3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

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These chewy, dense, Peanut Butter Cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic cookie; just an egg, a cup of peanut butter, and a cup of sugar.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are a favorite with everyone! Get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

If you’re hanging out with me on Instagram, the odds are good that you’ve seen me make these at least a time or two.

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Peanut Butter Cookies

After you’ve made them once, this easy peanut butter cookie recipe will be forever in your memory too.

If you scan the comments on this post, you’ll see a whole lot of people calling these the Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever.

When I was in high school, I remember stirring a batch of these cookies together with a girlfriend in the middle of the night. I was a bit skeptical that it would work, but I loved them from the first bite.

3 Ingredient PB Cookies - you'll love them from the first bite! get the EASY recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

There is nothing like being able to satisfy a sweet tooth craving at a moment’s notice! We sat and nibbled on the warm cookies and talked half the night.

In less time than it takes to preheat the oven, you can have these ready and waiting to bake on a tray. There are plenty of variations for these cookies and I’ve played with the recipe a bit in the past.

In the end, I keep going back to the original. I love it for its simplicity.

The best thing about this recipe is that the kids can make these cookies without any help at all. 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 egg: there really isn’t anything easier that tastes this good.

This is all you need to make 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

While the main ingredients for the three ingredient peanut butter cookies are simply peanut butter, sugar, and an egg, feel free to change it up.

Add a teaspoon of vanilla, an additional egg (for a gooier cookie – see note in recipe), a pinch of sea salt or a handful of chocolate chips.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies!

The cookies are delicious both written or with the extra ingredients.

Please note: I do not recommend using a natural peanut butter for this recipe. I’ve found that a commercial peanut butter, i.e. Jiff or Skippy will work best for these cookies.

Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are so simple, you can make them in minutes! get the easy recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Easy Cookies

For more easy dessert recipes, check out these easy cookie recipes! {5 Ingredient} Coconut Lovers Oatmeal Cookies and these {5 Ingredient} Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies.

I’m always looking for more simple dessert recipes to try. These Easy Double Chocolate Nutella Cookies and these Easy Shortbread Cookies (made with a cookie press) are both on my to-bake list now.

For the easiest and most memorable cake you’ll ever make, try the {6 Ingredient} Cranberry Christmas Cake. You’re going to love it from the first bite. I’m willing to bet on that.

Do you have a favorite super easy cookie recipe? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies recipe by Barefeet In The Kitchen
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, stir together 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1 egg until smooth.
  2. Scoop the dough onto a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. (Roll into 1″ balls with your hands, if you do not have a scoop.)
  3. Press down with the back of a fork and then press again from the opposite direction, to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
  4. Bake for 12 minutes and then let cool on the tray for 1-2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container.
Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are so simple, the kids can make them in minutes! get the easy recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this website!

I like to remove about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter from the “cup” listed in this recipe. This results in a slightly less dense cookie that everyone loves even more than the original.

Alternatively, some readers have mentioned that they like to add an extra egg to this recipe. If you choose to add an extra egg, simply scoop the finished cookie dough onto the baking tray.

The dough will not be firm enough to roll into balls or press with a criss-cross pattern. The cookies will be puffier straight out of the oven and then will settle a bit as they cool.

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Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

4.61 from 564 votes
Chewy, dense, peanut buttery cookies are an unforgettable memory from childhood.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 14 -18 cookies, depending on size

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir the ingredients together until smooth. Scoop onto a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. (Roll into 1″ balls with your hands, if you do not have a scoop.) Press down with the back of a fork and then press again from the opposite direction, to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
  • These cookies will not spread at all. You can bake the full recipe on a single tray if you would like. Bake for 12 minutes and then let cool on the tray for 1-2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Notes

I like to remove about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter from the “cup” listed in this recipe. This results in a slightly less dense cookie that everyone loves even more than the original. Alternatively, some readers have mentioned that they like to add an extra egg to this recipe. If you choose to add an extra egg, simply scoop the finished cookie dough onto the baking tray. It will not be firm enough to roll into balls or press with a criss-cross pattern. The cookies will be puffier straight out of the oven and then will settle a bit as they cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal · Carbohydrates: 17g · Protein: 5g · Fat: 9g · Saturated Fat: 2g · Cholesterol: 11mg · Sodium: 89mg · Potassium: 123mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 15g · Vitamin A: 15IU · Calcium: 10mg · Iron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 08/14/2013 – photos and recipe notes updated 07/20/21}

3-Ingredient PB Cookies are the easiest, tastiest, most loved cookie ever! Get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  1. marlene fulcomer says

    my mom gave me this recipe back in 1996, she got it from a friend of hers back then. I make them for my husband once in awhile and he loves them. when my son and daughter were younger in their teens I would make these. they and their friends would eat them faster than I could make them. my son and his friends wouldn’t let the cookies cool. they would eat them right off the cookie pans5 stars

  2. Michelle Baker says

    These are so much fun to make with my four-year-old! He loves to “help” in the kitchen, but sometimes the more complex recipes are harder to achieve with him by my side.

    This is super easy because I can get all the ingredients together and let him mix on his own. He feels more independent and proud of his creation.5 stars

    • Mary says

      There are many variations that people have shared, Pauline. It’s worth reading through some of the comments to see how they have worked.

  3. Kathy Randall says

    Is there a substitute for the egg as my daughter is vegan and I would love to make this for her.
    Thank you
    Kathy

    • Mary says

      Several people have left comments with different variations, Kathy. I haven’t tried them myself though. It’s worth scrolling through to see what has worked though!

    • Mary says

      I haven’t tried that myself, Penny, but many people have left comments regarding the ways they’ve altered the recipe. It’s worth checking those out.

    • Mary says

      While you’re welcome to do that, Ron, I can’t say I recommend it. It’s unlikely that just peanut butter and egg will have enough structure to hold together on their own.

  4. Katie says

    Has anyone ever used Monkfruit Sweetner instead of Sugar? I really want to try these cookies and I’m curious if the Monkfruit would make a drastic difference.

    • Mary says

      There are many comments on this post from people who have used alternative sweeteners. It’s worth scrolling through a bit to check them out, Katie.

  5. Ty says

    I added a bit of butter (at most a tablespoon) and it tasted amazing! This recipe was very easy for a beginner and I enjoyed it!4 stars

  6. Chandra says

    I truly hope that you’re not trying to take credit for this recipe my Aunt Kathy made this recipe up probably about 15 or so years ago and took first place in a blue ribbon contest for Alaska State Fair she had to release the recipe so that they could publish it in a book so that might be where you come up with the recipe but I know that she created this own recipe on her own many years ago

    • Mary says

      Chandra, I don’t take credit for this recipe at all. Like I mentioned above, my friends and I made it when I was a child, using the recipe off the back of a peanut butter jar. I think 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies have been around at least 50 years.

    • LG says

      Aunt Kathy certainly did not make this up😂 my grandma used to make this for my dad and uncle…. SIXTY YEARS ago.

    • Mary says

      I’m sorry to hear that they weren’t to your liking, Caris. Did you by any chance substitute one of the three ingredients? As you can tell from the other comments, this tends to be a very well liked recipe.

  7. Kristina says

    I don’t understand how some people can be SO negative about these cookie. The only thing I can think is that the outcome will be greatly affected by the type of peanut butter you use. We used Jif Natural. If we had used Teddy, I think they would have been much drier and the flavor would have been different. These were pretty good. I found them a little dry around the edges, and a wee bit sugary/sweet, but all in all, they were really good! It’s what we wanted…a very quick snack. My husband and I like to look for super quick, sparse ingredient desserts to make. This one was worth it for us. Next time I will try 1/2 white, 1/2 brown sugar and add vanilla just for variety. But seriously, for what they are, they are good!4 stars

  8. Mya R says

    These were so fun to make! I’m still in my teenage years and I love baking new things and this was such an easy recipe! It didn’t work the first time I made them but I made them again today they were great! I see me making these in the near future!

  9. Linda says

    Do you have a recipe for those peanut butter balls you got in elementary school? Peanut butter, confectioners sugar, and ??? So good when kept cold, a non baking cookie.