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    Home » Easy Recipes » Four Ingredients or Less!

    Peanut Butter Cookies - 3 Ingredients

    Published: Oct 19, 2021 · Modified: Jan 30, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 30 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

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

    Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

    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, I think these are the best peanut butter cookies - they have the best peanut butter flavor!

    If you like easy cookie recipes, make sure to try these shortbread cookies. They only have 4 ingredients.

    Table of contents

    • Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Measuring tip for Peanut Butter
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • How to store these pb cookies
    • Are there other easy recipes here?

    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

    **There is NO flour in this recipe, making this a gluten-free recipe with a wonderful pb taste.

    Instructions

    I've had many readers write me that they teach their kids how to make this as their first baking recipe.  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.

    stirring ingredients together for three ingredient peanut butter cookies

    Step 2

    I use a cookie dough scoop to quickly put rounded heaps of batter onto a cookie sheet. 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 are awesome and make cleaning your baking sheet easier.  If you don't have baking mats, use parchment paper.

    Tip

    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 and some with chocolate chips  It's much easier than stirring the chocolate chips into the dough!

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    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 I also dip the fork tines into sugar. It helps prevent the fork from sticking to the dough.

    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 not appear brown 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 couple of minutes then carefully place them on a wire rack to finish cooling.  As they cool, they do firm up.

    cookies on a cookie rack

    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.

    FAQ's

    Can I use all-natural peanut butter?

    I would suggest not using an all-natural peanut butter. The reason has to do with the way natural peanut butter has oil that separates. You may not have a consistent amount of oil. With so few ingredients in this recipe, it matters.

    Can this recipe be doubled?

    Yes! But I like the small batch size.

    Can I use crunchy peanut butter?

    I have and it works great!

    cookies on a cookie rack

    Easy Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

    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 about 30 minutes to make.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 18 cookies
    Calories: 132cal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup peanut butter All-natural peanut butter is not recommended.
    • 1 cup white granulated sugar
    • 1 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.

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

    Below was my Pinterest pin back in 2013 when I first started blogging!  I've learned a little about better lighting and how to use photo design software to make prettier pins.  It's still out there and people are still pinning it!!

    Are there other easy recipes here?

    YES!!

    Looking for another easy cookie recipe? Make these 4 ingredient shortbread cookies.  This is another easy scratch recipe.

    The first two-ingredient recipe I published was this 2 ingredient pumpkin muffin recipe. I remembered it from years ago. Every fall it goes crazy! It has a nice pumpkin spice flavor and you can make it in less than 30 minutes.


    One more for you! How about an easy peach crumble? Using canned peaches, cake mix and butter. Yup, that's it! It's one of my family's favorites. Easy, quick and delicious! Click here for the peach crumble / cobbler recipe.

    Thanks for visiting my site!

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    1. Michelle Leslie

      May 17, 2021 at 9:29 am

      Whoop, whoop, my hubby loves peanut butter so he's in for a treat when I make him some of these.

      Reply
    2. Rosemary Palmer

      May 17, 2021 at 9:20 am

      These look so simple. I love homemade cookies.

      Reply
    3. Linda Johnston

      May 17, 2021 at 9:14 am

      tTimeless. So many memorries of making these very cookies with my mom! Delicious.

      Reply
    4. Emma Allen

      October 26, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      This work great! Especially with coconut sugar!

      Reply
    5. momcrieff

      December 10, 2017 at 9:57 am

      They do stay a little softer, since they don't have the flour in it.

      Reply
    6. momcrieff

      December 10, 2017 at 9:55 am

      I totally agree!

      Reply
    7. Keely

      October 27, 2017 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      I grew up with this exact recipe... only peanut butter cookie recipe worth making in my book!

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        December 10, 2017 at 9:55 am

        It's such a simple recipe but it is soooo good! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

        Reply
    8. Joyce Blodgett

      December 17, 2016 at 11:20 pm

      I made these for the men in the boarding house I live in; greedy dogs hardly left any for me, then complained that I didn't make enough. They've all moved out, so now I'm going to make a batch just for me. They're delicious, and I have a brand-new jar of Jif's Maple flavored peanut butter--and I do love maple!

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        December 10, 2017 at 9:56 am

        I'll have to try flavored peanut butter! Thanks for the suggestion!

        Reply
    9. Anonymous

      September 13, 2016 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Had to extend baking time to 10-12 minutes but otherwise a pretty decent cookie.

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        December 10, 2017 at 9:58 am

        The timing does depend on how hot your oven is. And, since it's a short baking time, your oven needs to be well preheated. Thanks for letting me know you liked them!

        Reply
    10. Anonymous

      February 18, 2016 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for posting this I used this with my preschool class for years. I stopped using it because of all the peanut allergies. You can add raisins or chocolate chips about 1 cup.

      Reply
    11. momcrieff

      February 04, 2016 at 7:47 am

      They don't change color much. The bottoms may get a touch darker and they are ready. And, they also feel very soft when hot. They firm up when they cool. You were doing it right!

      Reply
    12. Judy

      December 02, 2015 at 10:15 pm

      5 stars
      I use this gluten free recipe but use crunchy peanut butter & add a Hershey"s kiss on each cookie before baking (the kiss holds up very well)

      Reply
    13. Alesig

      April 03, 2015 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is amazing. I have a big jar of peanut butter standing in the kitchen. I can't wait to use in this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        April 03, 2015 at 5:58 pm

        It's as easy and as good as it looks! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    14. Anonymous

      December 01, 2014 at 10:52 pm

      5 stars
      I split half Splenda and half sugar and they turned out great, be sure to let them only get lightly brown on the bottom. I also let them fully cool on the cookie sheet to avoid super crumbly cookies

      Reply
    15. Anonymous

      October 26, 2014 at 5:08 pm

      5 stars
      This is awesome. So easy and soooo good.

      Reply
    16. Patti

      September 09, 2014 at 8:02 am

      Great idea. Especially if you need to make a batch of cookies in a hurry and can't get the store. I think everyone has peanut butter, sugar and one egg (could ask a neighbor too). Thanks for sharing. Pinning

      Reply
    17. Connie

      February 20, 2014 at 11:00 pm

      I tried truvia and it was great!!!

      Reply
    18. Polly

      February 20, 2014 at 10:01 pm

      My 7 year old daughter made these cookies and they were delicious! Easy as 1 2 3..lol

      Reply
    19. Elecia

      December 08, 2013 at 7:04 pm

      Should I melt the PB or mix at room temp?

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        December 08, 2013 at 8:03 pm

        Room temperature is fine. Hope you like them!

        Reply
    20. gina

      December 07, 2013 at 11:24 pm

      Hello, just made these cookies and they are great, I made mine a little bigger so it took 18 minutes till they were done, soo good, thank you

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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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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