For as long as I can remember my Mom has made Ritz cracker cookies every single holiday season. When I lived at home, we would work together to make many dozens of these peanut butter filled cracker cookies. The combination of buttery Ritz crackers and a layer of peanut butter covered in white chocolate makes the perfect sweet and salty treat.
These have always been one of my favorite Christmas cookies and they're so easy to make! We coated ours in white almond bark and decorated them with little green wreaths and red hots for the holidays. Our favorite way to eat them is straight from the freezer all season long.
Of course, Ritz crackers aren't gluten free, but I can't miss out on this tasty no bake treat. I've made mine gluten free and dairy free with Schar entertainment crackers. You're going to love adding these to your holiday cookie tray.
If you're looking for more easy, no bake desserts check out my gluten free peanut butter pie or this amazing no bake blueberry cheesecake.
Why You 'll Love These Ritz Cracker Cookies
- Simple - These cookies are made of just three basic ingredients and require no baking. They are easy enough for a kid to make (or a beginning cook).
- Allergen Friendly - This old fashioned recipe has been revamped to be both gluten free & vegan. Peanut butter can be replaced with any kind of nut butter or even sunbutter to make them nut free.
Ingredient Notes
It only takes three simple ingredients to make these delicious no bake cookies!
- Gluten Free Ritz Crackers - I have used Schar Entertainment Crackers which are both gluten free and vegan. If you're not concerned about dairy content, then I also recommend Lance Gluten Free Crackers.
- Peanut Butter - Creamy peanut butter, either natural or not, will work great in these cookies. If you don't eat peanuts, use almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter in place of the peanut butter.
- Vegan White Chocolate - I love King David Non-Dairy White Chocolate for this recipe. Almond bark is also typically gluten free if you prefer that method. Just make sure to check your package for ingredients.
See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Chocolate Delight - Replace white chocolate with dark chocolate or chocolate almond bark and replace the peanut butter with Nutella (or a similar spread) for a chocolate variation.
- Peanut Free - Replace peanut butter with any other nut butter or Sunbutter for a peanut free version.
- Caramel - Upgrade this classic by replacing the peanut butter with caramel spread and adding a little flaky sea salt on top.
- Holiday Decor - add a few drops of gel food coloring to your white chocolate before dipping and top your cookies with festive sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Double Trouble - Amp up the dessert delight by doubling the peanut butter and adding a third cracker for a double decker surprise.
- Fluffer Nutter - Add a bit of marshmallow fluff along with the creamy peanut butter filling inside these cookies.
How to Make Ritz Cracker Cookies
No baking is needed for this easy cookie recipe. You can melt your chocolate in a double boiler, but it melts just as easily in the microwave.
STEP 1: Lay half of your crackers out face down on a baking sheet lined with a piece of wax paper.
STEP 2: Spread each cracker with about 1-2 teaspoons of peanut butter.
STEP 3: Place a second cracker on top of the peanut butter filling to make a sandwich cookie.
STEP 4: Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler (or microwave-safe bowl). Dip each peanut butter cracker into the melted chocolate and set them out in a single layer on the baking sheet.
STEP 5: Once you've dipped all of the cookies, chill the cracker cookies until the chocolate hardens.
Storage
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
We love to store these in the freezer and eat them cold. They last for a month or longer (if you can wait that long!).
More holiday cookie recipes to consider:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Easy Ritz Cracker Cookies
Ingredients
- 48 Gluten Free Crackers
- 1 Cup Peanut Butter
- 2 Cups Vegan White Chocolate
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet with wax paper.
- Lay out 24 crackers on the baking sheet, face down.48 Gluten Free Crackers
- Spread 2 teaspoons of peanut butter on each cracker.1 Cup Peanut Butter
- Top each peanut butter cracker with another cracker making a sandwich.
- Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. To melt in the microwave, cook at 50% power for 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds. Be careful not to overheat it as white chocolate is prone to seizing.2 Cups Vegan White Chocolate
- Dip each cookie in the white chocolate. Use a fork to tap off the excess chocolate. Place the dipped cookie on the lined baking sheet.
- Once all of the cookies have been dipped, place the baking tray in the refrigerator to set the chocolate.
Notes
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
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