter, Unsweetened & No Salt. ...
- Trader Joe's Creamy No Salt Organic Peanut Butter, Valencia. ...
- Adams 100% Natural Unsalted Peanut Butter. ...
- MaraNatha Organic Peanut Butter. ...
- Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butter.
Nutella is usually described as a hazelnut chocolate spread. But, in reality, it comprises of just 13% hazelnuts, the rest being refined white sugar, palm oil, milk powder, and cacao powder. Nutella is not a nut butter.
What are the unhealthiest nuts? ›Brazil nuts, cashews and macadamia nuts are higher in saturated fat. Too much of this can contribute to raised cholesterol levels, so only eat them occasionally. Chestnuts are an exception – they're lower in all types of fats and higher in starchy carbohydrate than other nuts.
What nut butter is best for blood pressure? ›Peanut butter is high in protein and healthy fats, which can also help reduce blood pressure levels.
Which nut butter is better for weight loss? ›
Generally, the best nut butter for weight loss contains the most vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients. While calories also enter into this equation, they're not nearly as essential. Consequently, the healthiest nut butter for weight loss might be: Almond Butter.
Is sunflower seed butter anti inflammatory? ›Unlike peanut butter which can trigger inflammation, sunflower seed butter is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. That makes it a good option for those who are looking to add more anti-inflammatory foods into their diet.
Is sunflower butter good for diabetics? ›The presence of Vitamin B3 in sunflower seeds reduces overall cholesterol levels and heart-related problems. Management of Diabetes: Sunflower seeds are useful in controlling diabetes for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Does Sunbutter contain omega-3? ›Sunflower seed spread with flaxseed. 461mg omega-3 per serving. Peanut free. Gluten free.
What tastes better than peanut butter? ›Peanut Butter Alternatives Using Tree Nuts
Top tree-nut butters to try: Nut-zo butters: made tree nuts and seeds they are super nutritious and delicious. Almond butter: few can resist it's delicious taste and if you love it, buy it big! Cashew butter: smooth taste, pairs great with everything, and tastes luxurious.
Soy butter is consistently ranked as being the most similar to peanut butter in consistency, color, and texture. However, this is hardly surprising given that peanuts and soybeans are related! It has a mild, slightly sweet taste that works well in cooking, baking, and as a spread.
What berry tastes like peanut butter? ›Bunchosia argentea, known as silver peanut butter fruit, is a species of flowering plant in the acerola family, Malpighiaceae, that is native to Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Guyana and Suriname. It produces small orange-red fruits that are sericeous (finely haired) of pleasant taste similar to peanut butter.
Which butter has no sugar? ›Vor's macadamia butter is a 100% macadamia butter with no added sugar or salt. The butter has only one ingredient: dry-roasted macadamia nuts. A two-tablespoon serving of Vor Pure Macadamia Butter contains: Calories: 230 kcal.
Can you eat SunButter on keto? ›Sunflower seed butter is high in fat and protein making it a healthy addition to your keto diet.
Which nut butter has the least sugar? ›The good news nutritionally is that almond butter has about 3 grams more of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat per serving than peanut butter. Plus, unlike processed regular peanut butter, almond butter usually is lower in sugar and provides a little extra calcium, about 60 mg per tablespoon.
Does SunButter help you sleep? ›
Sunbutter also increases our melatonin production which is a natural sleep aid. Melatonin helps you to fall asleep faster! Two tablespoons of sunbutter are rich in the protein tryptophan, which provides the essential amino acid that helps create melatonin, which induces that sleepy feeling.
Is sunflower oil an inflammatory? ›Sunflower oil has anti-inflammatory properties which can help combat arthritis pains. It also helps to regulate the body's healthy fats. Sunflower oil is one of the foods rich in monounsaturated fats or Omega-3 fats. As a result, they help reduce inflammation, especially in rheumatoid arthritis.
What do you eat sunflower seed butter with? ›You can use it just ike you would use a nut butter -- in a Seed Butter & Jelly sandwich, in a smoothie, on yogurt, and even on ice cream. But you can also use it in these more inventive ways, like whipping it into a creamy sauce, baking it into cookies, or whisking it into soup! Yeah... soup.
Can dogs have bananas? ›Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.
Can dogs have cinnamon? ›The good news is that cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, though cinnamon essential oil can be toxic for pups. Your dog will not suffer fatal toxic effects from consuming too much cinnamon, but that does not necessarily mean you should be sprinkling it on kibble.
Can dogs have honey? ›Honey is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. It contains natural sugars and small amounts of vitamins and minerals. It is also used as a sweetener in many foods and beverages.
Why are my cookies not turning golden? ›Problem #4: Pale and soft cookies
They were probably baked from a good consistency dough but ended up a bit under baked and raw on the inside. Either the oven temperature is too low or they were taken out too soon. When baking always keep an eye on your cookies and take them out when they're golden.
A little-known quirk of using sunflower seed flour is that it turns green upon baking. Baking powder and baking soda react with the chlorophyll in the seeds creating a reaction known as chlorogenic quinone-amino acid greening.
Why did my raspberry cookies turn green? ›For those of you who are unfamiliar with these cookies, soon after we add the whole raspberries to the otherwise normally colored dough, the chemical reaction of the baking soda and raspberry juice turns the color of the dough from light pink, to grayish green... almost concrete-colored.
Why does sunflower oil turn green? ›Sunflower oil turns green in the presence of bases, such as baking soda. Most tap water in the US is alkaline with a pH value around 8, so that could also turn the sunflower oil green.
What is the golden rule in baking cookies? ›
"My golden rule for baking is make it cold and bake it hot," she said.
Does parchment paper affect cookies? ›Lining a baking sheet when making cookies: Not only will the parchment help cookies bake more evenly, the non-stick quality also helps prevent them from cracking or breaking when lifting them off the sheet.
What does baking soda do in cookies? ›When baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, is combined with an acid (like buttermilk or lemon juice) and a liquid, it produces the carbon dioxide that helps the dough or batter rise.
Why can't you eat sunflower seeds whole? ›You should avoid eating sunflower seed shells. As they're fibrous and indigestible, the shells may damage your digestive tract. If you prefer to munch on whole sunflower seeds, be sure to spit out the shells. Otherwise, you can simply eat shelled sunflower seeds, which provide only the nutrient-rich, tasty kernel.
What happens if you eat sunflower seeds all the time? ›Excess consumption of sunflower seeds may cause vomiting, stomach ache and constipation. People allergic to sunflower seeds may show symptoms like vomiting, rashes, breathing problem, swelling and itching around the mouth etc. Sunflower seeds are rich in calories. Consuming too much may lead to weight gain.
How does SunButter react with baking soda? ›The chlorogenic acid in the SunButter reacted with the alkaline environment created by the baking soda, and a new substance was produced, green trihydroxy benzacradine (the product of the chemical reaction). The green color you see is proof that this reaction took place!
Why is my banana bread blue? ›In almost every case, it's not you, it's your baking powder. Baking powder with aluminum in it reacts to acidic ingredients, causing this discoloration and what many people find to be a “tinny” or metallic taste.
Why did my cookies turn out gummy? ›Eggs bind the ingredients and make for moist, chewy cookies. Adding too many eggs can result in gummy, cake-like cookies. Adding too few eggs can result in dry, crumbly cookies.
Why are my cookies pale and puffy? ›Q: Why are my cookies so puffy and cakey? Whipping too much air into the dough. That fluffy texture you want in a cake results from beating a lot of air into the room temperature butter and sugar, and it does the same for cookies. So don't overdo it when you're creaming together the butter and sugar.
What is the white stuff at the bottom of sunflower oil? ›"The white substance is a natural wax found in cold pressed sunflower oil. When the weather starts to get colder, it may solidify sometimes, and hence looks like a white residue. It is edible (part of the oil), and will melt once you pour it in a pan and start to heat it for cooking."
Why are my sunflower seeds blue? ›
Sunflower seeds, among some other foods like burdock, contain chlorogenic acid, which, under alkaline conditions, transforms into a blue-green pigment.
Are there really purple sunflowers? ›Purple Sunflowers
A common “purple sunflower” is the Chianti Hybrid. A Chianti Hybrid's petals have deep, dark reds which some classify as purple. This sunflower plant can grow to five feet and has no pollen, making it good for cutting. These sunflowers can help balance color in mixed bouquets.