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    Home » Easy Recipes » Desserts & Treats

    Peanut Butter Cookies - 3 Ingredients

    Published: Apr 22, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 30 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    These three-ingredient peanut butter cookies are made from scratch using ingredients you most likely already have at home. From start to finish, they take less than 30 minutes!  I also like that this makes a small batch.

    close up of three ingredient peanut butter cookies

    This recipe will make about 15 - 18 cookies, depending on how large you make the cookies.  Honestly, these are the best peanut butter cookies - they have the best flavor!

    If you like easy cookie recipes, try these shortbread cookies. They only have 4 ingredients. This no-bake scotcheroos recipe is also a delicious peanut butter dessert or snack!

    Table of contents

    • Measuring tip for Peanut Butter
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to store these pb cookies
    • Other peanut butter treats to enjoy

    Measuring tip for Peanut Butter

    Here's a simple tip I learned years ago. When measuring sticky ingredients, spray cooking baking spray in your measuring cup. Then all your ingredient comes out easily!

    Measuring cup with cooking spray

    Ingredients

    Nothing complicated here!

    three ingredients are sugar, peanut butter and an egg
    • 1 cup peanut butter - at room temperature (either crunchy peanut butter or creamy peanut butter works)
      I find the all-natural peanut butter does not work as well.
    • 1 cup granulated white sugar
    • 1 large egg

    Variations

    Although there aren't many ingredients, you can make a few easy substitutions. Brown sugar works fine instead of granulated white sugar. Just make sure you pack your measuring cup to use the appropriate amount of brown sugar.

    Crunch peanut butter is also great instead of creamy.

    Instructions

    I've had many readers write to tell me they teach their kids how to make this as their first baking recipe.  It's such a nice, simple recipe. It's perfect for that! Of course, the kids love flattening the dough ball!

    Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit.

    Step 1
    In a medium bowl, add peanut butter, sugar, and egg.

    peanut butter, egg and sugar in a clear bowl

    Stir until well combined in a mixing bowl!  It is easy to do by hand.  No need to use an electric mixer.

    a planter with colorful plants
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    stirring ingredients together for three ingredient peanut butter cookies

    Step 2
    I use a cookie dough scoop to put rounded heaps of batter onto a cookie sheet quickly. If you don't have a cookie scoop, use a tablespoon to get a consistent size and then roll the dough into one-inch balls. I do love using my Silpat baking liners with any cookies I make! These silicone baking mats/liners make cleaning your baking sheet easier.  If you don't have baking mats, use parchment paper.

    Variations

    If you want to make just a few chocolate chip peanut butter cookies, just put 3-4 semi-sweet chocolate chips on each dough ball before you flatten them.  That way, you can have plain cookies and some with chocolate chips. It's much easier than stirring the chocolate chips into the dough!

    fork with sugar on it to be used to flatten the peanut butter cookies

    Step 3
    Once you have all the cookie dough balls on your baking pan, you'll want to flatten the dough with a fork to get the traditional criss-cross pattern.  I sprinkle a little sugar on the dough and dip the fork tines into the sugar. It helps prevent the fork from sticking to the dough. Once the cookies have been flattened, add a gentle sprinkle of sugar on top. Optional, but some people like the crunch of the sugar on top.

    Step 4
    Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 F.   I prefer my cookies softer so I usually bake closer to 10 minutes.  These should appear to start browning around the edges when done.  They are a light golden brown and soft when you take them out of the oven.  Leave them on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then carefully place them on a wire rack to finish cooling.  As they cool, they firm up.

    cookies on a cookie rack

    Do you see some of the chocolate chips that I added?

    It's always great having simple options!

    peanut butter cookies on a white plate

    How to store these pb cookies

    Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days at room temperature. If storing for a week, refrigerate.
    Cookies can be frozen if well-wrapped.

    Other peanut butter treats to enjoy

    • two special K Bars on a white plate.
      Special K Bars
    • Sliced apples dipped into peanut butter fruit dip
      Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Fruit Dip
    • peanut butter and banana roll ups
      Banana and Peanut Butter Roll Up
    • close up of puppy chow, a cereal treat covered in peanut butter and chocolate
      Puppy Chow - A chocolate, peanut buttery, sweet treat!

    FAQ's

    Can I use all-natural peanut butter?

    Natural peanut butters have different consistencies. They also may have a varying amount of salt added. Since this recipe has few ingredients, a commercial brand (Skippy, Jiff, store brand) will produce more consistent results.

    Can this recipe be doubled?

    Yes! But I like the small batch size.

    Are these cookies gluten-free?

    This recipe does not use flour so yes, it is naturally gluten-free.

    cookies on a cookie rack

    Peanut Butter Cookies - 3 Ingredients

    A simple and delicious three-ingredient recipe to make peanut butter cookies.  Using pantry items that include sugar, peanut butter and an egg.  Quick, easy and less than 30 minutes to make.
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 18 cookies
    Calories: 132cal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup peanut butter All-natural peanut butter is NOT recommended. Use a regular commercial brand (Skippy, Jiff, store brand)
    • 1 cup white granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Add the above ingredients into a bowl and stir well to combine.
    • This recipe makes 15 to 18 cookies. Good-sized cookies too!
    • If you would like to add chocolate chips to some of your cookies, just add them on top of the dough balls before you flatten them.  It's the easiest way to make just a few chocolate chip peanut butter cookies!
    • Dip your fork into sugar then press the cookie dough ball to create the traditional crisscross pattern. The sugar gives you that little crunch on top.
    • Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until just starting to brown on the bottom. Watch closely!
    • Place on a wire rack to cool and then enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    This is a small enough batch that I sometimes make it in my toaster oven!   If you want to try that, decrease the heat to 325 and watch carefully to see when they are done - they often are done a couple of minutes earlier.
    Optional - add chocolate chips if desired.
    Some other easy peanut butter recipes include this
    Peanut Butter and Banana Snack
    No Bake Scotcheroo Bars

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 132cal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    Please pin this to your Pinterest board!

    close up of peanut butter cookies with text overlay describing three ingredient peanut butter cookies

    Originally published Dec. 2013.

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    1. Mahy

      March 20, 2022 at 12:45 am

      5 stars
      I love how easy it is to make these cookies. This might be my new favorite way to make batches. Yum, too!

      Reply
    2. Lubna

      March 20, 2022 at 12:21 am

      5 stars
      Incredible. These look so delicious and crunchy. These will be perfect to send in kids snack box. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Heather D Johnson

      March 19, 2022 at 9:31 pm

      5 stars
      so yum and very easy to make!

      Reply
    4. Keri Bevan

      March 19, 2022 at 6:47 pm

      5 stars
      I love how simple, but delicious these cookies were. Thanks so much for another great recipe!

      Reply
    5. Maria

      May 17, 2021 at 9:05 pm

      Thanks for sharing this, I love to make this for my grand kids

      Reply
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    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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